SCUBA CERTIFICATION ADVENTURE - Roatan

July 11 - July 18, 2026

TURQUOISE Bay Resort, Honduras

Promotional banner for a Roatan dance workshop featuring blue ocean background and golden text overlay.

From First Breath to Expert Diver.

Become the Diver You Were Meant to Be


Join Submerge for an all-inclusive diving residency on the world’s second-largest barrier reef. Whether you're taking your first breath underwater or hunting for a Master Diver rating, we handle the logistics so you can focus on the abyss. Set against the lush, tropical backdrop of Roatan’s North Shore, this week is dedicated to turning you into a confident, certified PADI SCUBA Diver.

The Submerge Experience

  • All-Inclusive Luxury: Enjoy 7 nights of oceanfront relaxation at Turquoise Bay Resort. Your residency includes all meals and unlimited beverages—from your morning coffee to a cold beer at the end of a great day of diving.
  • The "Submerge Family" Vibe: We don't do "cattle boats" or "factory" courses. Our dive guides and boat captains are the heart of the experience—knowledgeable, safety-conscious, and genuinely part of the family. You’ll be diving from great, reliable boats where the crew knows your name and makes every trip out to the reef feel like a day out with friends.
  • Personal Mentorship: We keep our groups small so you get the attention you deserve. This isn't just about checking off skills; it's about personalized coaching from instructors who are passionate about the ocean and invested in your progress as a diver.
  • The North Shore Advantage: Escape the crowds of the West End. Our residency gives you access to the pristine, less-traveled dive sites of the North Shore, featuring dramatic wall drop-offs and healthy coral gardens that remain Roatan's best-kept secret.
  • PADI Digital Crew Pack: Your residency includes all eLearning materials. Complete the theory at your own pace before you arrive, leaving more time for the water and the island lifestyle.


Scuba diver explores underwater coral reef formations in clear turquoise waters with dramatic lighting effects.
Underwater photograph showing a diver and mermaid tail silhouetted against dramatic lighting in dark water.

PACKAGE OPTIONS


The "New Diver" (PADI Open Water Certification)

  • Price: $3,495 (Double Occ) | $3,895 (Single Occ)
  • Target: For those who are not yet certified.
  • Includes: Full PADI eLearning materials, pool training sessions, and 4 open-water certification dives. 10+ additional fun dives. Wreck dive. Night dive.
  • Equipment: Full Scuba gear rental (BCD, Regulator, Computer, etc.) is included for the entire week.


The "Level-Up" (PADI Advanced Open Water)

  • Price: $3,095 (Double Occ) | $3,495 (Single Occ)
  • Target: Already certified divers looking to expand their limits to 100ft.
  • Includes: PADI Advanced eLearning and 5 "Adventure Dives" including Deep, Navigation, and Buoyancy. 10+ additional fun dives. Wreck dive. Night dive.
  • Equipment: Gear rental is not included but can be added for $260.


The "Certified Diver" (Fun Diving Only)

  • Price: $2,495 (Double Occ) | $2,895 (Single Occ)
  • Target: Already certified divers who want to enjoy the 16 dives offered during the week.
  • Includes: 3 scheduled boat dives daily plus 1 night dive.
  • Equipment: Gear rental is not included but can be added for $260.


The "Vacationer" (Non-Diver)

  • Price: $1,895 (Double Occ) | $2,345 (Single Occ)
  • Target: Partners or friends who want the all-inclusive resort experience without the scuba.
  • Includes: All meals, drinks, resort amenities, and scheduled land tours.
Child playing in shallow water with a colorful inflatable unicorn float on a sunny day.

ADD-ONS & EXTRAS

  • PADI Nitrox (Enriched Air) Specialty: $350 - Includes PADI eLearning, certification card, and one week of Nitrox tank fills.
  • Full Equipment Rental: $260 - Includes BCD, Regulator with computer, wetsuit, fins, and mask for the duration of the trip.
  • Waihuka Shark Dive: $130 - Face-to-face with Caribbean Reef Sharks (Advanced Open Water certification required).
Child playing in shallow water with a colorful inflatable unicorn float on a sunny day.

