top of page

TRIP ADVISOR DIVE CENTER REVIEWS

#1 DIVE SHOP IN WEST BAY, ROATAN
First time scuba diving with Ivette was amazing!!! 
– 5 Stars

Leah, Mar 2020, Lakewood, Ohio

My husband and I have been wanting to try scuba diving, so when we booked our Royal Caribbean Western Caribbean cruise on Symphony of the Seas, we figured this would be the perfect time. We received a tip about West Bay Divers from my cousin who visited Roatan a previous year, and recommended them. This was initially why I decided to go through them. First, I want to say that they did a really great job taking care of our transportation. I did not worry once about getting from and back to the cruise port in a timely manner. The transport company they use is really good and reputable. When we reached West Bay Divers, they were super kind and professional. Ivette was our dive instructor and she totally took care of us. She made sure we understood everything about the dive before we headed out. I think she could tell I was a little hesitant about it at first, so she took extra care to make sure I was comfortable and knew what I was doing. She took us around beautiful coral reefs and pointed out pretty fish. It was a really great time. She even inspired us to come back to Roatan again and get scuba certified at West Bay Divers in the future! We know we can trust them as a company, and Ivette was really passionate about scuba diving and kind/caring, so I would definitely go back there again. Thanks, West Bay Divers, for helping our first dive ever to go so well! We can't wait for our next dive!!!

_______________________________________________________________________

A Must-Do Experience in Roatan – 5 Stars

Jordy F,  Mar 2020

While I'm reviewing after a visit in March 2020, my wife and I also visited West Bay Divers for the first time in July 2019, so we'll refer to both experiences here.
My wife and I decided to get Open Water certified last year and chose Roatan to do so considering the location as one of the top Scuba destinations in the world. In researching companies to get certified with, it became very clear that West Bay Divers was the best choice.
From the very beginning, the communication in advance of our trip was very clear, quick and responsive.
However the highlight back in July 2019 was working with Joel. When we started our course in July 2019, we were randomly paired with Joel. And I must say, it was kind of life changing because not only did we get certified, but we made a true friend.
Joel is by far one of the best instructors you could ask for dealing with something like scuba certification. He's funny, patient, clear, prioritizing safety, realistic. Knows how to reign in my wife who is more adventurous and reassure me as someone more conservative.
We felt truly personalized attention for both July and March trips and Joel (and co) were extremely flexible in customizing our schedule and trips to our liking.
We've seen and done so many incredible scuba adventures so far with Joel.
The testament is really that after our trip in July 2019, we immediately booked our return in March 2020 literally within 7 days after returning in July!
Furthermore, we were originally scheduled for 3 full days in March 2020; however we were having such a great time that we extended while we were still down in Roatan this year!
We will obviously be back and Joel + West Bay are like family as this point. There's no one more I trust and feel comfortable with than Joel and West Bay for this and we will continue to come to them for as long as we can travel to Roatan.
But again, ask for Joel!!!!

_______________________________________________________________________

Best instructor and team ever  – 5 Stars

5 STAR REVIEW TheresaVib –  Mar 2020, Brooklyn, New York

I just returned from my second visit to Roatan and to West Bay Divers. My husband and I went for the first time in July 2019 and completed open water certification and just went in March 2020 and completed advanced open water certification. Both times we worked with West Bay dive instructor, Joel. HE IS THE BEST. As city dwellers, open water and nature in general isn't customary for us, Joel combines the excitement. of what we were doing with the ease of feeling safe and informed. We loved working with him so much last July, that we specifically booked our return trip around his availability. We came back for him! The entire West bay team is great however, there is a fun, communal feel and I can tell that divers of all levels feel welcome and encouraged. I am a risk taker while my husband is more conservative and Joel did an incredible job of balancing what worked for both of us. We will go back again for sure, and definitely make sure we book Joel before we can confirm our travel, because he is THE BEST.

