Why is there so much training offered in Roatan?

[Mike]

I was wondering why there is so much training offered in Roatan? Has anyone else noticed this? In all the other places I've dived I've never noticed this before. In Roatan it seemed like every dive shop I saw was advertising different courses and certifications.

Why is this so?

 

[robint]

I have to disagree with you. I see it everywhere we go, all dive shops offer classes, some advertise more than others, but I see people doing classes everywhere. Maybe the dive shops in Roatan just have more visible advertisements because it seems to work for them to draw in customers.

I do agree that the Bay Islands seem to do more DM and Instructor training than most other destinations though.

 

[Doc]

I do agree that the Bay Islands seem to do more DM and Instructor training than most other destinations though.

It's one of the few places in the Caribbean, along with Utila, that this can be done without spending all of one's trust fund.

Many people want to become DM's or OWSI but need to build up the number of dives. experience and confidence level first. This requires access to guest divers in need of such assistance. Cruise ship divers and casual divers that walk into day-dive operations are great learning tools for your education.

The Bay Islands can be comparatively inexpensive to live-in while you are doing this training. Many people of the age who are likely SCUBA professional candidates enjoy the lifestyle and atmosphere of the West End- if not there then they might like Utila town instead.

It's warm, there are pretty fish, living costs are low... for the Caribbean, and there are similar other young people to flirt with at night. Younger folks, those with need of logging dives- it seems to work best for them. Older folks don't generally slot-in as well, but it depends upon attitude. There are other options, here in the US as well as on Roatan- where older, more mature divers can strap-in and pound through the courses very quickly~ not much night life on the schedule. When you balance out the costs considering duration of stay with housing and food, you'll have to be the judge.

The easy going Bay Islands "stay awhile" program? It works for many.

 

[CODMAN]

Yup, this is exactly the reason I did mine in the Philippines! same reasons. I was also considering the bay islands, but Asia won out in the end...

It's one of the few places in the Caribbean, along with Utila, that this can be done without spending all of one's trust fund.

Many people want to become DM's or OWSI but need to build up the number of dives. experience and confidence level first. This requires access to guest divers in need of such assistance. Cruise ship divers and casual divers that walk into day-dive operations are great learning tools for your education.

The Bay Islands can be comparatively inexpensive to live-in while you are doing this training. Many people of the age who are likely SCUBA professional candidates enjoy the lifestyle and atmosphere of the West End- if not there then they might like Utila town instead.

It's warm, there are pretty fish, living costs are low... for the Caribbean, and there are similar other young people to flirt with at night. Younger folks, those with need of logging dives- it seems to work best for them. Older folks don't generally slot-in as well, but it depends upon attitude. There are other options, here in the US as well as on Roatan- where older, more mature divers can strap-in and pound through the courses very quickly~ not much night life on the schedule. When you balance out the costs considering duration of stay with housing and food, you'll have to be the judge.

The easy going Bay Islands "stay awhile" program? It works for many.

 

[GoProHonduras]

We don't have cruise ships visiting Utila, but many of our clients train with us to become Divemasters and Instructors, knowing they will aso be able to get the practical experience along with the certification. As many know, Utila is renowned on the Central America backpacker certificate as an affordable and quality place for PADI certifications, so this gives the Divemaster and Instructor candidates a productive environment for training where they can learn and assimilate with so many courses occurring around them. As RM said, it's also the lifestyle and cost that are the clinchers as well.

 

[Mike]

I have to disagree with you. I see it everywhere we go, all dive shops offer classes, some advertise more than others, but I see people doing classes everywhere. Maybe the dive shops in Roatan just have more visible advertisements because it seems to work for them to draw in customers.

I do agree that the Bay Islands seem to do more DM and Instructor training than most other destinations though.

Well, which one is it, you disagreed then you agreed!

It's one of the few places in the Caribbean, along with Utila, that this can be done without spending all of one's trust fund.

Many people want to become DM's or OWSI but need to build up the number of dives. experience and confidence level first. This requires access to guest divers in need of such assistance. Cruise ship divers and casual divers that walk into day-dive operations are great learning tools for your education.

The Bay Islands can be comparatively inexpensive to live-in while you are doing this training. Many people of the age who are likely SCUBA professional candidates enjoy the lifestyle and atmosphere of the West End- if not there then they might like Utila town instead.

It's warm, there are pretty fish, living costs are low... for the Caribbean, and there are similar other young people to flirt with at night. Younger folks, those with need of logging dives- it seems to work best for them. Older folks don't generally slot-in as well, but it depends upon attitude. There are other options, here in the US as well as on Roatan- where older, more mature divers can strap-in and pound through the courses very quickly~ not much night life on the schedule. When you balance out the costs considering duration of stay with housing and food, you'll have to be the judge.

The easy going Bay Islands "stay awhile" program? It works for many.

Kind of sounds like Cozumel too and a few other places, but I've never seen so many courses offered at so many dive shops anywhere else but Roatan.

 

[RTBDiver]

OK lets be realistic, It is an area that has traditionally been easy for people to work/stay longer than is legal and many other countries are a bit tighter. Thats one reason you see so many courses like DM and Instructor. Many, not all of course but many will say they do not work and they are taking classes but they will still recieve tips.

 

[Doc]

Kind of sounds like Cozumel too and a few other places, but I've never seen so many courses offered at so many dive shops anywhere else but Roatan.

I can identify only very few similarities between Cozumel and the Bay Islands in any regard.

It's a unique critter in very many ways.

 

[robint]

Well, which one is it, you disagreed then you agreed!

I disagreed about "courses" in general, like OW, AOW, specialties, etc. I see those being taught at every dive op every place we have been. I agreed though about the prevelence DM and instructor courses.

 

[Mike]

I just did a quick google search of dive shops in Roatan and then did the same in some other locations. Without a doubt the Roatan dive shop websites have a lot more links to courses, advance open water, rescue diver, EFR, Padi dive master, probably unscientifically it seemed they outnumbered the others with instances of these offerings 10:1.

Didn't see anywhere near the frequency of these offerings in Cozumel, Bonaire, Turks and Caicos, Caymans...

When I was in Roatan it definitely was something I noticed while there.