Winter Flights, Shop News, The Josie J Wreck

As we're now well into the swing of winter, the seasons for flights to Roatan have changed once again, so here is a brief update on your options for direct flights to the island:

From Houston with United/Continental on Saturdays (2 flights) and Sundays (1 flight).  In the Christmas season they have also added a Friday flight.

From Atlanta with Delta on Saturdays (1 flight)

From Miami with American Airlines on Saturdays (1 flight)

From Toronto/Montreal with Sunwing Airlines on Mondays, and CANJet on Thursdays (the departure airport varies throughout the seasons.

From a variety of Central American mainland airports with TACA.

A variety of different websites can help you with multi-city and stopover itineraries; my personal favourite is Skyscanner, as it also indexes "low cost airlines", and has many different search options.

This past Sunday we had a visit from Michael Barnette, founder of the Association of Underwater Explorers and prolific cave and wreck diver and writer to check out the Josie J.  Marco, who was Tec certified by Monty earlier in the year, served as his guide and dive buddy on their 190ft profile.  Here are a few highlights from the trip - taken and generously provided by Michael.

Marco and the bus under the Josie J

For Michael's article on Roatan Wrecks (he will be checking out El Aguila on Saturday), we have managed to secure the original footage of when the Josie J sank, courtesy of Mickey Charteris, author and photographer of the brand-new Caribbean Reef Life fish/creature ID book (more details on that as they come).  We hope to be able to extract some viable stills from that footage for the article!

In other shop news, Marco (instructor) and Marco (DMT) had a slow day in the shop, so they decided to do an underwater cleanup of Half Moon Bay.  On their expedition, they had a Spotted Sea Hare En.  Great job, guys!

Before Clean Up

After Clean up

Spotted Sea Hare

It is almost Christmas after all, so we dug out the Christmas decorations from their hiding place in the back room, including our very own Rusty Fish Christmas tree.  Our....other "Christmas Tree" hasn't been brought back yet...photos to come closer to the day!

Rusty Fish Christmas Tree

Recent Sightings

If you are interested in seeing more of our photos from dives and courses, check out our Photo Gallery on our website, or the Photo Albums on our Facebook page.  If you find yourself in any of our photos, like our page and tag yourself.

Half Moon Bay Weather Report

Sunny, calm and clear.

Photo Contest

Don't forget: the Sunglasses Photo Contest is still on...submit your entry before the deadline!

Dive Gear Review: Oceanic SWIV SPG

I'm not the usual "Dive Gear Review" contributor, but there are a few items I've been meaning to voice an opinion about.

SPGs.  An extremely important piece of equipment.  You're not much good on a dive if you don't know the pressure of the contents of your tank (we're in the 21st century, so no more J-valves for us!).   As a working dive instructor, I've always opted for a mechanical SPG, as opposed to a transducer linked to a dive computer.  The reasoning behind this is twofold: mechanical SPGs are not as expensive, but I've also seen far cases of the transducers failing.

Or so I thought, until I replaced my old Sherwood SPG (many years of use) with an Oceanic SWIV.  A quick online search shows it retailing for between USD 75 to 106.  After the first one flooded after less than 10 dives, I thought I might just have a defective product.  I replaced that one with another one on a console I used to use.  Another 5 dives, and that one also failed.  At this point, I'm not happy.  No pressure gauge, no work.  I had to replace it with a THIRD one (given to me by a friend, brand new, who was getting rid of her spare parts), until the new one I ordered could be shipped down.  When that one failed, I put my other backup old old Dacor, until I could get a new one got delivered (it can take up to two weeks, minimum, to get anything shipped to the island).

Before people start jumping down my throat about dust caps and flooding regulators, that definitely isn't what happened.  After the first one failed, I had my regulator (1st stage Scubapro MK2) fully serviced, and had the o-rings on my (new) high pressure hose inspected.

So...moral of the story: three thumbs down (one for each bad SPG).

Next up from me:  the successful replacement

Half Moon Bay Weather Report

Overcast, calm, intermittent rain showers.

