Diving Roatan Honduras // Dive Cruise // Wikkid Divers – Ecologic Adventures

, Diving Roatan Honduras // Dive Cruise // Wikkid Divers – Ecologic Adventures

Roatan Dive January 2020

First dive of the new year; this was the was the most-anticipated dive of a four-day-straight dive cruise. New Year’s Day dive from a catamaran; with just the six of us on board. None of us had dove Roatan, and we were absolutely amped with excitement to dive in this legendary location. We were not disappointed; Roatan and Wicked Divers exceeded even our very high expectations!

, Diving Roatan Honduras // Dive Cruise // Wikkid Divers – Ecologic Adventures

Finding the Complimentary Shuttle

The cruise ship docked in an area that looked like the BVI to me; hilly, lush green, with roosters crowing everywhere. It feels like Tortola, down to the red dirt and banana trees. 

We had been forewarned that we must proceed to Booth 5, ask for Thomas, and that everyone would say they are Thomas. We didn’t know that there are booths, and there are terminals for bus tours. The booths lie to the far right after you come off the main pier. 

First, we waited at the ship’s courtesy station for our group to gather, then we headed through the shopping area.

, Diving Roatan Honduras // Dive Cruise // Wikkid Divers – Ecologic Adventures

Well, it was just as described – everyone claimed to be Booth 5, and everyone claimed to be Thomas. The real Thomas found us, thankfully, and off we went. It was a fairly long trip down the street to where he had parked the van. We were very glad to have rolling bags. 

Coming out of the cruise ship terminal, it’s a crazy chaotic construction zone. The excursion hawkers told us the booths had recently been relocated, and that’s why everyone was confused and thought they were #5. Sure. I think that’s their story every day! I cannot blame them – they have one shot to catch your attention, make that tourist dollar. 

Later we did suggest someone could send a photo of Thomas to us so we would recognize them. Holding up a sign with your name on it apparently does not work – someone will quickly copy what’s on the sign and stand nearer the ship to waylay you! 

, Diving Roatan Honduras // Dive Cruise // Wikkid Divers – Ecologic Adventures

Travel to Wikkid

Anyway – the trip to Wicked Resort is about 30 minutes. We are always glad of a long ride to a dive operator. It gives you some time to relax from the stress of disembarking and hustling to a taxi. Best of all, you get to see some of the island! That’s the very best!  

, Diving Roatan Honduras // Dive Cruise // Wikkid Divers – Ecologic Adventures

Arrival at the South Side of the Island

We arrived at a tropical paradise, and quickly explored the dive shop and grounds. It’s tucked next to a larger resort, Las Palmas and anyone overnighting at Wikkid enjoys reciprocal beach and pool privileges.

, Diving Roatan Honduras // Dive Cruise // Wikkid Divers – Ecologic Adventures

Wicked has a freshwater pool, simple rooms for about 10 guests, a full kitchen and dining room, balconies and porches. 

, Diving Roatan Honduras // Dive Cruise // Wikkid Divers – Ecologic Adventures

Plus, there’s a hummingbird feeder busier than Heathrow. Dozens of hummingbirds are darting around, with six seated and guzzling at any moment. They don’t mind you coming very close to watch them or take photos. 

, Diving Roatan Honduras // Dive Cruise // Wikkid Divers – Ecologic Adventures

Prep and Pounds

Once paperwork was handed over and final payment made, we gathered weights and headed to the boat. We were on a 50 foot catamaran manufactured in Cape Town, South Africa. We were on the four-cabin version, and their other cat is the owner’s suite plus two cabin model. 

, Diving Roatan Honduras // Dive Cruise // Wikkid Divers – Ecologic Adventures

All our gear was loaded straight onto the boat by the two dive masters, Sonje and Mike captain Paul, and crew Freddie. Four crew to our party of six! 

The boat is very wide, and everyone was able to set up their gear across the stern on a wood deck, then relax while heading to the dive site. 