_______________________________________________________________________

 

Rescue Diver  – 5 Stars

Paul J  Mar 2020

Just finished my EFR+ Rescue Diver at West Bay Divers with Joel Urbina.....Fantastic instructor, Thank you Joel. Joel cerrtainly put me through my paces including some impromptu situations on land and in water :). Joel is fantastic and I highly recommned him, very informative and fun....See you next year.
Great Crew at WB Divers, including Jorge and the extended team of Captains. The Gear is top notch as are the boats...Thanks Again.
_______________________________________________________________________

 

So much fun! – 5 Stars

Sharine N  – Mar 2020

Review of: Cruise Excursion – 2 Snorkel Trips for one person with transport

My family and my husband’s sisters family went on an this snorkeling excursion while stopped in Roatan on our cruise last week. Transportation was great, we didn’t have any problems getting there and back. The two stops they took us to on the boat were amazing. We saw lots of beautiful fish and the guides even went out of there way to try to find my daughters snorkel mask that we lost (it was our personal mask, not theirs). Everyone was so nice! I would definitely recommend them.

_______________________________________________________________________


Fantastic diving/snorkeling with West Bay Divers! 
– 5 Stars

Review of: Cruise Excursion – 2 Scuba Dives with transport (for certified divers)My wife and I booked a 2 tank dive & snorkel trip with West Bay divers on our 1 day cruise ship stop in Roatan. The day went perfectly. West Bay arranged timely transportation from and to the port, took us out in a beautiful new boat that was outfitted with nice, new dive and snorkel gear. The West Bay crew were terrific, Arthur, Gabby & Captain Hazel were out to make sure we had a great dive/snorkel experience while maintaining attention on safety. I saw so many kinds of fish, coral and sealife that my GoPro7 battery was completely used up by the end of the 2nd dive!
My wife and I look forward to going back.

_______________________________________________________________________

Excellent snorkeling trip – 5 Stars

Review of: Cruise Excursion – 2 Snorkel Trips for one person with transport

Marilyn D  – Mar 2020

Our driver, Henry, was waiting for us as planned. Once arrived, the staff was courteous. The boat was clean and our group of 6 snorkelers and 3 divers motored off to the first of 2 locations. They had watermelon and pineapple pieces between the dives which were refreshing. I would have liked to have some water as well. Good thing I brought my own. Our driver back , JC, was just as efficient and got us back to the ship in ample time. I would highly recommend them!

_______________________________________________________________________

5 Stars Isn't A Fair Score! – 5 Stars

Review of: Advanced Open Water Course

Captain Canada  – Mar 2020 – Toronto, Canada

If you're wondering why West Bay Divers has so many people giving it 5 Stars, it's probably because TripAdvisor won't let you give them more.

The Short Story: They are absolutely amazing at everything they do. If you are looking for THE Dive shop in Roatan (and I'd argue the Caribbean) then you've found it. Do yourself a favour, email them with your details / requests and don't even think twice about whether or not you've made the right choice of either the shop or the Island.

The Long Story: Decided to stay at the Grand Roatan (also highly recommended) and get my Advanced Open Water certification at the West Bay Divers shop on site. Wayne and Mayghan set me up for the online prep work, and due to a technical glitch with the PADI website and my tablet, helped me finish the course material onsite when I arrived. With that out of they way, Mayghan was my 1-1 instructor for the week and it would be near impossible to try and figure out anything that could have gone better for the entire time I was there. In addition to being a fantastic Dive Master Trainer and guide, Mayghan is one of the most genuine and fun people I've ever had the pleasure to meet. As with all the staff at West Bay, it's obvious she loves her job, the Island, and working with people. Even if TripAdvisor were to allow my argument for 10 stars for West Bay Divers, I'd then have to argue Mayghan gets an 11. Aside from just the diving portion of the week, she provided all kinds of advice and tips on where to visit on the island, in West End, (truly) local places to eat and hang out, and tons of advice on dive locations all over the world. You can’t get everything from TripAdvisor 😉. And a special note of thanks for Nicola accompanying myself and 2 others along on the Shark Dive. The drop in from the boat was miles from simple due to rough waters and a small, full boat, but she kept it all calm and under control (the boat and crew were not part of West Bay Divers, this dive was with a separate company). Like everyone at West Bay Divers, you are in great hands with them no matter the situation, which is a testament to the owners as well for quit literally finding the best of the best. Equipment was always in great shape and ready for all divers well before we arrived. All of the boat captains, additional instructors, and shop staff are included in my rating as everyone combined to make the time I spent with West Bay Divers one of my (if not the) all time favourite vacation highlights. You could rename the shop West Bay Divers and Roatan Ambassadors as they seemed intent on making sure every minute you are on the island was well spent regardless of how much of your time was spent diving. **********+* Stars, I can’t wait to go back!
And in case it crossed your mind: Do The Shark Dive. It’s hard to explain how incredible it is to be surrounded by 15+ 3 Metre Caribbean Reef Sharks just lazily swimming along with you, and it always felt as safe as sitting on a couch in your own living room.