Recent Sightings

Flamingo Tongue

Pipefish

Hamner's Tritonia

Are we YOUR favourite dive shop? Vote Now!

A large number of you, our customers, have come back time and time again to us here at Coconut Tree Divers.  Some of you even come back at the same times of year, on a yearly basis, so we must be doing something right!

PADI has launched a "Dive Shop Appreciation Contest" where you can nominate your favourite dive shop (with a chance for the individual voter and the dive shop getting a prize).  If we are your favourite dive shop, nominate us!  All that is required is a few words on why we are awesome, and a photo.  Click the link below to find out more!

Click HERE to nominate Coconut Tree Divers!

In other news, Potlicker came out of dry dock with a fresh coat of paint, a repaired platform, and we're waiting for the refurbished tank holders to dry out before we put them back in service.  There are still a few things that need to be done, for which we need a rain-free window.

We also made our first run of the season to the South Side, where several seahorses were spotted. (We've been seeing more of those everywhere, actually!)

A few of us Instructors, Divemaster Trainees and customers went through the Roatan Marine Park programme for Lionfish Spearing Licenses with Nic from the Marine Park.  In an effort to protect the environment, the RMP representatives evaluate divers' buoyancy control (no exceptions, even instructors) and spearing skills before issuing a license.

Lionfish Kill

There will be an upcoming post with a lot more detail on the Lionfish problem, and a guide on how to properly spear and kill them.

Recent Sightings

Spinner Dolphins!!

We love Neck Crabs

And somewhere here, there should be a picture of a seahorse, from the Moonlight sand patch (photo maybe to come?)

Half Moon Bay Weather Report

Overcast, flat calm seas.  Great diving conditions with excellent visibility!!

Let's talk about Tips

If you've ever been in to a hotel/bar/restaurant/other service establishment, you may have seen these captions (or a variation thereof) scratched on a pot or jar somewhere on the counter:

"Tipping is not a city in China"

"Tipping is not illegal in Honduras"

"If you're close enough to read this, you're close enough to leave a tip"

"Big tippers make better lovers"

….etc…

We've gone for a simpler and more honest: "Tips are greatly appreciated".

Tip box by the front desk

Some of the slogans are funny, honest, and some are a even little edgier.  The thing is, they don't always answer the questions that our customers have about tipping policy here at Coconut Tree Divers.  Addressing the issue with one of us in the dive shop, makes some people feel uncomfortable, so I thought that this might be a good place to answer some of these questions.  In some places, tipping is customary or even expected, but in other places it is not part of the culture - so for some people, it's hard to know even where to get started!  Here is our guide to tipping:

Is tipping customary in the dive industry in Roatan?

Pretty much any dive shop you walk into would agree with an emphatic yes!  As the diving here is relatively inexpensive compared to many other places, tips (gratuities, if you will) are a very welcome supplement to our income.

How are the tips shared out amongst the staff?

We divide our tips equally, on a weekly basis amongst the working dive instructors, our boat captains and our equipment manager/mechanic.  Here at Coconut Tree Divers, we place a very high value and emphasis on teamwork, and our tip-sharing policy very much reflects this. We have a wooden box mounted on the post next to the front desk for that purpose.

What is an appropriate amount to tip?

This is probably one of the questions that people feel most uncomfortable asking, and there are several possible answers.  One of those answers is "whatever you feel comfortable with", because anything at all is always much appreciated.  If you're looking for a more numerical value, 15-20% is often quoted as a decent baseline.

Ultimately, a tip is an expression of gratuity for good service.  We are customer-oriented establishment, and we strive to provide you with the best possible care and service to suit your diving needs.  I hope that this has answered some of the questions that have come up recently (and remember: you can ask us anything!), feel free to leave a comment or contact us with any further questions.

PS: if you're reading this, become a member of the blog - easy with a Gmail account - see the link to the right of the page.

Half Moon Bay Weather Report

See previous post.  More of the same, diving the flat-calm South Side today.

Recent Sightings

Fresh off the boat this morning, a Seahorse (photo not yet available!)

