What It’s Really Like to Dive with Sun Divers Roatan: A PADI Eco Center That Walks the Talk

If you’re looking for a dive experience in Roatan that goes beyond coral and critters—one that connects you to a passionate community and gives back to the ocean—Sun Divers Roatan is one to put on your radar.

I recently spent a day diving with them in Roatan, Honduras—and what I experienced left a lasting impression. This is not a sponsored post. Just an honest, independent account of what it’s like to dive with a PADI Eco Center that doesn’t just meet the standard, but lives it—day in and day out.

A Dive Center With a Mission

Shannon and Natalie Shuman, the husband-and-wife duo behind Sun Divers Roatan, took over the dive shop five years ago with a clear purpose: to create something meaningful that blended their love for diving with their passion for ocean conservation.

Their vision was never about becoming the biggest dive shop on the island. It was about creating something meaningful.

“We wanted to create a dive center that was more than just about amazing dives,” Natalie told me as we discuss facing the shoreline.

“We wanted to build a community of people who were as equally as passionate about saving the ocean as they were exploring its wonders.”

That vision now permeates everything they do.

From the moment you walk into the dive center, it’s clear that this isn’t a place focused on rushing people through their certifications or filling boats to the brim.

It’s about building relationships—with the reef, with the staff, and with the divers who return time and time again.

“We wanted to build a community of people who were as equally as passionate about saving the ocean as they were exploring its wonders.”

NATALIE SHUMAN, SUN DIVERS ROATAN

Staff are selected not just for their diving qualifications, but for their mindset: positive, passionate, and detail-oriented, with a shared commitment to ocean protection.

That same intention shows up in the way dive briefings are delivered, how gear is maintained, and how every diver—first-timer or experienced—is treated with care and respect.

It’s a quiet kind of leadership, the kind that doesn’t need to be loud to be felt. And in an industry where sustainability can easily become a buzzword, Sun Divers Roatan has grounded it in something much deeper: purpose.

Sustainability in Practice, Not Just in Policy

Sun Divers Roatan is now a PADI Eco Center (the first and only one in the island in fact) and GreenFins-certified, a global initiative promoting environmentally responsible dive tourism. These aren’t just badges on their website. The principles are baked into the everyday experience.

“Everything we do—from how we conduct our dives, how we train our staff, even down to the shampoo and defog we use—is done with the care of the ocean in mind,” Natalie said. “We have a value to always be eco-active, not just eco-aware.”

They conduct regular sustainability self-audits, participate in Dive Against Debris cleanups at their adopted site Candela’s Zen, and lead monthly beach cleanups. You won’t hear them boast about it—but you will see it, from the reusable rinse stations to the reef-safe product shelf.

What It Was Like to Dive With Sun Divers Roatan

I joined Sun Divers Roatan for a two-dive morning, choosing them over the standard cruise ship excursion. I wanted a smaller group, a more intentional experience—and I’m glad I did.

Planning to dive in Roatán on a cruise stop? Don’t miss this guide: Roatán Diving for Cruise Travelers: Everything You Need to Know for a Perfect Port Day — it covers logistics, tips, and how to make the most of your limited time underwater.

From the very start, the vibe was different. My group had just three divers and one guide—Marta, a true professional whose pre-dive briefing struck all the right chords.

“Let the marine life come to you,” she reminded us. “No chasing. No touching. Keep your buoyancy in check. Be respectful.”

Simple. Firm. Kind. Everything you’d want in a sustainable dive guide.

Underwater, we followed her lead. No commotion, no crowding. Just a quiet moment watching a hawksbill turtle chomp its way through a coral buffet.

We admired it from a distance, careful not to disturb. The dive felt less like a tour and more like joining a rhythm—unspoken, weightless, and shared.

That morning, the boat crew was entirely women. Three dive professionals, calm and focused, handling gear, logistics, and safety with practiced ease. It felt quietly revolutionary. And refreshing.

A Boutique Experience for Every Diver

With three boats seating 10–12 divers max, Sun Divers Roatan runs intentionally small groups. Whether you’re a cruise ship guest, solo traveler, or returning diver, you’re matched with others by skill level and schedule.

“We organize groups by interest, experience, and arrival time,” Natalie explained. “We don’t do the cattle-call thing.”

It shows. There were no rushed kittings-up or clashing fins. Everything felt smooth and respectful—from entry to safety stops. Sun Divers Roatan isn’t chasing volume. They’re curating experiences.

From Reef to Shore: Supporting the Island Community

Sun Divers Roatan’s mission doesn’t stop at the waterline. They’re deeply involved in Roatan’s coastal communities, offering programs that connect locals to the ocean in tangible, empowering ways.

One such program is ROA Girls Dive, a community-funded scholarship that certifies local girls from Open Water through Rescue Diver.

“It’s about more than diving,” Natalie shared. “It’s about giving young women a positive activity, a sisterhood, and the tools to be ocean advocates.”

They also run an annual golf tournament that supports the SOL Education Foundation, funding access to education for local youth.

These aren’t side projects—they’re pillars of the dive center’s identity.

Coral Restoration with Sun Divers Roatan: A Course That Lets You Give Back

Sun Divers Roatan is also a Coral Ambassador Center in partnership with the Roatan Marine Park. Though I didn’t have time to take their coral restoration course myself, Natalie explained how it works.

“It starts with a short theory session—learning about coral ecology, threats to reef systems, and how restoration works,” she said. “Then you do two dives: one to clean the nursery, one to outplant coral fragments using marine epoxy.”

It’s hands-on, practical, and deeply rewarding. “You end up with coral babies you can come back and visit years later.”

This isn’t just about skill-building. It’s about stewardship.

Dive Sites with Personality

Roatan’s underwater landscape is stunning—walls, swim-throughs, canyons, and coral plateaus. Natalie recommends Pablo’s Place, Blue Channel, and the Aguila or Odyssey wrecks as standout sites.

During my dive, I explored Pillar Coral where I floated between towering coral heads and watched life unfold on a macro scale. Later we went to the Blue Channel, a dramatic swim-through teeming with marine life, color and light.

Each dive site felt alive and undisturbed—a testament not just to nature, but to the respectful practices of operators like Sun Divers Roatan.

The Wrap-Up: Why This Dive Was Different

It’s easy to book a dive. It’s harder to find one that aligns with your values.

At Sun Divers Roatan, I wasn’t just ticking off dive sites. I was part of something intentional—small group diving that respected the reef, empowered local youth, and supported women in the dive industry.

Every decision, from the way Marta delivered the dive briefing to how the boats were organized, reflected care. Not just for the guests, but for the ocean and the people who depend on it.

This wasn’t about slick branding or big declarations. There were no hashtags or slogans being pushed. Just quiet, consistent actions: respectful diving, thoughtful staff, real investment in the local community.

And that’s what made it stand out.

When I surfaced from my dive and rinsed my gear, I realized something. This wasn’t just a great dive—it was a meaningful one. My choice to dive here contributed to something real: coral being restored, local girls learning to dive, and marine life being observed rather than disturbed.

That, to me, is what sustainable diving should feel like. Not performative—just quietly powerful. The kind of experience that stays with you long after you dry off.