Roatan Dive Center

All CRUISE SHIP Excursions:

And include: Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Try Scuba, Refresher Course, Referral Courses,

and others. 

Terms and Conditions & General Policies:

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Before you book your diving or courses at one of our Roatan Dive Center (RDC)

Scuba diving adventures, SSI Dive Courses, Course Referrals, or boat excursions in Roatan, you understandably want complete peace of mind. So here is our Scuba diving policy, providing all the information you need to know before your adventure. If we haven’t provided the answers you need here, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Roatan Dive Center!

 

Our policies are clear, concise, and honest, and are based on both positive and negative experiences.

 

Shore Excursions:

Cruise Ship Scuba Diving & Activities:

If you have pre-booked and paid for one of Roatan Dive Center's Shore Excursions and are coming to Roatan on a

Cruise Ship and the cruise ship does not dock on the day, you will not be charged unless you cancel on the day! 

We ONLY offer a Full Refund if the ship does not arrive in Roatan. 

No other reason is valid.

​Any cancellations on the day of arrival are subject to a cancellation fee of $25.00 per person.

No Refunds for bookings/payments received 7 days or less before your arrival date. 

All Refunds are via PayPal within 14 days after your Cruise ship's arrival date.

And we are not responsible for any PayPal Fees.

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Tendering: We require a minimum of 7 days' prior notice if your Cruise Ship is tendering passengers

to shore on the day of arrival in Roatan. 

We reserve the right to cancel any Excursions if the schedule is affected by not receiving prior notice.

And NO Refund will be issued.​

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Time Differences:

Please note, often times there is a difference between Local time and Ship time.

It is your responsibility to ensure you are fully aware of this time difference.

We confirm arrival and pick-up ETA's based on information from the Port Authorities and your ship's 

Captain/ Navigator and the ship's AIS system, and we will confirm the ETA with you. 

You are required to have internet access during your voyage for all updates.

Roatan Dive Center is NOT responsible for incorrect information given by your cruise ship staff

members, and we are NOT responsible for changing our excursion schedules due to incorrect information given

by your cruise ship or cruise ship staff.

Please take that up with the person/persons you spoke with on board your specific cruise ship. 

If you are late due to a time misunderstanding on your part, no refund will be provided.

If you or your cruise ship is late on the day of your excursion, and you have booked other excursions after an excursion

with Roatan Dive Center, it is not the responsibility of Roatan Dive Center to adjust its schedule to accommodate other excursions that have nothing to do with Roatan Dive Center.  

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All Cruise Ship Activities must be paid in Full to complete the booking, since we include transportation, this is required.

Transportation is per group and per Port/Ship.

If you do not complete your activity, then you will have to wait for everyone to finish and return with the same group.

As a group.

 

Other Excursions:

If you have booked other excursions after an excursion with Roatan Dive Center, it is not the responsibility

of Roatan Dive Center to adjust its schedule to accommodate other excursions that have nothing to do 

with Roatan Dive Center.  

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Diving and Diver Safety:

Roatan Dive Center: Reserves the right to cancel any dive, diving, or dive course, or activity due to safety reasons at any time, such as weather or an emergency. Safety First!

All of our dive staff members are certified with current CPR and First Aid, and O2 training. 

The Cornerstone Medical Services Hyperbaric recompression chamber is located in Sandy Bay, which is just 20 minutes or less from either Dive Center. All of our dive boats have Cell Phones and VHF marine radios, first aid kits, and Long-distance DAN emergency oxygen onboard.

 

Recreational Diving Policies:

All divers must be certified for the recreational diving they wish to undertake.

And must have been diving within the last 24 Months, and we may require proof!

At check-in, you’ll need to complete our Dive Center Forms, SSI Waiver, and Liability Release, etc. At this point, we need to see proof of certification that must be presented to a Roatan Dive Center staff member.

A physical C-card, or digital eCard, with a picture, must be presented to a Staff Member. 

It is not the responsibility of Roatan Dive Center to find or prove that you are certified!

However, if you cannot verify your Dive certification, you will not be allowed to dive. 

