Roatan Dive Center

Roatan Dive Center is an established SSI dive centre with two distinct bases on opposite sides of the island. You can choose to dive from the north coast in West End or the south coast in Dixon Cove, a setup that allows the team to select the best sites based on daily weather and sea conditions.

The Dixon Cove location is particularly convenient for those arriving by sea, situated just minutes from the airport, ferry terminal, and cruise ship docks. Both sites offer free off-road parking and provide a professional, service-oriented environment for divers of all levels.

The team is composed of highly experienced professionals, with some members having spent over 26 years diving the waters of Roatan. This deep local knowledge ensures that you are guided to the best sites for your specific experience level and interests.

Safety and conservation are central to their operations. As an SSI Blue Oceans Dive Center, they are committed to marine protection and use reef-friendly products like Stream2Sea. They also operate as a DAN (Divers Alert Network) centre, ensuring high standards of safety and emergency preparedness on site.

As an SSI affiliated centre, they offer a comprehensive curriculum ranging from the SSI Basic Diver and Open Water Diver to Advanced Open Water Diver. They also provide the SSI Open Water & Nitrox Combo for those looking to extend their bottom time from the outset.

For divers looking to specialise, the centre runs several SSI specialty courses, including Wreck Diver, Deep Diver, and Rescue Diver. They also offer the SSI React Right course to enhance safety skills in the water.

The centre provides a full range of rental kit, including Mares BCDs and regulators, alongside masks, fins, snorkels, and wetsuits. For those who prefer to use their own equipment, the facility includes dedicated rinsing areas, showers, and storage space.

Nitrox is available for use, and the centre maintains a high standard of kit maintenance, with staff handling the transport, washing, and organising of equipment. For night dives, dive computers are available for hire.

The reefs are teeming with a diverse array of fish, including large groupers (Epinephelus), yellowfin tuna, and various species of snapper (Lutjanus). You will frequently see schools of Jack (Carangidae), bighead jacks, and colourful reef fish like butterflyfish (Chaetodon) and parrotfish (Calotomus) patrolling the coral.

Large pelagics and charismatic species are a highlight, with Caribbean reef sharks and nurse sharks (Ginglymostoma cirratum) often encountered. Eagle rays (Aetobatus) and Southern stingrays (Hypanus americanus) are also known to glide over the sandy patches near the wrecks.

The marine scenery is defined by a rich architecture of living organisms, including various sea fans (Gorgoniidae), black coral, and pillar coral. The seabed is decorated with diverse sponges (Porifera), such as barrel sponges, and soft corals (Alcyonacea) that provide habitat for countless creatures.

For those with a keen eye for macro life, the sites offer incredible variety. You can find nudibranchs (Chromodoris willani), seahorses (Hippocampus kuda), and various species of shrimp, including cleaner shrimp (Lysmata) and striped coral shrimp. Garden eels (Gorgasia) and octopus (Octopus vulgaris) are also common residents of the reef flats and sandy areas.

Diving in Roatan is generally characterised by minimal currents, though specific sites like Marco's Place can experience moderate to strong conditions. The water is typically warm, though you should plan according to the seasonal weather patterns of the Caribbean.

While the area is generally excellent for diving, the rainy season from mid-October to March and the hurricane season from June to November can affect local conditions. The centre's dual-location setup is designed to mitigate these changes by allowing access to the most sheltered sites.