_______________________________________________________________________

Diving in paradise – 5 Stars

Review of: Advanced Open Water Course

Yves M  – Mar 2020

Traveling to Roatan for the 3rd time decided to get our dive certification with West Bay Divers, best decision ever. Staff was just amazing. Had the best instructor, Quentin “Paco”. Thanks to all the staff, Angel, Hazel, Joel, Edwin and Marco

_______________________________________________________________________

The Absolute Best Dive Center – 5 Stars

Review of: Advanced Open Water Course

Matt Nowlin  – Mar 2020

Congratulations! You found the best dive center in West Bay, if not in all of Roatan! Your search ends here! They are warm and accommodating, but professional and safety minded as well. I left feeling like family. They really are adveture enablers, as I had the time of my life. They were knowledgeable of the best dive sites and conditions. Their facilities and boats are new and top notch. I did not use their equipment but saw that their rental gear was meticulously maintained. They are truly a 5 star concierge center with unmatched service and attention. All of my objectives were thoroughly discussed prior to arrival and the schedule and staff was assigned to achieve. Even last minute requests were met. I will bring friends and family back here to dive and in fact trust them to teach my young son the basics. The depth of experience of the staff was impressive. All of them are personable and very qualified. However I personally recommend Mayghan as she made the trip even better with her uniquely positive approach to learning in a fun and relaxed way. She is a gem!

_______________________________________________________________________

 

WEST BAY DIVERS!

Review of: Advanced Open Water Course

We have had the most amazing time with Joel at West Bay Divers. Our family started with a discovery dive last year and we couldn't wait to get back to Roatan in January to start our advanced open water certification.  We are blessed to visit Roatan 2-3 times a year, and we've found a gem with this dive shop.  
I was a bit nervous at first, but Joel's friendly nature, professional attitude and abundance of talent gave me the confidence to enjoy every minute of our dives. Joel is a gifted teacher and Dive Master who understands everyone learns at a different speed.  The quality of the dive equipment is absolutely the best I've used, and is expertly maintained.  

The entire West Bay Divers team is amazing.  For example, I had issues equalizing on my first dive, and Dive Master Mayghan suggested I try Doc's Pro Plugs to help equalize under water. Thanks to Mayghan, I see they now sell these Divers ear Plugs at the shop, and I appreciate when I see a business listen to their staff. Captain Hazel expertly pilots the boat safely to the dive sites and always has the best watermelon in the world ready for you when you resurface. Office manager Angel makes sure your entire experience is top notch, and the rest of the team are so friendly. 

If you're curious about diving, definitely try a discovery dive. After an hour under the water, you'll be hooked!

_______________________________________________________________________

Great diving experience! – 5 Stars

Review of: Advanced Open Water Course

Susan R  – Mar 2020

We just returned from Roatan and and an awesome week of diving with West Bay Divers where 4 of our family got our advanced open water certification. This was a return visit to this dive company. The entire experience was fantastic! Joel was the best dive instructor ever. He was not only professional and helpful but he also made the required dives so fun. Across the board, the West Bay team worked hard to accommodate our needs and make our trip wonderful. Thanks to all, but especially thanks to Joel. I can’t wait to go back again.

_______________________________________________________________________

Under water amazement – 5 Stars

Darin  – Mar 2020

Windsor, Canada

One of the best companies i have ever had the pleasure to dive with extremely friendly and knowledgeable reasonably priced with excellent equipment made this bucket list trip amazing . Specail thanks to Jorge Laínez for the amazing experience. The dive team here and Captians are great and they're what you need if you want a adventure of a life time its true you get what you pay for but also true a good instuctor/guide gets you there a shows you things you didnt know existed . 5 star diving group

 

Diving with West Bay Divers – 5 Stars

Review of: Advanced Open Water Course

Steve  – Mar 2020

Just returned home to Kansas after a week in Roatan. Our group of four all completed our Advanced Open Water Certification with West Bay Divers. Our instructor, Joel was awesome and is a ton of fun to dive with. He and the entire staff work hard to provide a wonderful diving experience, whether training or just doing regular dives. This was our second trip diving with them and both trips were great. Thanks for the memories Joel and West Bay Divers.