Failure to produce proof of dive certification upon check-in may result in not allowing you to participate in dive activities with Roatan Dive Center.

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Experience:

You will be asked to show proof of the number of logged dives you have.

If you do not have proof, such as a Log Book or Digital Log Book, then it’s just a number.

Scuba Diving:

For all divers diving with us for the first day, we restrict the first dive depths on day 1 to a maximum of 60 feet/18 meters for the safety and enjoyment of divers and staff.  

All our recreational boat dives have a maximum time limit of 60 minutes surface-to-surface. 

The use of drugs or alcohol before diving is strictly prohibited, and anyone who arrives for class or fun dives under the influence, hungover, or incapacitated will not be allowed to dive

Once on board our Dive Boats, the trip, you will be charged in full regardless

of whether you completed the dives.

 

Enriched Air (Nitrox):

We offer 32% Enriched Air in 80cuft Cylinders.

All Divers requiring to dive enriched air MUST show proof of Enriched Air Certification

From any Dive Agency at check-in, and must analyze the content of their Scuba Cylinders.

To ensure safety while diving with Enriched Air Nitrox, we require that each Enriched Air Diver have their own dive EANX Compatiable Dive computer. 

If you do not have your own EANX Dive Computer, you will need to rent a computer from us

at an additional $5.00 inc tax per dive, per diver. 

 

Decompression Diving is not allowed on our recreational dive boats, regardless of the diver's level of certification. Divers who inadvertently or purposely exceed the no-decompression limits will not be allowed to dive for the remainder of the day or trip. We reserve the right to remove diving privileges to any diver who exceeds depth limits and/ 

or follows unsafe diving practices, and NO Refund. 

 

Junior Divers and Scuba Diver rating:

Supervision and Depth Restrictions:

Junior Divers (10-11 years old) are allowed to dive to a maximum depth of 40 feet and Junior Divers (12-14 years old) are allowed to dive to 60 feet (70′ with Advanced Certification).

Junior Divers must have a parent or legal guardian accompany them at all times on courses and dive boats. Parents must provide a written statement authorizing a legal guardian.

Junior Divers (ages 10 & 11 years old) are limited to a depth of 40 feet unless accompanied by a Private Divemaster.

At an extra cost.

And ALL Scuba Diver-level-certified divers

With Depth and supervision, restrictions must be accompanied by a Private Divemaster.

At an extra cost.

 

Dive Sites:

All dive sites are chosen on the day, subject to sea conditions

Our Dive Guides/Divemasters/Instructors may take requests for some dive sites.

Depending on your Certification level and experience, only!

However, at the Roatan Marine Park dive sites, there is a “first-come, first-served” as well as a one boat, one mooring policy for all the dive site moorings; sites cannot be pre-booked or guaranteed. All dive sites are subject to sea conditions on the day, and if the weather is a factor in selecting the specific alternative dive site for the group.

Certain dive sites are referred to as “ Excursion dives” and require pre-planning and minimum diver numbers, as well as additional charges. And are not available to Cruise Ship Passengers on limited shore time.

 

Ratios:
At Roatan Dive Center, our Certified Diving ratio is one Dive Guide/Divemaster per 6 certified divers max. on each guided dive. Unfortunately, we do not allow divers to dive solo from our dive boats.

For Safety and comfort, the first dive or dives/diving day that you dive with Roatan Dive Center are guided by a Dive Guide/Divemaster to a maximum depth of 60ft.

Private Divemasters are available at an additional cost for more personal supervision.

 

Dive Skills and the Environment:

Everywhere we dive is a protected Marine Park, and good dive skills are imperative.

As a Certified Diver, the Divemaster's role is to lead the dive for all the divers, and not deal with poor divers. 

And, our policy is that if there are any issues on the day during the dives, you'll be asked to surface and abort the dive/dives and sit out the rest of the morning, and there is no refund.

(And, we are not saying that there will be any issues, but we prefer to let you know about our policy. Unfortunately, we've had too many issues in the past and complaints from other good divers on the dive.)

