Four days ago a large group came in to the shop enquiring for all sorts of things, from refreshers to resort dives. EVENTUALLY the two families decided to sort of start the open water course with the option just to do a resort dive.
Day1.
Was a busy one with a mixture of nerves, fear and excitement in the air. As a surprise to all the skills in the shallow water went extremely well with an element of shock by most. The first dive in the afternoon although was a bit tough for most at first , but after a while they settled down a bit and after 45 min’s everyone had enjoyed the experience in some way or form !
The class left in the afternoon for a well deserved siesta.
As instructors we expected at least 50% of the class not to return on the second day, especially as a large groups of students with various little problem, mostly with the question running around inside them: WHAT IF ……………………??
Day 2.
5 out of 7 returned, a little tired but ready to tackle the rest of the course with a dive buzz beginning to build. After another knowledge review back up to 6 students, unfortunately one has an equalization problem so there is not much we can do about that for now. That day Andrea and I filled them with a lot more confidence by completing the rest of the confined water session and catching up on some dive theory. We all had a lot of fun splashing around and laughing a lot on the surface.
Day 3.
Some dive theory and two dives today. The Dive tables caused a little confusion as usual at this stage, but went well. The next two dives were great, this is where the adventure begins. To see everyone nervously gearing up for the first dive after the skills day was great. Entering the water and completing some surface skills it was time to descend. What a dive!! After the first shaky dive and a full day of skills and theory this dive went fantastically. For just there second dive everyone was with a buddy and almost neutrally buoyant. We saw a huge Barracuda, Hog Fish and a cool Green Turtle with a Ramora stuck on top… Although a large group with 6 students, 2 instructors and 1 Snorkeler, but with the addition of one more dive that day, which went just as well, they were getting better and better. A great 3rd day.
Day 4
This morning was for a little recap on theory and the final exam. 11am, theory finished, it was time for the final certifying dive.
The whole group was excited about this dive, more comfortable in the water, full of dive theory but still a little dubious about the last time for mask removal. Skills complete like pro’s, time to dive. This time on Half Moon Bay Wall. Another great dive with at least 90 ft visibility. Lots of fish and after a perfect safety stop, 6 certified open water divers surfaced.

We always say that we have a good time here but this week was a lot of fun also. A great class, good weather and fantastic diving. We managed to squeeze in a couple of dives at the end of their week including Spooky Channel as the last dive.
Thanks guys…

You can do it too…….

Just returned from another special dive, this time I had taken two fun divers to ‘Butcher’s Bank’ where we saw a Southern Stingray and a Hawksbill Turtle, but more importantly I managed to find my second ‘pea’ since I came to the island 6 months ago. A ‘pea’ is a juvenile smooth trunkfish and about the size of a … you guessed it… pea. I was so excited I had a little dance underwater whilst pointing at this tiny little black dotted ball, hoping that my divers could see it, too. What a rare find!
Nicole

Its going to be weird when they are gone. Family Alpmann from Muenster, Germany has been with us for 3 weeks. They seemed like part of the resort already.
Josef, the dad came as an already certified diver and managed to log 40 dives over the next 3 weeks. The kids Jenny, Daniel and Lucas used the first week of there holiday to get certified and after that all of them could be found on the dive boat every single day. Daniels girlfriend Sharifa could only be talked into a Discover Scuba Dive, but she had lots of fun doing that. And mum?? She is a very enthusiastic snorkeler.
We will miss you, family Alpmann.


Es wird eigenartig sein, wenn sie nicht mehr da sind. Familie Alpmann aus Muenster, Deutschland war fuer 3 Wochen bei uns zu Besuch. Und schienen schon Teil des Resortes zu sein.
Papa Josef kam schon als zertifizierter Taucher zu uns und hat waehrend der naechsten 3 Wochen 40 Tauchgaenge in sein Logbuch eingetragen. Die Kids Jenny, Daniel und Lucas haben waehrend der ersten Woche ihres Ulaubes den Grundschein gemacht und ware ab dann jeden Tag auf dem Tauchboot zu finden. Daniels Freundin Sharifa konnten wir zwar nur zu einem Schnuppertauchgang ueberreden, aber damit hatte sie jede Menge Spass. Und Mum??? Die ist ein ganz begeisteter Schnorchler.
Liebe Familie Alpmann, wir werden Euch wahrlich vermissen.

Morning dive at around 9:15 close to Pablo’s Place at the point of the west end of Roatan, our boat’s morning divers saw a pod of around 9 dolphins. Jose stopped the boat for us just a little ahead of them and at the word ‘Go’ everyone jumped in the water and snorkeled with them for around 10 minutes. Back on the boat with big smiles all around ready to go diving.

Drifting along the wall during the dive a few minutes later, one of the family groups saw the dolphins swimming in the blue above them. Now that’s something a little more special.

Last week also a special treat on the more relaxed afternoon dive, we saw 2 (!!!!!!) NURSE SHARKS in the same spot at Turtle Crossing only a 10 minute boat ride from our dock. These sharks are a little elusive around Roatan these days but now and then we get lucky. Not a bad month… Sharks, sea horses, eagle rays, Pilot whales and Dolphins again..