SAMPLE SCHEDULE

July 11: DAY 1 - SATURDAY

• Arrive at Juan Manuel Gálvez Airport

• 45 Minute Transfer to Turquoise Bay

• Welcome Party


July 12: DAY 2 - SUNDAY

• Dive Shop Orientation

• Gear Fitting and Setup

• Morning/Afternoon Pool Skills

• Certified Divers: 3 Available SCUBA Dives

• Overwater Bungalow Sunset Party


July 13: DAY 3 - MONDAY

• Open Water Certification Dives 1 & 2

• Certified Divers: 3 Available SCUBA Dives


July 14: DAY 4 - TUESDAY

• Open Water Certification Dives 3 & 4

• Certified Divers: 3 Available SCUBA Dives

• New Diver Certification Party!

July 15: DAY 5 - WEDNESDAY

• West End SCUBA Dives

• Lunch at Mayan Princess Resort

• Night Dive


July 16: DAY 6 - THURSDAY

• Shark Dive (optional)

• 3 Available SCUBA Dives

• Adios Amigos Party


July 17: DAY 7 - FRIDAY

• 2 Available SCUBA Dives

• Sloth and Monkey Tour

• Zipline Tour (optional)


July 18: DAY 8 - SATURDAY

• Depart Turquoise Bay

• 45 Minute Transfer to Juan Manuel Gálvez Airport

Child playing in shallow water with a colorful inflatable unicorn float on a sunny day.

MEET YOUR INSTRUCTOR

Justin Lutsky

PADI Open Water SCUBA Instructor & Professional Underwater Image-Maker


Justin Lutsky is a seasoned dive instructor, published photographer, and award-winning filmmaker with a lifelong passion for the underwater world. With a diverse background ranging from underwater portraiture to open-water documentaries, Justin brings a unique blend of technical expertise and creative artistry to every expedition.


As a PADI Open Water SCUBA Instructor, Justin is dedicated to more than just checking off skills; he focuses on building true confidence and comfort in the water. His extensive technical training—including certifications as a PADI Public Safety Diver, Cave Diver, and Tec 45 Diver—ensures that safety is always the foundation of your experience.



Justin is also the co-founder of Submerge, where he combines his professional diving background with high-end film production to help water enthusiasts capture their own aquatic stories. Whether you are taking your very first breath underwater or leveling up your advanced skills, you’ll be learning from an instructor who lives and breathes the ocean.


Major Certifications & Affiliations:

  • PADI Open Water SCUBA Instructor (#376672)
  • PADI Public Safety Diver & Rescue Diver
  • PADI Mermaid Instructor
  • Technical & Cave Diver (PADI / NSS CDS / IANTD)
  • Emergency First Response / Oxygen Provider
Person in bright blue sweater holding camera equipment on rocky beach at sunset.

Roatan


Roatan is the largest and most developed of the Bay Islands, situated about 30 miles off the north coast of Honduras and in the western regions of the Caribbean Sea. At 36 miles long and less than 5 miles wide, Roatan has a total land mass of about 32 square miles and sits atop the world’s second largest coral reef. For a small island, Roatan’s geography is amazingly diverse. Visitors can experience everything from flat sandy beaches, rocky volcanic shores, mangrove forests, lush valleys, and steep rainforest-covered hilltops.


Location: Caribbean • Country: Honduras • Archipelago: Bay Islands • Total Islands: 7 • Area: 32 square miles • Length: 36.7 miles • Width: 5 miles • Highest Elevation: 1011' • Population: 110,000 (2020) • Largest Settlement: Coxen Hole • Time: UTC+6hrs • Currency: Honduras Lempira (LPS) • Electricity: 120V (same as USA) • Industries: tourism, agriculture, lumber and fishing • Official Languages: Spanish

Aerial panorama of tropical coastline with turquoise waters and lush islands.

weather and climate


Roatan is located almost midway between the Tropic of Cancer and the Equator, which gives the island a tropical climate. Like most Caribbean destinations, Roatan has a rainy season and a dry season, known locally as invierno (winter aka cooler season) and verano (summer aka wet season). November to February is considered winter and May to October is considered summer. July weather can be defined as caliente (that means hot in Spanish), and it is also the time of year with the highest sea water temperatures (divers will be grateful).


