Click here for a West End Map

PLEASE SUPPORT THE MARINE PARK INITIATIVE WHEN YOU COME HERE.  IF A DIVE SHOP DOESN'T ASK YOU TO DONATE TO THE PARK WHEN YOU DIVE WITH THEM WHICH IS A SMALL MATTER OF BUYING A $10 'TAG or BRACELET'- THEY OBVIOUSLY DON'T CARE ABOUT THE FRAGILE REEF THEY MAKE A LIVING OUT OF.  DON'T REWARD THAT SORT OF ATTITUDE WITH YOUR BUSINESS.  ALL THE SHOPS LISTED BELOW ARE SUPPORTERS.  IF YOU ARE NOT ASKED TO BUY A TAG I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO HEAR ABOUT IT, PLEASE EMAIL ME.

ASK EVERY DIVE SHOP THESE QUESTIONS IT IS A LIST OF THE MINIMUM SAFETY PRECAUTIONS I WOULD EXPECT ANY DIVE OPERATION TO ENFORCE:

The simplest way to ensure you are getting the minimum safety standards you would expect is to ensure you dive with a PADI GOLD PALM RESORT, most of the operations on the island are either not affiliated to PADI at all or take basic Dive Resort membership, those that have made the effort to become Gold Palm are worth the effort of seeking out!

Experience in your dive instructor counts for A LOT.  When shopping around find out how long YOUR instructor has been TEACHING not just DIVING.  Also find out how much of that time they have been in Roatan, local knowledge of the reef also helps them help you.  I list the names of the experienced instructors that I know in each shop, the list can easily get out of date so don't take this as gospel.

I have dived in many places throughout the world and believe that the attitude towards safety in Roatan is exceptionally high, people to do it right here.  Nearly all the dive instructors do the job full time and are very experienced, you couldn't choose a better place to learn to dive - you will be taught well in perfect conditions for your first diving experience.  However it is worth noting that getting qualified to dive here may give you a false sense that diving is 'easy', many other places in the world are far more challenging and you should never get complacent about your dive skills.  Whenever you dive some place new do it with the guidance of as local dive professional.

Here is my run down of the dive shops as I see them, in the previous two paragraphs I have given you the information you need to make your own well informed decision,

Coconut tree divers - Gold Palm Resort - My Favoured shop.  When I am working in Roatan, I do so with these guys.  They have a great attitude towards safety.  They have TWO comfortable  BIG (one of which is also the fastest Roatan dive boat) boats which is a HUGE plus in my opinion, it is a much more comfortable dive platform than a small skiff which can make donning your gear very uncomfortable.  They do two tank trips in the morning which means they tend to visit the more distant dive sites more regularly.  They do two afternoon dives for those of you who get caught up in Roatan's nightlife!.  They have the best THREE classrooms by far.  They speak many languages.  They have generator power meaning Roatan's power failures make no difference to students watching PADI DVDs or to the essential process of filling scuba tanks.  Their location could not be more perfect, right on the beach with SHALLOW CRYSTAL CLEAR confined water spitting distance from the shop.  They also have a swimming pool which makes them a great choice if you want to do the open water course during rainy season.  Ilan has been teaching 7 years, Jose 10 years, Marc 8 years!  That is one exceptionally experienced team!   They are one of the few Gold Palm PADI resorts, meaning they do courses all the way to Assistant Instructor.  They are also the only dive operation on the island offering Technical diving training  - a good indication of the standard of their instructors - these guys have a lot of experience to draw from when teaching you, whatever level you are.  When you dive with Coconut you are likely to find your whole social life on the island centres around the people you meet there.  Also a Dive Rite and Oceanic dealership. 

Bottom Time - Coconut Tree Divers boat                                    The Coconut Tree Classroom

Native Sons - As the name suggests this dive shop is owned by a local, who is active in trying to protect the reef and works hard for the marine park.  He has two nice fast boats which means they visit some of the more distant dive sites.  This also makes them a good choice if sea sickness is an issue to you.  I have heard good feedback from their customers.  Like Coconut Tree also located right on half moon bay giving them a big advantage over the shops located further down the strip who have to walk up the road with all their heavy equipment to access the half moon bay confined water area.  Mark and Andrea are two instructors who have been on the island longer than most, whom I know well enough to personally recommend. They use two big fast skiffs.

Native Sons Dive Boats                              

West End Divers - They have a nice deck to see the sunset. Small red boats.  A lot of the staff there are good friends of mine and create a fun atmosphere.    I would personally recommend Nick as an instructor, he is very experienced. Under new management, this place is already improving significantly.  Mickey is a great divemaster as well.

West End Divers

Sueno del Mar - This is located in a large white building at the end of the 'West End Strip'.  Dave who works there are very knowledgeable about dive equipment.  It has good access to confined water.  Arturo is an experienced instructor there. They use a skiff.

Ocean Connections - PADI Dive Resort.  This shop was owned by a British called Phil for many years he is very experienced and developed a great reputation, he sold in May 2007 and the shop is now owned by a guy called Trevor and there is another experienced instructor called Luke there.  Their building is one of the bigger ones used by West End dive shops, with a reasonable classroom.  

Reef Gliders - Gold Palm Resort, small shop opposite Tylls. The new owners have spent a lot on the shop and improved things greatly. They are just about to move to a new building, virtually next door to the old one.  They use quite a large skiff.

Tylls Dive - One of the original West End dive operations.   Has a loyal band of customers.  Uwe and Dorte the owners are a lovely couple. They use a skiff.

Pura Vida - Gold Palm Resort - Located at the far end of the West End strip.  They had a complete change of instructors in October.  They run their boats slightly differently to most in that they run what they describe as a shuttle service.  This means a boat will take divers to one dive site, drop them off and then return to take other divers to another site.  This has resulted in people having to wait on the surface to be picked up by the 'shuttle boat'.  They also allow their customers to choose whether or not they donate top the marine park, which again reduces costs, sadly at the cost of conservation, frankly, I consider this aspect of their business to be an utter disgrace.

Happy Divers - The photo says it all.  Their equipment is extremely old.