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Roatan Restaurants: The Best and Most Delicious

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Wondering where to enjoy the best meal on Roatan?

You’ve enjoyed a long day in the sun, filled with swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving through the turquoise water…
Now you’ve hung your suit to dry, washed the sand from your hair, can feel the heat from your sun kissed cheeks and are wondering.. hmm where shall we eat tonight?!

Well, we’ve got you covered! After years of enjoying all the island has to offer, below is a list of our favorite and most delicious places Roatan restaurants!

Roatan restaurants
Coconut Tree instructors Cruz, Tina, Racheal and Shane out with friends for dinner at Oasis!

Oasis

Our favorite restaurant on the island, without question!! If you are looking for the best quality, most delicious food on the island, look no further than Oasis.

Roatan Oasis serves freshly prepared food using local ingredients. Their dishes draw inspiration from every corner of the globe and their menu is always changing (in the best way possible)! The service is the best on the island and the atmosphere here is lovely, laid-back and elegant. Oasis has an extensive wine list and the handcrafted cocktails are a true highlight. If you are up for some live music, head to Oasis on a Thursday as there is always an acoustic set!

Oasis is quite popular (for good reason) so best to make a reservation through their website or contact info below. Do not miss Oasis when visiting Roatan, it is too delicious to not visit and the best of the best Roatan restaurants!

FAVS: Try the chipotle glazed baby back ribs as a main and the snickers for dessert. You won’t be disappointed.

Hours: Monday – Friday 5-9pm (Closed weekends)
Website: www.roatanoasis.com
Make your reservation: +504 9484 6659 (number works for WhatsApp as well)
Location: West Bay Road, very near after leaving West End
Price rating: $$$

Oasis Roatan restaurants
The attention to detail at Oasis is what makes them the best!
Oasis Roatan restaurants
Best cocktails on the island to cool you down from our hot island days!

Café Escondido

Delicious breakfast, coffee, smoothies, salads, sandwiches and an abundance of the most delectable noodles you could ever wish for. The restaurant has a great vibe/aesthetic to it and total bonus: Cafe Escondido is located on a second story facing the ocean, making for a perfect view of the sparking Caribbean sea right in front of your face! Escondido is a hot spot for lunch among divers, tourists and locals, especially when they do their lunch specials. Escondido does not serve dinner (tears), so make sure to head there before it closes everyday around 2:30!

We love Café Escondido because the flavor and portions are so plentiful. A great price, great quality, great location and a stellar view make Escondido a forever favorite of ours.

FAVS: Banana shake, cucumber lemonade, and ANY of the noodle dishes (so good).

Hours: Tuesday – Sunday 7:45am- 3pm (Closed Mondays)
Website: https://www.facebook.com/CafeEscondido/
Location: West End, West End Road. Walk South along West Ends main road, keep an eye out for West End Dive shop on your left and look up! There they are!
Price rating: $$

Escondido Roatan restaurants
I dunno about you, but I am hungry now..
Escondido Roatan restaurants
The view looking in, and looking out of Escondido!

Pazzo’s

Pasta Pasta Pasta… it’s all about the Pasta at Pazzo’s.

Every place needs that classic, staple Italian restaurant, and ours is the ever so delicious Pazzo’s. Everything is made with true Italian love at Pazzo’s. The homemade pasta, dessert, appetizers and salads are so so good, and can be enjoyed in their very simple yet charming open dining room. The chef works diligently to come up with different and extravagant specials on the reg so you are always in for a surprise when you dine at Pazzo’s!

The authentic Italian food is superb, but we’d be doing you a great disservice if we didn’t mention one of our most favorite things about Pazzo’s : BYOB. In our case, more like BYOW!! Make sure to grab a bottle of wine to pair with your pasta dish before dining at one of the most delicious Roatan restaurants!

Be warned it is a small restaurant and reservations are crucial. In busy season try booking up a week ahead. If you are not on the island just email us at the Coconut Tree dive shop ([email protected]) and we can make reservations for you. You’re welcome!

FAVS: The carpaccio, tiramisu, and ANY of the pasta specials!

Hours: Monday – Friday 5:30PM – 9PM (Closed Weekends)
Website: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pazzo/
Location: West Bay Road just right around the corner from West End round about. (West End)
Price rating: $$

Pazzo's Roatan restaurants
Pasta, Pasta, Pasta!