Arrow crab shedding its skin

Great shot Marco, Bearded Fireworm

Juvenile Spotted Trunkfish (Reverse Pea)

Got any plans this winter?

As Steve Jobs (The King of Apples) once said in 1996 "Good artists copy, and great artists steal".  So I have drawn inspiration from a dive instructor friend in Cozumel for the following Winter Special at Coconut Tree Divers.

Is THIS going to be YOUR winter?

Too much snow?

Drive to work

Where is your car?

It doesn't have to be!!!

If you're wanting to escape any of the above winter prospects, here at Coconut Tree Divers we offer you a 100% NO-SNOW GUARANTEE.  If it snows on the island when you're on your dive vacation = money back guaranteed!  Rainy season is a great time to come, the dive boats are not usually busy outside of the holiday seasons, and the diving is always good - north or south shore.

In addition to this we are offering a special promotion.  For reservations for dive packages or PADI dive courses between now and February 1st 2013, get a chance to win a FREE T-shirt on arrival, if you're the first person to quote our special promotional code NOSNOWRTB in your reservation!  Contact us today to make it happen!

Half Moon Bay Weather Report

Sunny, very calm seas.  Better than yesterday!

Recent Sightings

Seahorse @ Mandy's Eel Garden

Neck crabs @ Everywhere (if you know where to look!)

Hanging Lettuce Sea Slug @ Hole In The Wall

Coconut Tree Front Porch Social Club

Need somewhere to park your husband while you finish up your PADI Open Water course or go and catch some rays on one of Roatan's beautiful beaches?  No worries, we've got you covered here at Coconut Tree Divers, with our all-new front porch social club.  Leave him there and he'll be entertained with hours of people-watching, motorbikes, NASCAR and football.

Joey, Tree, Tim and PJ - free seating.

Recent Sightings

Pipehorse @ Moonlight

Lettuce Sea Slug @ Hole In The Wall

Line Sole @ Moonlight

Half Moon Bay Weather Report

More sweat, calm seas, excellent diving.

September 2012

And....all of a sudden, it's September again.  Honduran Independence Day, the West End Carnival and the Roatan Fishing Tournament are all out of the way - and now we're quiet again.

New road and fishing tournament stage

If you're considering a dive vacation with generally good weather at a quiet time of year, late August and early September are an excellent time to come.  It's considered "shoulder season" with lower flight prices, and as we usually get bypassed by most hurricane tracks, the risk is fairly low.  Just ask our "August/September posse" of return customers: The Kearneys from California, Emily (no Janice this year) from California, Steve from Florida, Carin from Chicago, Alex and Ron from Baltimore...Calm water, hot weather, so much stuff to see in the water - what more could you ask for??  Recent sightings (and this is just the surface!) have included  whale sharks, a silke shark and pods of dolphins!!

In other Coconut Tree/West End news, the infamous never-ending road project has ended, the road has been paved and will be "officially opened" on the 29th of this month.  Island Concrete actually did a nice job, and the road looks much better than anyone thought it would.

Long time instructor Jose Silva has also left our shores in search of new dive sites out in Hawaii (no worries for the Jose fans, he'll be back at some point!).  DSAT Tec and Sidemount Intstructor Monty Graham is currently lowering his body temperature in Canada, and set to return in the new year (so hold off on your Tec until then!).  A return addition to our team is Matt Howell, who has returned from construction and riding motorbikes in Florida.

We also have a new addition to the Coconut Tree Jr family, with Christine and Marco's small one - William Alexander Alvarado born on 7th September (see our Facebook page for photos!)

If you've been diving with us recently, it's likely that there are photos of you somewhere on our Facebook page...feel free to tag yourself and use the photos, we keep it up to date on a daily basis (but please join our page and the blog, or contact us!)

Recent Sightings

Flamingo Tongue @ Blue Channel

Pea

Seahorse @ Mandy's Eel Garden

And lastly....What am I holding up?  ID it by commenting on this post, or on the photo on Facebook and win a free dive!

What is it??

Half Moon Bay Weather Report

Awesome, hot and why are you not diving???