, Diving Roatan Honduras // Dive Cruise // Wikkid Divers – Ecologic Adventures

Heading to the Dive Site

Our dive master Sunje opted to take us to the famous Mary’s Place. I was secretly thrilled – it’s one of the most famous “not to be missed” spots there. Double excitement! A huge catamaran all to ourselves, and a famous dive site!

The water was flat calm, and we headed out. Sunje pointed out a dive site right off the resort where she said there is great diving, and they go there if it’s horribly choppy outside. 

, Diving Roatan Honduras // Dive Cruise // Wikkid Divers – Ecologic Adventures

On the way out, we noticed a catamaran about the size of ours, but packed full with about 50 divers and snorkelers on board. We felt like movie stars! They must have wondered what important people we were to have a boat all to ourselves. We’re pretty regular people – just the type that does a lot of research in advance! 

, Diving Roatan Honduras // Dive Cruise // Wikkid Divers – Ecologic Adventures

At Mary’s Place, we waited briefly for a boat from CoCo View to depart the popular spot. We picked up a mooring at Mary’s Place, and got ready to get in the water.

, Diving Roatan Honduras // Dive Cruise // Wikkid Divers – Ecologic Adventures

A big step right off the back of the boat – what could be easier? Especially with Wikkid Divers’ staff helping on the stern.

, Diving Roatan Honduras // Dive Cruise // Wikkid Divers – Ecologic Adventures

First Dive: Mary’s Place!

Immediately, we were already on top of a stunning coral reef at 15 feet. Holy cow. From there, we spiraled lower and lower around the reef, then headed through some incredible canyons. We had spectacular views in all directions, absolutely breathtaking vistas, and gorgeous coral, sponges, and structures. 

, Diving Roatan Honduras // Dive Cruise // Wikkid Divers – Ecologic Adventures

The absolute beauty was mind boggling. We went through several canyons. I was glad I always have a dive light with me – there was so much to see in the rocks. 

, Diving Roatan Honduras // Dive Cruise // Wikkid Divers – Ecologic Adventures

The visibility was absolutely insane. I have to say, next to Cuba, this was the best diving of my entire life – and on New Year’s Day! What an amazing way to start the new year!

, Diving Roatan Honduras // Dive Cruise // Wikkid Divers – Ecologic Adventures

There was non-stop fish life, amazing corals, soft corals, so much to see. Bill said he could have done this dive three times a day for an entire week and not run out of subject to photograph!

, Diving Roatan Honduras // Dive Cruise // Wikkid Divers – Ecologic Adventures

The safety stop was absolutely ridiculous; we headed back to the shallower part of the reef and spent the next ten minutes swimming around in 15 feet – our safety stop was part of the visual delight of the dive! No hanging on an anchor line or hovering 50 feet off the bottom; we were still diving! 

, Diving Roatan Honduras // Dive Cruise // Wikkid Divers – Ecologic Adventures

Surface Interval

During the surface interval, we headed south and the crew served delicious watermelon, water, sodas, and cereal bars. Our group either lounged in the huge cockpit area or slept on the trampolines as we headed to the next dive. 

, Diving Roatan Honduras // Dive Cruise // Wikkid Divers – Ecologic Adventures

D2T Dive Site Near Carnival

We were back toward the Carnival cruise line private island, and picked up a bouy at what they call the D2T site. We were right off the beach where the Carnival cruisers were horseback riding and snorkeling. 

Another glorious dive awaited us, with the same immediate reef at 15 feet so constant views all the way through the dive. Again, tons of fish, sea life, gorgeous growth. Sunje led and Mike brought up the rear both dives. 

, Diving Roatan Honduras // Dive Cruise // Wikkid Divers – Ecologic Adventures

The diving was absolutely spectacular both dives, and I played around with some new filters from Backscatter on my old GoPro 3 which is still producing quality video and stills – now resurrected and even better with the filters!

, Diving Roatan Honduras // Dive Cruise // Wikkid Divers – Ecologic Adventures

Again, we marvelled at the visibility. I would estimate it was at least 80 feet, and it wasn’t even a “good day!”

, Diving Roatan Honduras // Dive Cruise // Wikkid Divers – Ecologic Adventures

Our crew wore anything from rash guard shirts to shorty to full wetsuits. The water temperatures were pretty nice considering it was the beginning of January!