Junior’s

Juniors is SUCH a cool place. The owner (and chef) Junior, has created the perfect little pizza paradise here on Roatan and opened his doors for all to enjoy! Junior’s has long tables set right in front of his pizza making station and oven. Allowing you to see all the love Junior puts into each one of his pies.

This fab little pizza joint can be a touch difficult to find, it is just outside of West End right after Pazzo’s but before Oasis through a wooden fence. There is a small sign that says Junior’s, and if you ask around anyone will be able to point you in the right direction. We love that it is a little hidden, makes it more fun!

It is BYOB, so grab some Salva’s and head to Junior’s for the best pizza on the island, an awesome experience, and great company.

PRO TIP: If you have a bigger group best to make a reservation so that Junior can make sure to accommodate.

Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 5:30PM -8PM. (Closed Monday/Sunday)
Website: https://www.facebook.com/juniorspatio/
Make your reservation: Call / WhatsApp +504 3207-7949 or email [email protected]
Location: West Bay Road just right around the corner from West End round about between Pazzo’s and Oasis
Price rating: $$

Junior's Roatan restaurants
The legend himself, Junior!

Totally Taco

It does not have to be a Tuesday to enjoy some taco’s on Roatan! The youngest restaurant to make this list and for good reason… these taco’s are out of this world delicioso. This place produces some awesome taco choices like the Sriracha Lime Fish or Wasabi Shrimp just to name a few. No choice of taco would be a mistake here, the only mistake you could make is to leave without trying the dessert ‘Sweet Torts’… aka friend tortilla strips coated in cinnamon and sugar (umm yummm).

Totally Taco would make a great lunch break from your beach day while down in West Bay!

Hours: Monday – Friday 11AM to 7PM Sunday 12PM to 4PM
Website: https://www.facebook.com/totallytacoroatan/
Phone: 8771-5600
Location: On Bananarama Road behind West Bay Mall (West Bay)
Price rating: $$

Totally taco, Roatan restaurants
The totally taco crew and their delicious menu!

There you have it, the best most delicious Roatan restaurants.

If you are looking to catch the sunset before you head to dinner check out our list of the best places to watch the sunset!

ENJOY 🙂

Comment below with some of your favorite Roatan restaurants ! 

We would love to have you come dive with us!
For more info on Coconut Tree Divers, schedules, courses, and pricing head to our homepage HERE!
To make a reservation head to our online reservation page HERE!

A Plastic Free Roatan

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A PLASTIC FREE ROATAN

Plastic is widely used in every day life. It is cheap, diverse, and very useful.

SO.. what is the problem with plastic?

The problem with plastic is that most of it isn’t biodegradable. Unlike paper or food, plastic never rots. Once thrown out, it can remain on earth for hundreds of years.

Which totally sucks because every year 400 million tons of plastic is created and 40% of that is one time use only. AKA: we ditch it into the world after using it once.

Unfortunately most of this plastic ends up in the ocean. There are five enormous patches of plastic in our worlds oceans. The one between California and Hawaii is the size of the state of TEXAS. About 8 million metric tons of plastic are thrown into the ocean annually.

A plastic island in the ocean
A giant plastic ‘island’ in the middle of the ocean formed due to currents.

Plastic and marine life.

When plastic is entered into the ocean it does harm in more ways that one.

Many marine life animals cannot distinguish plastic items with food.

One in three sea turtles, and around 90% of seabirds, have eaten plastic. Often times plastic is covered in algae and mistaken as food, or tiny pieces of plastic are accidentally consumed due to size or placement. Animals cannot digest plastic so their stomachs become blocked or full, leaving no room for actual food and starving them to death.

If fish are consuming plastic, and you are consuming fish then…

Manta ray eating plastic
The litter leaves this Manta Ray with no choice but to consume all this plastic.
Animals do not have to consume plastic for it to be harmful.

Larger pieces of plastic, such as carrier bags or food packaging, can trap, strangle and endanger animals. Manta rays, whales, sharks and turtles all suffer big time from this.

Coral reefs are called home by 25% of the oceans critters. A coral is more likely to die by 85% after coming into contact with plastic causing damage or infection. WOW.