July Averages - High Temp: 89°F • Low Temp: 78°F • Sea Water Temp: 84°F • Daylight Hours: 13 • Sunshine Hours: 6.4 • Rainy Days: 4.6 • Precipitation Totals: 5.9 in

Turquoise Bay resort

Your Home Away from Home


Nestled amidst tropical gardens with stunning ocean views, Turquoise Bay Resort offers comfortable accommodations, gourmet dining, and exceptional amenities, ensuring a relaxing and inspiring stay. Located on Roatan's Northeast shore, Turquoise Bay is the only dive resort in this lush and remote area of the island providing you with the opportunity to dive uncrowded dive sites. The resort is set on a hillside with spectacular ocean views and includes not only a relaxing stay in one of their Ocean View or Garden View rooms, but also exclusive access to a wide range of resort amenities. Cool off in their tropical pool or sunbathe on the terrace overlooking the beach and sparkling waters of the Caribbean Sea. Guests can also enjoy the privacy and tranquility of the longest private beach in Roatan. Their white sand beach has palapas, palm trees offering shade, a beach bar, and lounge chairs. The bay is protected by a mangrove island and the offshore reef so the water is calm and perfect for swimming, snorkeling, or exploring with complimentary kayaks! And of course, enjoy full waiter service at the beach bar and poolside.


Dining: Udarau Restaurant • Breakfast: Included • Lunch: Included • Dinner: Included • Snacks: Included • Alcohol and Drinks: Included • WiFi: Included • Airport Transfers: Included

Aerial view of a tropical resort with swimming pool, beach access, and lush green landscaping.
Colorful beachwear and accessories displayed on wooden shelves in a well-lit resort shop.
Kidney-shaped swimming pool surrounded by palm trees and lounge chairs with ocean views.
Beachfront tiki huts with palm trees and lounge chairs on white sandy beach.
Spacious dining room with wooden chairs and large windows overlooking tropical landscape.
Recreation room featuring pool table, comfortable seating, and bookshelves in resort setting.
Open-air deck restaurant with wooden furniture and ocean views at tropical resort.
Hammock on beach at sunset with thatched palapa and Honduras sign.
Modern dining area with orange accents, patterned columns and high ceilings in resort setting.
Palm-thatched umbrellas line a pristine beach with clear turquoise waters and overwater bungalows in the distance.
Illuminated swimming pool with curved edges glows under a dramatic purple sunset sky.
Stone pathway winding through a tropical garden with blooming pink bougainvillea and palm trees.
Caribbean-style resort entrance with covered walkway and tropical landscaping.

ACCOMMODATIONS


OCEAN VIEW • HILLSIDE GARDEN VIEW • GARDEN VIEW (KING OR DOUBLE ROOM)

All of Turquoise Bay’s rooms are 250 sq. ft. and offer the same amenities. The Ocean View and Hillside Garden View rooms are perched on a low-lying bluff rich with tropical foliage overlooking swaying palms and the azure sea below, while the Garden View rooms are located closer to the restaurant, dive shop, pool, and beach.

• Complimentary WiFi

• Air conditioning

• Private balcony with seating

• Daily maid service

• Refrigerator

• Cable TV with US channels

• In-room telephone

• In-room safe

• Desk

• Coffee machine

• Filtered water

• Ceiling fan

• Hair dryer

• Toiletries

• Iron/ironing board

Elegantly furnished bedroom with wooden headboard, white linens, and tropical garden views.
Modern turquoise bathroom featuring white fixtures, vanity mirror, and shower curtain.
Tropical villa with red columns and stone roof nestled among palm trees on a hillside.
Twin bedroom with wooden beds, white linens, and ceiling fan in a tropical resort setting.
Aerial view of a tropical garden path with pink flowers leading to a white-roofed structure.
Spacious beachfront bedroom with twin beds and blue walls overlooking the ocean.
White Caribbean villa surrounded by lush tropical gardens and palm trees under bright blue sky.
Spacious bedroom with wooden four-poster bed and beige curtains on tiled floor.
White villa exterior with arched colonnade walkway and flowering tropical garden.
Modern bathroom with orange walls featuring vessel sink and white shower curtain.
Wooden rocking chair on white balcony overlooking tropical ocean view.
Elegant bedroom with wooden furniture and decorative towel arrangement on bed.
Pristine Caribbean beach with palm trees and crystal clear turquoise waters.