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Private Charters:

All Private Charters must be paid for in Full more than 14 days before arrival in Roatan.

And there is NO Refund available at any time.

Roatan Dive Center attempts to be honest and fair regarding any refunds for late cancellations based on the costs and losses, such as the loss of other divers who could have been booked instead. 

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Shark Dive:

Due to logistics and dive time schedules, we do not offer the Shark dive to cruise divers.

The Shark Dive Operator requires a minimum of 4 Divers per dive, and they confirm the actual date and time of the dive.
So they cannot confirm a specific date. 

The National Marine Park:

Everywhere we dive is a Protected Marine Park, and good buoyancy is imperative, as well as good diving habits and etiquette.

We ask that all divers and students, and snorkelers respect the Marine Park regulations and Laws at all times. 

Collecting shells, corals, sea fans, and living or dead organisms from the reef is prohibited by Honduran law. Please do not tease or harass or touch or collect anything, and respect the reef and the marine environment at all times.

​As per the Honduran National & Roatan Marine Park Regulations, all Recreational divers must surface with a minimum of 500 PSI / 35 BAR of breathing gas in their scuba cylinder. 

 

We ONLY offer a Full Refund if the ship does not arrive in Roatan. 

No other reason is valid.

​Any cancellations on the day of arrival are subject to a cancellation fee of $25.00 per person.

No Refunds for bookings/payments received 7 days or less before your arrival date. 

All Refunds are via PayPal within 14 days after your Cruise ship's arrival date.

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Late Bookings:

All Bookings must be made and paid for 8+ days before arrival.

There is NO REFUND for bookings received within 7 days or less of your ship’s arrival date.

To avoid disappointment, please book well in advance to ensure your Diving or Activities.

We also cannot guarantee transportation for late bookings.

 

The SSI Basic Diver/Discover Scuba/ Referrals and Refresher Programs and Courses.

All Cruise Ship Dive Programs and Courses require payment in full to book.

And ALL Participants must complete the RSTC Medical Questionnaire before booking

For the safety of all concerned, the student and staff, if a student is not comfortable

In shallow water then they will not be allowed to progress to the Open Water dive or dives.

You can snorkel instead. 

If you're not comfortable in 4 feet of water, why would we take you to 40 feet?

No Refunds!

Once a program or course has commenced, no refunds are issued

We ONLY offer a Full Refund if the ship does not arrive in Roatan.

All Refunds are via PayPal

​Ship cancellations on the day are subject to a cancellation fee of $25.00 per person.

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SSI Specialty Course:

If you are completing an SSI Specialty such as the Enriched Air course, and your ship doesn't arrive

Then, unfortunately, there is NO Refund available!

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Snorkeling:

We offer a 2-site double snorkel excursion for those who can swim. You can be on the dive boat or

on an independent snorkel boat, purely for Snorkelers.

This is a 2-site excursion, and 2 different dive sites.

We ONLY offer a Full Refund if the ship cannot dock.

All Refunds are via PayPal

​Ship cancellations on the day are subject to a cancellation fee of $25.00 per person.

 

Weather:

Roatan Dive Center: Is NOT responsible for the weather!

Roatan Dive Center currently has 2 Dive Centers on each side of the Island of Roatan.

If the weather is bad on the North side of Roatan( West End), like in the rainy season (Mid-October to March),

Then we’ll dive the South Shore of Roatan, and vice versa.

Roatan Dive Center is not responsible for transport between the 2 Dive Centers,

but we can arrange transport for the divers at an extra cost.

If we cannot dive, then those dives will not be charged for or refunded, or deferred to another time in the future. 

 

Insurance:

Roatan Dive Center (RDC) recommends that customers purchase travel insurance for cases where diving and/or courses cannot be rescheduled. And Dive accident insurance (such as Dive Assure & DAN - Divers Alert Network) is highly recommended before arriving in Roatan. 

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Rental Equipment:

For those people requiring equipment rental, we ask that you please be patient and respectful

to our staff. We try to ensure the correct fit of those renting equipment, and this takes time.

So please be patient and respectful.

