West Bay Divers is truly a hidden gem on Roatan, tucked away just back from West Bay Beach behind Beachers, a lively bar & restaurant. If you weren't following the signs, you might miss it - but this is not a dive shop to miss.As most of you already know, I am picky about where I dive in my time off. Having been an instructor and also having run dive shops, I know exactly what I'm looking for in a dive shop, and West Bay Divers (WBD) ticks all the boxes for me:friendly and experienced ...
Roatan Review
Diving in Roatan: Roatan Divers
My first stop on my surprise trip to Roatan last summer was Roatan Divers. Not only was I super excited to see the owners, my friends Saaya (who counts both Japan and America as home) and Karl (who hails from Sweden), but I had a big goodie bag stuffed full of Japanese treats for Saaya that I wanted to deliver! There's a long list of things that are difficult to get on Roatan, and stuff from Japan is (understandably) pretty high on that list.I've watched Roatan Divers for years. I first ...
Diving in Roatan: Tobri Divers
When I went back to Roatan this past summer, there was one new place I was itching to dive at: Tobri Divers.During my time living on the island, this tiny south-side boutique dive resort was run by a German couple and was marketed almost exclusively to Europeans. I didn't know anyone who had worked there or had dove with them. It was almost completely off my radar.Fast forward to my trip in the summer of 2017, where my good friends Irma & Martijn had returned to the island and taken over ...
Roatan Review: Blackwater Night Diving with West End Divers
Sometimes, things that happen are just "so Roatan", and if you've ever been here you know what I'm talking about.I was walking to meet my friend for ice cream one evening when I passed West End Divers, and co-owner Gary (more commonly known as Bugs around these parts) stopped me in the street."Have you been drinking?" was the first thing out of his mouth.I wondered if my (100% sober) gait was deceiving people, and responded with a, "no I haven't, thank you very much!""We're doing a ...
Roatan Review: Barefoot Cay & Barefoot Divers
There's only one place I recommend to travelers looking for the absolute ultimate in luxury during their stay on Roatan, and that's Barefoot Cay Resort. A private cay? A gourmet restaurant only open to resort guests? The highest staff-to-guest ratio around? A spa, marina and private palapa + house reef? A 5-star PADI dive shop on site with high-end gear, boats and facilities? Yes, please! Barefoot Cay is a four-acre private cay on the south shore of Roatan. With the dive shop + gorgeous ...
Roatan Review: La Casita
The latest addition to my Roatan Review series is: La Casita!I was really bummed when one of my fave restaurants, Bay Islands Original Cafe, closed just a few months after I did a review. Such is life on Roatan though - as people come and go, so do businesses.After a couple months, I found out two of my friends had taken over the space and had something really special planned for it. Slowly but surely, La Casita was born.Alejandra and Andres have created a zen little oasis just a few ...
Roatan Review: Sundara Wellness Center
The latest addition to my Roatan Review series is: Sundara Wellness Center!After going back to diving full-time, my body was exhausted and sore after a few months back in the water (hey, I had been out of practice for a while!). Luckily for me, my friend Mariela Garcia suggested that I spend a day at her wellness center in French Harbor.Sundara Wellness Center follows an organic and healing philosophy, and it certainly showed in the serene setting, caring staff, and natural products. I ...
Roatan Review: Ocean Connections Dive Shop
[EDIT: 2015 - New management and owners have changed this shop significantly. Please always do recent research if you see my reviews are older - things change quickly on an island. My review only stands at the time of writing and the shop is no longer being run the same.]When I first arrived on Roatan, Ocean Connections was a 'bros-only' dive shop - the owner refused to hire any female instructors or divemasters. The decidedly testosterone-laden vibe was bogged down further by a small, beat up ...
Roatan Review: The Landing
[Update 2015: the restaurant is under new management with a new chef. I no longer recommend this place.]During one of my vacations to Roatan in 2012, one of my friends got a job at a little tucked-away bar called 'The Landing' on the second floor of The Beach House (a boutique hotel in West End that I adore). I hadn't even noticed the staircase off the street leading up to this place, but once he started bartending there, it suddenly became the place to be for all our friends. Flaming ...
Roatan Review: Tyll’s Dive
[Update May 2016: Sadly, Tyll's has just closed its doors for good and Dorte and Uwe are leaving the island after many, many years. The big resorts have made it difficult for small shops like Tyll's to stay afloat. Choose your dive operator wisely, my friends.] One of the best dive shops in West End consistently flies right under the radar and is one of the best kept secrets on Roatan - when Tyll's Dive advertises small groups, and a cozy, family-like atmosphere... they mean it!I ...