Upcoming Events & Articles
Enrichment
Valentines Day Dive
Buy One, Get One Free
Join us for a weekend of diving as we celebrate Valentine’s Day. Pay for the first dive and enjoy the second dive on us. Limited time offer, and limited seating. The promotion is for ten divers per day, so be sure to book online soon.
WHERE: Little French Key
WHEN: February 11 thru 14th
WHAT: Buy one dive, get the second one free
PRO TIP: Our surface interval will be on Little French Key, so come prepared to enjoy the key for an hour or so in between dives.
Because you never dive alone, will you be our Valentine’s?
Buy One, Get One Free
Join us for a weekend of diving as we celebrate Valentine’s Day. Pay for the first dive and enjoy the second dive on us.
Limited time offer, and limited seating. The promotion is for ten divers per day, so be sure to book online soon.
WHERE: Little French Key
WHEN: February 11 thru 14th
WHAT: Buy one dive, get the second one free
PRO TIP: Our surface interval will be on Little French Key, so come prepared to enjoy the key for an hour or so in between dives.
Divemaster Roatan
Becoming a Divemaster.
Divers love the idea of becoming a Divemaster because they are leaders, they help and motivate people to do what they love. As Divemaster you not only dive a lot but you also gain and live an unforgettable experience.
Divemaster Program
¿Are you starting to explore the idea of becoming a Divemaster? Take your Divemaster course, become a PADI Pro and do what you like most as a career with one of the best dive shops on Roatan, The Scuba Shop.
Divers love the idea of becoming a Divesaster because they are leaders, and as such, they help and motivate people to do what they love. As Divemaster you not only dive a lot but you also gain and live an unforgettable experience. You will enjoy seeing how other divers do what you like. If you are a Padi Rescue Diver and have a minimum age of 18 years you can enroll in the DiveMaster PADI course.
Surrounded by beautiful beaches, Roatan has the second largest barrier reef system in the world - and the largest in the northern hemisphere. Roatan, in particular, could not be a better place for learning and having the necessary resources to become a PADI professional. This exotic island has several Dive Centers that provide the best experience for Divemaster & Instructor Development Internships but few match the professionalism and experience you find at The Scuba Shop.
We assure you that you will leave prepared and well trained to find the perfect job. It is fun and challenging, it will leave you the best adventure you could have ever imagined. We like to work side by side with our divers to rest assure you get the most out of the course.
If you consider yourself a challenging diver, Divemaster is perfect for you as it is known as one of the most enjoyable and challenging courses. We take into account your effort, your dedication, your time on the island and your experience to offer you the best schedule for your Divemaster course.
Book you first dive with The Scuba Shop.
NEED A DISCOUNT?
NO PROBLEM, WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED!
EMAIL THE SHOP AND ASK ABOUT OUR DISCOUNTS
Dive Shops in Roatan
What matters most to you?
It is essential to understand your priorities. In other words, know which amenities matter most important to you. Do you care more about the cost per dive? Group discounts? Commute to and from the dive shop? Night diving options? Show dives in Roatan? Do you prefer large groups or smaller groups? What part of the island does the dive shop frequent most often? Do you want to dive with a dive professional in Roatan or do you want your dive to be guided?
Selecting a Dive Shop
Selecting the right Scuba Shop
Thirst and curiosity for adventure are why many of us become scuba divers. But we're not about to go on a dive with just anyone (or any dive shop) without first doing a little homework. Whether you’re looking to avoid unprofessional dive shops, large crowded cattle boats, or bad air shops, here are some ways you can be sure you've found the right dive operator.
First things first
Ask friends or a family member you trust. You can also ask your extended social network for recommendations. Online review sites such as TripAdvisor or Roatan.Online can also be an excellent resource to inform your decision. Don’t make the mistake of ruling out a dive shop based on one or two negative reviews. This is especially true when you find that there are dozens of positive reviews for every one negative review. One other thing to check for is how the dive shop has responded to the negative remarks.
If you come across a few dive shops with nearly perfect reviews, then turn your attention to things that may matter most to you like location, size of their scuba boats, and excellent online communication.
What matters most to you?
Your Priorities
Questions to Ask
Site Visits
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
It is essential to understand your priorities. In other words, know which amenities matter most important to you. Do you care more about the cost per dive? Group discounts? Commute to and from the dive shop? Night diving options? Show dives in Roatan? Do you prefer large groups or smaller groups? What part of the island does the dive shop frequent most often? Do you want to dive with a dive professional in Roatan or do you want your dive to be guided?
Nothing beats paying a visit to the dive shop just before making your final decision. Keep in mind that many of the dive shops are relatively close to one another, so it is often possible to peak in and speak to the person in charge before making a final decision. Most of the time, you'll be able to walk away with a good sense for how responsive the dive shop is. More importantly, you may come away with a better feeling for their customer service.