We reserve the right to cancel any excursion when people are rude and disrespectful.

All Roatan Dive Center customers are financially responsible for any loss or damage to any Roatan Dive Center property, boats, or rental equipment due to negligence. 

If in doubt on how to correctly use a piece of rental equipment, please ask a staff member for assistance.

Lost or Damaged Dive Equipment costs:

Roatan Dive Center makes every effort to supply you with quality scuba equipment. Students are responsible for ensuring dive gear issued to them is returned in the original working condition. LOST or DAMAGED equipment is charged at the following respective rates:

Regulator - $400.00

BCD - $350.00

BCD Ergo Inflator - $65.00

BCD Weight Pocket (Sold in pairs only) - $52.00 per pair

Wet-suit - $100.00

​Weight Belt $12.00

Lead Weight - $5.00 per pound

Fins $40.00

Mask $30.00

UW Compass $65.00

Dive Light $65.00

SMB - $45.00

Reel - $20.00

Cruise Activities Transportation:

Transportation is ONLY for bookings of a minimum of 7 full days or more

Before arrival in Roatan.

For bookings of a Full 48 hours or less, we can guarantee transportation.

Please book early! 

For Cruise Activities booked 7 days or more before arrival in Roatan, we provide round-trip transportation with private operators.

Transportation is per group, per cruise ship/ Cruise Port, and not individual.

You will be sharing the transport with others. And you will return to the ship as a group

At the same time. 

Your transportation is purely pick-up at the Port and return directly to the Port, and no other stops. 

The Driver will wait only a certain amount of time; after that, he will leave,

and you are responsible for getting to the Dive Center on time before the boat leaves for a 2-tank morning dive! 

If you are late and miss the boat, unfortunately, there is NO REFUND!

We also ask that you respect the driver and their vehicle. 

Rude and disrespectful passengers will be asked to leave the vehicle and return to the ship at their own expense, and your activities will be canceled, and NO REFUND!

The Driver reserves the right to inform the Police.

  

Roatan Dive Center is NOT responsible for the return of lost or forgotten personal items,

Dive equipment, etc. We ask that you triple-check to ensure that you leave the Dive Center

with everything you arrived with.

 

Once on board our Dive Boats, the trip, you will be charged in full regardless

of whether you completed the dives.

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​At Roatan Dive Center, our Staff and Divers sometimes take photos

during diving and courses and topside photos for customer memories, social media, or promotions. As a result, your image may be used on our social media pages and our website. 

If you do not wish to have your photograph taken or used, then please let us know before or after it is posted. 

 

Payment Policy:

As a Legal Honduran Business:
We have a US Dollar account at our local Honduran Bank, and we accept 
US Dollar payments via our POS and Payment links online for your convenience.

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For all Invoices/Receipts known as Facturas here, for all Factura Values of Lp10,000 or more

A copy of your Passport is required by Honduran Tax Law.
 
For Foreign Visitors and Tourists, our transactions may appear on statements 
as International Transactions. 

We accept: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, and PayPal.
And we use BAC Credomatic POS payment systems as well as 
BAC Credomatic Compra Click, which is compatible with both Apple Pay and Google Pay.

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In accordance with the Honduran Consumer Protection Laws:
We DO NOT add Transaction Fees to Credit Card payments on our end.
Or automatically add Tips or service Charges to your billing.

Local Taxes for Diving and Dive Courses, and Activities are currently 15%

 

Cash Payments:
The legal currency of Honduras is the Lempira.
We do accept the US Dollar, but the U.S Dollar is NOT legal tender in Honduras
All U.S. dollar bills must be clean, undamaged, and not counterfeit. 

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Tips and Gratuities:
All our prices do not include any gratuities or tips, but if you have a great time 
And wish to tip the staff, we ask that you do so directly.
We can accept tips via Credit Card and PayPal, but fees are deducted.

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Changes without notice:

We reserve the right to make changes and updates to our:
Diving Activity and Dive Courses Prices at any time.
And our General Policies and our Terms and Conditions at any time.
And will continue to update this page as those changes are implemented. 

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