Top 5 Underwater Photography Tips

Now many of us like to take our cameras and housings on dives to take photos of all the wonderful things we see.  We see a variety of different systems, from little compact point and shoot cameras to large SLR systems with multiple strobes.  No matter what you have, here are 5 top tips for photographers as suggested by Tree, our former in-house photographer.

Before you even touch the camera...Buoyancy

Before we're even looking at the camera, buoyancy control is the number one thing you will need to master.  If your buoyancy is off, you will have a hard time getting the camera to stay where you want it to be pointing.

Solution: practice buoyancy control in shallow water with your camera e.g. taking pictures of fixed objects from various distances without touching the bottom, holding the camera as still as possible.  Examine your results afterwards to see what improved and what didn't.  If your buoyancy needs more work than that, we offer the PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy specialty, where you spend two dives REALLY fine-tuning your buoyancy control.

Camera Controls

If you are using anything more powerful than the most basic point and shoot, one of the first things to master is your camera controls.  For different types of photo, you will undoubtedly be switching between modes on the camera - using different settings.  Ideally, you should be able to switch between the modes that you use blindfolded.  Why?  Imagine this: you have just been taking a macro shot of a very small pederson cleaner shrimp, when you back away from the reef and turn around, you are faced with a spotted eagle ray cruising by...Better be quick on those settings!

Understanding Exposure: White Balance and strobes

Colour at depth.  You may remember the colour comparison exercise from your PADI Advanced Open Water deep dive - you lose colour with depth.  That's why many people's underwater photos have that blue/green cast…White balance is your solution!  The other way to overcome this problem is of course to use strobes, but that isn't always an option (depending on your camera/luggage allowance/budget).  At the very least, having the option to set custom white balance on your camera is a MUST if you're intending to capture the best of our reef.

Understanding Exposure: Depth of Field and ISO

Having a basic understanding of some photographic principles will help you get the most out of your shots, rather than just leaving your camera fully automatic.  The PADI Digital Underwater Photographer course that we offer teaches you some of the theory behind some of these concepts.  When you understand those, you will start to take photos on different settings - and you will start to get results.  Digital cameras actually record all this information (EXIF data) so you can actually check what settings you used to take the photo.  Essential for knowing what works and what doesn't

And finally...Practice!

Take photos, take more photos and take more photos again!  Keep taking photos, and you will start getting some serious results!!

Destroyer of Conch is watching YOU!

Half Moon Bay Weather Report

Hot and humid, with a hint of a breeze.

Recent Sightings

Seahorse @ Dixies

Leopard Flatworm @ El Aquario (Deep)

Pea (Post-larval trunkfish) @ Overheat Reef (and various other places)

4 Spotted Eagle Rays together!!! @ Seaquest (Deep)

PS: Join the blog if you are reading this page!

Where's my manners?

As with any activity that involves other people there's always an element of etiquette in diving, whether it's on the boat or underwater, that is one of the things that sets apart the experienced diver from the novice.  Some of these things are not exactly written in stone (and by "stone" I mean the PADI Open Water manual!), but rather things you learn from experience by expanding your scuba diving experience.

Here are 5 top tips that will enhance your diving experience here at Coconut Tree Divers!  Can YOU come up with any more?  Leave us a comment!

Island time and the boat schedule

We may be on a Caribbean island where the pace definitely isn't as hectic as elsewhere, but there's one thing that operates like clockwork: our boat schedule.  It's designed for you guys to get the most out of your dives, but it only really works if we leave on time!  Give yourself plenty of time to grab your free coffee, get your equipment set up without feeling rushed - it only makes for a better, more relaxed dive.

Where's my fins??

We keep our groups small, so you're not gonna be crowded underwater, but you are sharing the boat with other divers.  Try to keep your equipment spread to a minimum, that way you also know where all your stuff is.  You wouldn't want to miss jumping in with your snorkel gear when we have dolphins swimming with our boat just because you can't find your mask!