PRO TIP: If you are among those who get seasick more efficiently, you may consider diving with a resort that dives out of a larger dive boat.
Finding the right SCUBA Shop (when traveling)
Once you have a shortlist of potential dive shops in Roatan, you may expand your research on YouTube and or on social media sites like Facebook. Sometimes these sites can give you added insight into dive shop operations. Online videos and social media posts can provide insight into what dive shops may be on a day to day basis. Many dive shops will pin the most recent dive site they visited. Pay attention to this especially if you are interested in multiple dives, as you don't want to dive the same dive site more than once.
Important Considerations:
How new is their rental gear?
Is there a place to store personal valuables?
Can they handle equipment repair?
What is the experience level of the staff?
Will you be able to shower & clean up after a dive?
Are their bathrooms or dressing rooms clean?
How many divers do they take out at one time?
What is the dive shop’s cancellation and refund policy?
Does the dive shop offer any specialty courses?
Declare Special Needs
Families with divers under 15-years-old, technical divers, and divers with disabilities should let the dive know of any special accommodations you may have. Do this in advance whenever possible.
Ready to Dive? Let’s sign you up.
When to Avoid a Dive Shop
There are cases in which it may be best to avoid a dive shop. For example, you may choose not to do business with a dive shop for serious reasons like having poorly maintained scuba equipment. You may also want not to engage a dive shop for less serious reasons like an unenthusiastic staff.
The official PADI website has a dive shop locator which may also help you identify a reputable dive shop. Look for dive shops with a five-star rating. Some dive shops go beyond their five-star rating and receive additional recognition for being Instructor Development Centers and or for having a Green Star and 100% AWARE business for being the protection of the environment.
NEED A DISCOUNT?
NO PROBLEM, WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED!
EMAIL THE SHOP AND ASK ABOUT OUR DISCOUNTS
Roatan Night Dives
IRONICALLY, NIGHT DIVES ARE MORE COLORFUL
Ironically, the reef appears more colorful at night than it does during the day; this is primarily because night dives require flashlights, which introduce red light into the scene. During the day, red light coming from the sun is lost because of the density in water molecules.
Roatan Night Diving
Much of the marine life is nocturnal, and Night Dives offer scuba divers an opportunity to observe the reef and the marine life around it when creatures are the most active, the most alive. Scuba Diving is a thrilling experience, and this is especially true during a night dive.
Night Diving is mysterious. There is something about it that awakens the explore within and draws us closer to nature found just below the surface.
Most often, a night dive begins just after sunset, while there is still natural light in the sky. Night falls during the dive, and it is almost unnoticeable because our eye acclimates to the surrounding environment. It isn't long before all we've got to illuminate our path is the light we brought alone.
ABOUT NIGHT DIVES
Because of an active nocturnal marine life, night dives are exciting and offer several opportunities to spot a wider variety of creatures. What's more, is that some of the most strange creatures (who burrow during the day) come out and feed on the coral reef after dark. Giant crabs, lobsters, and octopus are all far more active at night than they are during the day.
A night dive may change the way you think of marine life.
Ironically, the reef appears more colorful at night than it does during the day; this is primarily because night dives require flashlights, which introduce red light into the scene. During the day, red light coming from the sun is lost because of the density in water molecules.
Mary's Place Dive Site
SPECTACULAR CREVICES
The most impressive feature of Mary's Place is its majestic Reef Walls, which form a trench through which scuba divers can swim through. The dive site is shaped by intricate crevices that cut through the plateau. These crevices are as wide as 10 ft wide. Along the walls of Mary's Place, crevices are overhangs filled with beautiful Bushy and Feather Black Coral along with gorgonians that have adapted to this marine environment.
PHOTO BY: ROBERT HERB
FEATURES:
Large Crevices
Black Coral
Swim-through
Mary's Place is located off of the southern shore of Roatan, near French Harbour, in an area called Brick Bay. The site's call to fame is its impressive vertical crevices, which were formed by ancient volcanic activity.
The crevices can reach depths of 36 meters (120 feet). Mary's Place is arguably Roatan's most famous dive site. The site is a plateau, shaped like an elbow, with the shallow end at 30 ft, while the tip of the elbow sits at 60 ft.
The most impressive feature of Mary's Place is its majestic Reef Walls, which form a trench through which scuba divers can swim through. The dive site is shaped by intricate crevices that cut through the plateau. These crevices are as wide as 10 ft wide. Along the walls of Mary's Place, crevices are overhangs filled with beautiful Bushy and Feather Black Coral along with gorgonians that have adapted to this marine environment.