We consider the diving off West End, Roatan to be the best in the world. Despite the easy access, the reef around West End remains healthy and strong.  While poachers still takes their share of large groupers, game fish, conch and lobster, the abundance of life here is staggering. Eagle Rays and Turtles are seen on nearly every dive. Yellow Tail Snappers follow us everywhere, and schools of Blue Tang dance in the currents. But beyond the obvious, is a breathtaking world of tiny creatures. Sea Horses, Neck Crabs and Pipe Fish can all be found if you slow down and look. Peterson Shrimp and Gobies will happily provide a manicure to anyone with good enough buoyancy skills to hover over their homes.

There are more than thirty absolutely stunning dive sites between the western tip of the island and Spooky Channel that are literally minutes away by boat. Each site can be done dozens of times at varying depths without every feeling you’ve seen it all. With the variety of dive options from cavern to wreck diving, exploring your personnel depth limits, increasing your training or just watching fish. West End has it all. 

“If common sense were common there would be far fewer problems in the world”

§Never dive alone

§Know your limits and stick to them

§Plan your own dives (Don’t trust anyone else with your life)

§Avoid all contact with the reef

§Never harass marine organisms

§Never remove a marine organism, alive or dead

§Never purchase products made from shell or coral

§Don’t litter

§Take only memories, leave only bubbles

§Never stop training

Diving Questions you need to ask?

The most important facet of dive instruction is Safety. Please ensure that you speak directlyto the instructor that will be working with you to ensure there is a mutual level of trust. It is important to have fun, but you are paying them to teach! 

0. Is the shop properly licensed and insured?

0. Is there a working O2 kit, First Aid and VHF communication available at all times during your instruction? 

0. Does your instructor carry proof of Certification and Liability Insurance?

0. When was the equipment last serviced? 

0. Are there records of tank Hydro and Visual inspections posted? 

0. Is the maintenance record for the Air Compressor posted?

0. In the event that you cannot complete the course, what is the shops policy? 

0. Will the shop ensure that you can complete the course in the event of inclement weather?

0. If you are taking an advanced course, how many dives will there be, and will you actually be accompanied by an instructor?

0. Can you pick specialty dives that suit your own interests?  

Dive instruction in West End, roughly follows PADI standards. PADI is one of 58 Scuba certifying agencies worldwide and is recognized internationally. Your academic instruction will be done via DVD and use of text books and quizzes. In shallow water you will be shown the basics and asked to perform various tasks at the surface and underwater.  Like any new skill, learning to dive is about practice, becoming familiar with the life support equipment and the new and wondrous environment. The more you dive the better you get at it. It is an evolutionary process.

“On the planet earth, man had always assumed that he was more intelligent than dolphins because he had achieved so much – the wheel, New York, Wars and so on – while all the dolphins had ever done was muck about in the water having a good time. But conversely, the dolphins had always believed that they were far more intelligent than man – for precisely the same reasons.”                                                                                     

                                                                                                                                              Douglas Adams