My family and I so enjoyed our week-long stay at Seagrape Plantation in 2016 that we decided to spend a week at Seagrape against this year. Once again, we weren't disappointed. Seagrape offers some of the best diving in the Caribbean (the world?) at sites that are never more than just a few minutes' boat ride from the Seagrape pier. Seagrape's dive masters (especially Hugo and Ricky) are superb divers with an intimate knowledge of the many dive locations. They'll help you find creatures and fish that you might have overlook by yourself. They emphasize safety, especially on your first dives, and then as they learn your diving skills and comfort level, can tailor dives to your ability. The dives range from deep wreck dives to shallow reef dives, and all of them are excellent. In addition to the 30+ dives that I've done with Seagrape, I earned my PADI Advanced OW and Nitrox certifications with Ricky, who is an excellent instructor. The dive center also offers Nitrox tanks, if you're interested.
My family and I stayed in the cabinas by the pool. They're adequately large and clean, and of course are just a stone's throw from the dive center and dining area. The rooms are comfortable with AC and a ceiling fan. The breakfast and lunch (included in the package fee) are excellent, including lovely Honduran meals for lunch and a cooked breakfast. The staff is friendly and helpful.
A great feature of Seagrape is the fact that it is run by members of an extended family. As a result, they all take real pride in the cleanliness and overall quality of the resort: it's their long-term business, not a summer job. In particular, the dive masters are Hondurans who have grown up on Roatan and know the reef as only natives can. At all the other dive shops in Roatan, I noticed only foreigners acting as dive masters. I really enjoyed supporting local dive masters as well as benefiting from their many years of experience on the reef. They care deeply about the cleanliness of the reef and ensuring that diving does not pollute or damage the reef. The reef is their home, not merely a tourist opportunity. Their love for the reef shows in how they treat it and how they lead their dives.
Mariela in the front office is responsive via email and attentive during your stay. She will arrange a free transport to/from the airport.
The location of Seagrape is super. It's tucked away in a quiet residential area on the water just a few minutes' walk from the main tourist area. While you're sitting in the hammock on your cabina's porch, you'll hear only the ocean waves; yet, after only five minutes of walking, you'll be at Sundowner's bar on the main beach or at one of dozens of restaurants for dinner.
Seagrape does not have a beach front. The resort is on the water's edge, but the coast at this point is the rocky remnant of an old reef (which is pretty cool). There is a nice pool that makes for a lovely location for a post-dive beer in the afternoons.
For me, the great attraction to Seagrape is the high-quality diving (three one-tank dives per day: 8:30, 10:30, and 2:00), the clean cabinas, the proximity to the town, the quiet of the location, and the family-run charm of the staff. if you're not a diver, you might want to look elsewhere, as diving is really what the resort is about. If you are a diver, look no further for great dive/accommodation packages in Roatan.
Even though already I've been twice, I'll likely go again!