Is dive equipment use included in the course prices?

We do provide scuba rental equipment for free to all students during training. Our rental stock is mostly Scuba Pro as we are an authorized Scuba Pro dealer. Equipment is kept in top condition and serviced by Doug Hayes, our manager and Scuba Pro factory trained technician.

If you are ready to invest in your own dive gear we do have a fully stocked retail center with prices comparable to internet retailers in the US. I would recommend purchasing your own equipment (in this order of importance) mask, snorkel, fins, wetsuit, wrist dive computer/dive watch, regulator set, BCD and finally a bag to put it all in! Additionally, purchasing equipment here may save you money on overweight bags with the airlines.

Do keep in mind that for divers planning to work in the industry that your equipment is professional tools and expected by many employers. We do have a dive equipment recommendations list based on our experience in the diving industry that we recommend consulting before choosing the best style equipment for yourself. Email us and we can send it as an attachment.

What is the student to instructor ratio?

We take a total of 6 IDC candidates into each monthly IDC program. Your IDC will be taught by our PADI Course Director Peter Wilcox with assistance from our experienced Master Instructors and IDC Staff Instructors, with language support in Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch and Australian.

Do you offer 'free diving for life' to graduates of your Pro Diver programs?

We do not advertise 'free diving for life' as it is often misunderstood. By the time you have become a Divemaster or Instructor with us, we are all close friends. One of the great things about like about small classes. We do welcome our Pro Alumni to drop in and dive, space permitting, as part of the Barefoot Team.

Is diving insurance included in the course prices? What insurance do you recommend?

For divers taking the Open Water Diver Course we are pleased to offer free diving insurancefor the duration of that course through Divers Alert Network. As a Hyperbaric Chamber Technician and EMT I have seen the physical, psychological and financial effects to Diving Pros of not having DAN Insurance. Please take care when diving and click on the link below to protect yourself.

How much are monthly living expenses on Roatan?

From experience most of our PADI Pro candidates have spent about $300 a month on food, drinks and miscellaneous expenses. There are many grocery stores and supermarkets on Roatan with the best selection and prices in the Bay Islands. Our accommodations have up to date kitchens with all amenities allowing you to keep your expenses down. Eating at restaurants can be expensive, but to give you an idea; local beers are typically $1.50 and plates of food are typically about $6 - $8. Roatan has the most to offer in the Bay Islands with the highest standard of living as well as one of the greatest variety of dive sites and adventures readily available in the Caribbean.

What are my options for accommodation?

When your reserve a spot in our Pro Courses we offer you options. You can book a package that includes accommodation, or you can just book your training courses in which case we can offer you a free nights stay as long as we have a vacancy on the day that you arrive. This will allow you to look around for other accommodation options. We strongly recommend that you stay on site at our award winning resort for the best logistics, comfort and amenities available here on Roatan.

If you prefer to stay off of the resort we can assist you with some leads on further options once you are here. Our staff can give you specific advice on accommodation options and availability with regards to your preferences and budget. As an example, a modern 2 bedroom apartment with kitchen, living room and bathroom costs between $400 - $600, depending on location.

I'm not yet a dive professional, can I still enroll in one of your training programs?

We specialize in custom training packages and offer the widest range of diver training on Roatan from beginner to Instructor. Our program flexibility means you can start most courses any day, Divemaster starts each week and Instructor programs are scheduled each month of the year except for December. If you want a custom package email us at coursedirector@barefootcay.com with your current level of certification, approximate number of logged dives, dates you have available for your courses and if you goal is to become a Divemaster or Instructor. We have a lot of scheduling flexibility so we can organize your program in a comfortable progression with maximum amount of diving and experience.

Can I DM before my IDC in order to be better prepared and have more experience?

We do allow our IDC candidates to assist getting dives and experience prior to beginning an IDC. We also may place your with one of our Instructors to get you up to speed on teaching logistics and techniques. This is always space permitting and is an excellent opportunity for you to spend some time Roatan prior to the IDC, log dives, gain experience leading dives in the local area, and refresh your Divemaster theory and water skills.

How much does an instructor earn for his/her work in the local area?

There are many different types of dive centers on Roatan with many different pay arrangements. Instructors on Roatan may be paid monthly salaries with commissions on courses and may earn between $800 - $2000 a month depending on the season. There are centers that pay no salary but higher commissions on courses (up to $80 per student) and for leading dives (up to $5 per diver/per dive). Roatans instructors commonly make gratuities, especially those working in the bigger resorts.

I want to work as an Instructor in the local area, is this possible?

Peter was the first Course Director to offer Instructor Training on Roatan over 3 years ago. Since that time he has forged strong relationships with most of the dive center owners and management in West End, West Bay, and the larger dive resorts on Roatan. While teaching his IDC program at Subway Watersports and Barefoot Divers Peter was able to place over 90% of his graduates in local Instructor jobs.

Today his IDC alumni works in most and manages many of the dive centers on Roatan, even some on nearby Utila. We continue to assist local dive centers with their staffing requirements and although we cannot guarantee a job waiting for you upon certification, we can reasonably predict it will not take long to assist you in finding suitable employment.

I have read about visa and work restrictions in Honduras...

Visitors to Roatan typically get a 90 day visa to be in Honduras, this can be refreshed by leaving the country for 48 hours. Most people take this opportunity to go on a quick vacation visit some of the wonderful nearby countries in Central America. If you want to work in a local dive center there are no working tourism visas, but right now the Honduran Government is very relaxed about foreigners working in the diving industry as there are not enough locals trained to meet the tourism market demands.

Have more questions? Email Peter at CourseDirector@BarefootCay.com and together we will make sure you are well prepared to begin your PADI professional program.