Soap in the bucket

For those of you that like snapping shots during your dive, we have a fresh water bucket for you to store your camera between dives.  The most important thing with the bucket is to make sure that the water stays fresh - we don't want any chemicals or anti-fog agents in the bucket.  The reason is that those chemicals can compromise the o-rings in the camera housings.  If you are going to rinse your mask on the boat, we provide a scoop so you can scoop the water out away from the bucket.

Brief me!

We try to tailor our dives so that divers with similar experience levels are matched up to hit the best dive sites for your level as a diver (more information on our daily dive schedule can be found here).  If you are a more experienced diver, we don't believe in "babysitting" you, but if you are a little unsure of your self we will make sure that you are more closely supervised.  The main thing is that all that kind of information is always given in our thorough pre-dive briefings - make sure you pay attention  It's all about your safety (safety first!) and your enjoyment.  We want you to get what you want out of your dives!

THIS is a Marine Park

After all, you're here to dive, so we want you to enjoy it.  Follow the dive plan, get to know your dive buddy (we will always supply you with one, no worries about travelling alone!), and follow the marine park protocols.  Take only pictures, leave only bubbles, touch only with your eyes!  If we're looking at the more macro aspects of the reef (ie something really really small and really really cool!) be nice, and point it out to the person coming up behind you, we want all of you to see it!

And finally....

ENJOY YOUR DIVE!!!

Half Moon Bay Weather Report

Hot, but thankfully with some breeze.

Recent Sightings

A collection of flamingo tongues @ Blue Channel

Dive Gear, Review, Puppy Weight

If you have been diving, or thought about diving, you will presumably at least have thought about dive equipment.  At first, it can seem a bit daunting to think about investing getting ALL your own equipment.  But after all is said and done, the PADI videos don't lie (remember your Open Water Course), you really are more likely to dive more if you have your own equipment.

Most people might not choose to get "everything" at once. Maybe a mask (it's not much fun if your mask doesn't fit properly) to start with, perhaps a pair of fins - maybe even a dive computer (easy to travel with).  There certainly are a lot of options out there, which could also seem confusing at times, and there are a lot of different things to think about when deciding exactly what equipment to get.  Magazines, reviews, online forums, local dive shop, online dive retailers, dive instructors and of course actually trying the equipment for yourself are all different sources that can help you find what you need-slash-want on every budget.  The big question is, how can you trust the reliability of some of those sources?  Have they actually tested the equipment beyond taking it out in the pool for a few laps?

Our sister blog, Dive Gear Review, is dedicated to providing such advice.  We are reviewing equipment that we use on a daily and regular basis, and giving honest feedback based on literally thousands of hours in the water.  The 700+ dives and confined water dives that we do in a year put our equipment through some serious use, so we are always looking for something that will last the distance.  Being on a remote tropical island with limited on-site retail options is also a factor; we also want equipment that can be serviced easily and at a reasonable cost.  So if you're thinking about it, check out Dive Gear Review.  And lastly, don't let anyone talk you into buying something that isn't right for YOU.

In other news: in addition to the standard lead blocks (lbs or kg) we provide you with for your weight belt/integrated BCD system, we now also offer weights in "puppy" increments (changes week to week).      

Chucky's new friend Boomer (currently interviewing for Rescue Victim)

In the many things that were brought around the birthday party, captains Carl and Fred are now sporting these awesome Captain's hats - thank you to Daniel Magine from Chicago.

CAPTAINS Carl and Fred

Half Moon Bay Weather Report:

Hot and bright.  Add more heat.

Recent Sightings:

Lettuce Sea Slugs @ The Bite

Free-Swimming Green Moray Eels @ Overheat Reef

Hawksbill Turtle with a hunchback@ Sea Quest

Hot In Half Moon Bay

In the aftermath of the dive shop anniversary, it can happen that things slow down a bit in the shop….Not this year!  Every morning this week has seen our two boats - Potlicker and Wish U Were Here - go out for two tank dives.  Potlicker has been filled with about 60 to 80% return customers.  Wish U Were Here is operating on a separate schedule to accommodate a group of 9 ski patrollers and kayak guides from Colorado, on their "spring escape".