TURQUOISE DIVERS


Turquoise Bay Resort’s on-site dive center is operated by Turquoise Divers. They are an Elite PADI 5 Star Instructor Development and National Geographic Dive Center. Turquoise Divers opened for business in April 2001 (as Subway Watersports) and soon became well known for its quality and personal service. The facility at Turquoise Bay opened in March 2006. They offer small groups of 6-12 divers per boat and a PADI Divemaster guides all dives. The dive sites are close by so guests often come back to the dive shop for their surface intervals. When going to some of the further dive sites, a two-tank dive will be conducted in the morning and one tank in the afternoon. Again, they are the only dive operator diving on this part of Roatan which means it is unlikely to see other scuba operators during the dive.


All-inclusive dive packages include three boat dives per day. Should the sea conditions not allow diving on the Roatan North shore, guests will go by bus to an alternate location on the South side of Roatan. When diving on the South side, two boat dives per day are offered instead of three.

Boats docked at a waterfront marina with blue buildings and palm trees in a tropical setting.
White cabin cruiser boat moored near rocky coastline on calm waters.
Wooden deck with pergola and bench seating overlooking waterfront views.
Aerial view of luxury boat cruising through turquoise waters near tropical island coastline.
Marina boardwalk with docked boats and waterfront buildings under blue skies.
Aerial view of white boat speeding through pristine blue waters between tropical islands.
Panoramic underwater view of coral reef ecosystem with sea fans and diverse marine life.

OPTIONAL WAIHUKA SHARK DIVE


“Cara Cara”, which in Spanish means “face to face”, is a famous shark dive in Roatan. It is organized by the Waihuka Dive Center situated on the south side of the island. Here, divers are literally “face to face” with a dozen, all female, Caribbean reef sharks measuring up to 10 feet in length.


It is a 10-15 minute boat ride from the Waihuka Dive Center to the “Cara Cara” dive site. All dives start with a detailed briefing by the staff prior to entering the water. The maximum depth is 70 feet and bottom time 30-35 minutes. Visibility is typically 80+ feet. Cara Cara may have mild to strong current so divers must use a descent line down to the flat plateau. The dive starts in a stationary position, with a little wall behind everyone so that the sharks will never come from behind. The divemaster manages a closed bucket of dead fish which attracts the sharks. Based on the divemaster's discretion (and if the current is not too strong) divers have the ability to swim around with the sharks!


Towards the end of the dive, the divemaster requests that everyone returns to their initial position. He then opens the bucket, and the real show begins! All the sharks fight for the best bite. Usually, the sharks leave when the bucket is empty. Empty bucket means it is time to surface.


REQUIREMENTS: Advanced Open Water Diver

Close-up profile of grey reef shark swimming in deep blue ocean waters.

registration

Reserve your spot today!


Ready to dive Roatan's best-kept secrets? Don't miss out on a week of great diving, great people, and world-class training. Fill out the form below to get started.

A large reef shark glides above a scuba diver near a vibrant coral reef in tropical waters.
Colorful coral reef ecosystem with tropical fish swimming among vibrant soft corals and sea fans in crystal clear water.
Scuba diver explores vibrant coral reef with sunlight streaming through crystal clear turquoise waters.
A scuba diver swims along the sandy ocean floor in crystal clear turquoise waters.
Beachgoers and scuba diving equipment on a wooden walkway with crystal clear turquoise waters in the background.
Colorful tropical fish swim among vibrant coral reefs in crystal clear blue ocean waters.
Two Caribbean reef sharks swimming over a coral reef in crystal clear blue ocean waters.
Underwater view of a Caribbean reef shark swimming gracefully near coral reef formations in clear blue water.
Scuba diving instructor teaches students proper diving techniques in crystal clear turquoise Caribbean waters.
Underwater scuba divers explore a sunken shipwreck covered in marine growth and debris on the ocean floor.
Silhouette of birds flying against a deep blue sky with dramatic dark clouds at dusk.
Panoramic view of a pristine white sand beach with crystal clear turquoise waters and boats in the distance.
A school of small silver fish swimming together in deep blue ocean water as scuba divers observe from above.
A scuba diver silhouetted against bright blue water while exploring an underwater cave formation.
A series of underwater scuba divers swimming in clear blue water while holding cameras and diving equipment.