, Diving Roatan Honduras // Dive Cruise // Wikkid Divers – Ecologic Adventures

These divers are about 80 feet away from me. I could see them clearly.

, Diving Roatan Honduras // Dive Cruise // Wikkid Divers – Ecologic Adventures

Again, our safety stop was more diving! We came over the top of this reef, then settled at about 20 feet for a short distance. The rest of the safety stop involved just poking around at 15 feet watching the fish and admiring the coral reef. 

, Diving Roatan Honduras // Dive Cruise // Wikkid Divers – Ecologic Adventures

After the Dive

Topsides, we rinsed and drip-dried ourselves and our gear. The crew served a cheese and meats platter, chips, and there was a fully stocked open bar as well as cooler full of local beers for our enjoyment. 

, Diving Roatan Honduras // Dive Cruise // Wikkid Divers – Ecologic Adventures

Back at the dock, we had the option to swim and lounge around their freshwater pool while our gear dried further. 

My dives were both 3,000 psi to 1,000 psi about 45 minutes each. We did swim through canyons, so there was a bit of kicking to move through, but very little effort overall. Quite easy diving. I wore a 1mm suit and was glad I did. On our first entry, we saw some small jelly fish and felt a tiny bit of stinging. 

, Diving Roatan Honduras // Dive Cruise // Wikkid Divers – Ecologic Adventures

Touring the Grounds

The owner, Kendall, gave us a tour of one of the rooms and kitchen and dining room. The facility would be perfect for a family or group of 10-12 people for a week. Kendall said they can bring in a cook for meals, or you can grocery shop and prepare your own, or a combination of those. 

, Diving Roatan Honduras // Dive Cruise // Wikkid Divers – Ecologic Adventures

Also, next door at Las Palmas there are bars and restaurants available, and use of their beach. I did see Wikkid has some kayaks. Watching the hummingbird feeder for an hour would be pretty delightful, too. 

, Diving Roatan Honduras // Dive Cruise // Wikkid Divers – Ecologic Adventures

They called our van for us for transport back to the ship. We still had about two hours in Roatan for shopping or wandering shore-side. 

, Diving Roatan Honduras // Dive Cruise // Wikkid Divers – Ecologic Adventures

Why Dive From a Cruise Ship

One of the reasons we go on a cruise dive is to sample a couple different dive spots. Another is to avoid being shut out at one location; with four different countries; if one suffers from bad weather, we probably still have a few other dives we can enjoy. Bad weather in one country does not mean a scrubbed dive in the next! 

, Diving Roatan Honduras // Dive Cruise // Wikkid Divers – Ecologic Adventures

For us, this was incredibly comfortable and enjoyable diving. We plan to return for a week. We were told that the week before we were there, the entire week was a wash – no diving. It’s hard to imagine all the preparation for a week-long dive trip then not getting to dive at all. That’s why the cruises are “safe:” chances of all your dives getting cancelled is slight. 

, Diving Roatan Honduras // Dive Cruise // Wikkid Divers – Ecologic Adventures

We plan to try it, though – a whole week in Roatan. I plan to look  to see if there is any shore diving, so it’s affordable as well as beautiful. 

, Diving Roatan Honduras // Dive Cruise // Wikkid Divers – Ecologic Adventures

You Can’t Bring Toxic Sunscreen

But you can bring reef-safe Sunscreen and Mask Defog that’s safe for water, marine life, and for humans! Stream2Sea have the only reef-safe sunscreen tested on fish. Plus, it comes in biodegradable sugar cane resin containers, so it’s a double win for us and the environment.

No matter where you plan to dive, whatever you put on your body will eventually find its way into a waterway, river, lake, stream, or ocean.Paragraph

Here’s an easy way to do your part in saving our oceans. Do your research! Then order reef-safe mask defog, sunscreen and hair products at Stream2Sea.com, use my code “DeepWH” for 10% off. AD: affiliate links used.

, Diving Roatan Honduras // Dive Cruise // Wikkid Divers – Ecologic Adventures

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