Roberta's Scuba Shack

Located in Cozumel, Mexico, Roberta's Scuba Shack has been operating for 25 years, establishing itself as a reliable hub for both recreational and professional divers. The centre operates as a dive resort, providing a seamless link between your accommodation and the reef.

Whether you are looking to complete your first Open Water course or are an experienced diver seeking advanced specialties, the centre provides a structured and professional environment. The focus remains on safety, reef conservation, and high-quality instruction across multiple certifying bodies.

The centre is highly experienced, holding affiliations with PADI, NAUI, SSI, and TDI. This multi-agency approach ensures that divers from various backgrounds can find the specific training or certification they require.

Instruction is delivered in small groups, with a maximum of 6 to 8 divers per guide. This ratio allows for close supervision and a more personalised experience on the water.

Roberta's Scuba Shack is also a specialist in adaptive diving, working in partnership with LifeWaters to provide accessible diving opportunities. Their commitment to the environment is evident in their reef protection initiatives, including free buoyancy courses to help divers protect the local coral.

The course catalogue is extensive, catering to every level of diver. Beginners can start with Discover Scuba Diving or the Bubblemaker programme, progressing through to the PADI Open Water Diver and Advanced Open Water Diver courses.

For those looking to advance their professional skills, the centre offers the Rescue Diver and Divemaster courses. Specialist training is also available, including the Wreck Diver, Navigation, Peak Performance Buoyancy, and Drift Diving specialties, as well as underwater photography master courses.

Dives are conducted using fast boats with a capacity for 6 to 8 divers. These vessels facilitate the efficient transit required for the drift diving that Cozumel is famous for.

Onboard, you will find refreshments including water, sodas, and pastries. The centre provides reusable water bottles to help reduce plastic waste during your trips. For those looking for more exclusivity, private boat charters are available for groups ranging from 1 to 9 persons.

The centre offers full equipment hire, including BCDs, regulators, wetsuits, and dive computers. For those who prefer to bring their own kit, there are dedicated facilities including free lockers, a rinsing tank, and a secure room for drying equipment.

Nitrox is available for divers looking to extend their no-decompression limits. The centre also provides specific rental options for those needing a BCD, regulator, or computer separately.

The reefs are home to a diverse array of large pelagics and schooling fish. You may see hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini), eagle rays (Aetobatus), and various species of reef sharks. During July and August, whale sharks are also present in the area.

The walls and coral structures are teeming with life, including groupers (Epinephelus), Nassau grouper, and large schools of snapper (Lutjanus) and jacks (Carangidae). You will frequently encounter southern stingrays (Hypanus americanus) and various species of turtles, such as the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata).

Macro life and smaller inhabitants are abundant throughout the reefs. Look for octopus (Octopus vulgaris), spiny lobster (Palinuridae), and various species of moray eel (Muraenidae). The seabed and coral heads also host seahorses (Hippocampus kuda), scorpionfish (Scorpaenidae), and various species of shrimp (Caridea).

The diving in Cozumel is characterised by predominant currents that generally run from north to south. These currents can vary from gentle to very strong and can shift direction between east and west, or move vertically.

Many of the primary reef sites are part of a national park and are subject to a rotation system where certain areas are closed periodically to allow for reef recovery.