_______________________________________________________________________

West Bay Divers – 5 Stars

Review of: Cruise Excursion – 2 Snorkel Trips for one person with transport

Kathy H –  Mar 2020

West Bay Divers were excellent. The transportation from the ship to the boat was seamless. We were on a small boat with some divers. We were the only snorkelers. The water was clear, the coral beds were almost endless. We were often surrounded by schools of fish. It was a great experience.

_______________________________________________________________________

Incredible Dive Shop in West Bay, Roatan! – 5 Stars

Review of: Advanced Open Water Course

Ash Hahn –  Feb 2020 Newark, New Jersey

If you want to go scuba-diving and/or snorkeling in Roatan, West Bay Divers are the absolute best!

West Bay Divers have a variety of different courses, services, and dives. There may be less expensive dive centers in Roatan, but you get what you pay for, and at West Bay Divers I received the highest quality instruction, equipment, care and attention.

I originally planned to only take an Open Water Course while I was in Roatan, but I enjoyed my experience so much that I also completed my Advanced Open Water certification and multiple fun dives and day trips.

I was incredibly lucky to have an amazing instructor throughout my time in Roatan—Jorge. Jorge went above and beyond to make sure I was safe, comfortable, and confident while diving. He took the time to ensure that I understood the diving fundamentals and could properly execute the requisite skills for certification. When I felt anxious or when I struggled with a skill, he supported me, encouraged me, and motivated me. He was incredibly kind, patient, funny, and fun. I could not have asked for a better instructor!

The staff at West Bay are all great! The instructors are from all over the world and are very friendly and welcoming. Many of the other dive instructors—including Joel, Nicola, Megan, Gaby, and Yvonne—often shared tips and experiences that helped me throughout my courses. The captains—Hazel and Anthony—always helped me with my gear and kept a fun environment on the boat.

The facilities are clean and in the perfect locations—one shop is at one end of West Bay at the Grand Roatan Resort and one is on the other end of West Bay near Beachers.

I will definitely come back to dive with West Bay Divers again!

_______________________________________________________________________

Would definitely do this again !! Great experience...
– 5 Stars

Review of: Cruise Excursion – 2 Scuba Dives with transport (for certified divers)

Shawn W  – Feb 2020

Everything was amazing. One Carlos was an excellent driver that got us to the excursion with time to spare. The dives were awesome, we saw so many fish. Our instructor Yvonne was very nice and knowledgeable.

_______________________________________________________________________

Our first dive! - 5 Stars

Review of: Discover Scuba Diving

Jess  – Feb 2020 – Vermilion, Ohio

We had an amazing time! My husband and I traveled with another couple who are experienced divers. Him and I did our first ever discovery dive here with Jorge as our instructor. I was super nervous, my husband not so much, but Jorge helped make the experience memorable. He was extremely attentive to us during all 3 of our dives, paying really close attention to me as I was having trouble staying calm at the beginning and clearing my ears under water. All the the staff members and owner (Ava, Nicola, Gaby, Jorge, Antonio, Wayne and I forget the young gentleman’s name inside) were super fun, knowledgeable and welcoming. Along with the staff, the dive sites were incredible. Because of this experience, we will be doing another dive in September on our next vacation. There is no doubt that we will be back at West Bay Divers in Roatan. We will wear the shirts we bought with pride here in freezing Ohio!! :D

_______________________________________________________________________

Excellent experience – 5 Stars

Review of: 5 Dive Package

Mike L  – Feb 2020, Mentor, Ohio

I’ve been diving for 9 years and have been all around the world, this has been by far the best shop I’ve dove with. Top notch, excellent service.

_______________________________________________________________________

Read more on TripAdvisor here!

"If you're wondering why West Bay Divers has so many people giving it 5 Stars, it's probably because TripAdvisor won't let you give them more."

 

– Captain Canada – Toronto, CA

 

2 LOCATIONS IN WEST BAY
at Grand Roatan Resort
& behind Beacher's Grill

Call Us Toll FREE

1-888-348-3923
bottom of page