Some of the return customers, Kevin and Frances Bugbee, a couple from Boston who come to Coconut Tree on a yearly basis brought an interesting display item for the shop.  It turns out that we were featured in a "things to do in Boston" publication called The Improper Bostonian…Not that we are in Boston or the North East, but we are definitely a "thing to do".  If you saw us featured, leave a comment!

Things to do (but not in Boston)

On another note, Coconut Tree and the Roatan Tec Team welcome a group of Tec divers and Instructors from Utila Dive Center, who have planned an epic Tec dive to 400ft scheduled for tomorrow afternoon - check our Coconut Tree Divers and Go Pro Caribbean Facebook Page for photos and details to follow.

Half Moon Bay Weather Report:

More.  Sweat.

Recent Sightings:

Octopus @ Hole In The Wall

Pipehorse @ Blue Channel

Many many Juvenile Spotted Drum @ all over the Northern Marine Park

The Adventures of Chucky

Those of you who have done a Rescue Diver course with us in the last few years will be familiar with "Chucky".  For those of you who haven't taken that step (yet) Chucky, originally from Kazakhstan, washed up on the beach at Half Moon Bay during Hurricane Wilma in 2005.  Lost and alone, he was rescued by the Coconut Tree Divers crew.  Far away from home (and broke), PJ took pity on him and gave him a job as an assistant on the Rescue Diver course.  He isn't actually very good at it i.e. gets lost repeatedly, only to be found again somewhere on the reef by a succession of different rescue students.  Given all this, some people are surprised that PJ actually still lets him dive with us...

After 4 years, he has settled in quite well (he even started getting some of his own equipment - mask and weight belt).  These days, after work, he can be found enjoying his favourite drink at The Bar at Coconut Tree Restaurant with the rest of the crew.

Johnnie Walker Black Label

Half Moon Bay Weather Report: when are we getting A/C on the dock?

Recent Sightings: 

Seahorse @ Jolly Roger

Freeswimming Green Moray Eel @ Overheat Reef

Black Spotted Nudibranch @ Pillar Coral

DMTs, Eagle Rays and Sidemount

As we have wrapped up the first month of 2012, we welcome three more new DMTs: Bill from Texas, Len from New York, and Dave from Maine.  More coming soon...

Bill from Texas, as the tattoo indeed confirms

Dave and Len

All three have dived with us on previous occasions here at Coconut Tree.  If you're looking for an excuse to quit your job, "go on sabbatical" or even just "losing your passport", the Divemaster Internship might just be the thing for you...

In the "more coming soon" category, we also welcome Toby and Victoria from Alabama, starting their Advanced Open Water course, and going on through to Divemaster

Victoria and Toby: Happy Superbowl Sunday - we sold all the squares, mostly to Marco

It seems that of late we have been spotting (!) a fair number of Spotted Eagle rays, both out on the reef, and jumping out of the water in Half Moon Bay.  As with all marine life, there is some level of seasonal variation in "what we can expect to see".  I enlisted the help of our friend Google to try to find out if there was any particular information on breeding seasons for the eagle ray, but according to Beautiful Oceans: "Unfortunately, little is known about the seasonal timing of reproduction in this species".  Check out some eagle ray photos on our Facebook page.  

In other news, Monty has just finished a Sidemount course with Constantin and Margarita, and will shortly be starting the Tec courses with Darryl.

SideMonty!

Sidemount diving, a very versatile style of diving, could very well become more mainstream in open water diving (if you dive with us, you will definitely get the chance to see someone diving sidemount).  Monty has spent the last few years diving sidemount in a variety of different situations, always fine tuning and tweaking things along the way, in order to know as much about it as possible and perfect all the techniques.  If you are interested in trying Sidemount diving or completing the Sidemount course, contact us!

Recent Sightings

More Spotted Eagle Rays @ various different dive sites, almost daily

7 Southern Stingrays @ Tabyana

School of Atlantic Spadefish @ SeaQuest

Half Moon Bay Weather Report

Sunny and hot with ephemeral rain showers, humid, with some mud drainage required outside the shop.  Flat Calm seas.