By 2050 there will be more plastic in the oceans than there are fish (by weight)… think about that.

Turtle plastic
Poor turtle has plastic caught around his mouth.

So what do we do?

Solving this plastic problem is not going to happen overnight. I do not know about you… but the thought of this plastic catastrophe is overwhelming. It is loud, it is real, and of great magnitude, but we all have to start at home to make a difference.

Our home is the Coconut Tree Dive shop located in Roatan, Honduras. Here are things we do (that you can too) in an effort to reduce the amount of plastic our beautiful Caribbean waters see.

Carbon footprint

We reduced our carbon footprint by eradicating all styrofoam, straws, plastic plates, bags, cups and utensils from our shop. Instead, we provide our staff and customers with real plates, silverware, coffee mugs and reusable cups and straws. It is such an easy fix to simply not use plastic items.

Beach and ocean clean ups

Our staff, dive masters and even customers participate in our frequent beach and underwater clean ups. Picking up trash from the beach front not only makes the beach more inviting but prevents those rubbish items from making their way into the ocean! The real fun can come from our diving clean ups though. We gear up with one mission in mind: gather as much trash and plastic as you can.

Take a look as this…

Plastic free ocean
All of this plastic and trash found from one dive!

Recycle

Here on Roatan, all trash goes to the ‘dump.’ An above ground land fill, that is often so massive it can overflow into the ocean. It is so important here to dispose of waste properly so that we can minimize what goes to the dump. We make sure the waste from our shop gets properly recycled and disposed.

Restore

Cleaning up the trash and recycling is essential. But we like to do what we can to help restore as well. In an attempt to even slightly offset the amount of coral we lose to plastic and stress, we do our part to help create and maintain coral nurseries. To grow more coral to add back to the reef!

Coral nursery roatan
Building coral nurseries on our dive shop deck!

Education

We can do our individual parts all we want, but if you ask us the biggest tool at our disposal to help create a plastic free Roatan we would say: Education. Teaching and spreading the facts about plastic. Passing on this knowledge so that others are inspired to take the same measures we are!

First and foremost, we teach all of our students and customers how to become sustainable divers.

Second, we offer a few specialty courses at our shop to help engage and educate more divers in the mission of creating a plastic free environment.

Our Turtle & Shark conservation specialty courses aim to educate you about the causes of declining shark or turtle populations, to build an understanding of what is missing in our worlds efforts to prevent this.

Our Eco Dive program specialty course ‘Dive against debris‘ from Project AWARE empowers scuba divers to remove marine debris from the ocean and report data on the types, quantities and locations of materials collected.

Turtle educated diver roatan coconut tree divers
Become a turtle educated diver with us at Coconut Tree Divers Roatan

Coconut Tree Divers also looks forward to working with and participating in annual awareness events and activities organized by the Roatan Marine Park each year!

Plastic is a problem that is not going to go away without a lot of people’s help. Please do your part on the path to a plastic free planet. 

Thanks for reading =)

Roatan, Honduras aerial view
Together, we can keep our world this beautiful! Roatan, Honduras
We would love to have you come dive with us!
For more info on Coconut Tree Divers, schedules, courses, and pricing head to our homepage HERE!
To make a reservation head to our online reservation page HERE!

Want to keep up with all things Coconuts?! Make sure to follow us!
Instagram : @coconuttreedivers

Photo credit: 1, 2, 3

8 Steps to Becoming a Sustainable Diver

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What is Sustainable Diving?

And why is it SO important?

Sustainable diving: the practice of diving in a way that has little or no negative effect on the habitats we’re diving in.

Think about it… You are entering a world that is in no way, shape, or form yours.

It belongs to someone else, respect it as you would expect strangers to act in your home!

Hanging out with this turtle in his home =)

Every year more and more people are participating in scuba and snorkeling. If not properly educated, these individuals can contribute to already harsh conditions placed on the oceans eco systems. Luckily, with a little guidance divers can explore the underworld and not only leave it unharmed, but leave it better than you found it!

Being able to explore a world so different than our own is something we are incredibly lucky to get to do.. lets keep it that way!

So now the question is..

How do I become a sustainable diver?

Here are 8 steps YOU can take to do YOUR part in keeping our ocean safe..

1. Do not touch anything!

It may seem harmless to touch parts of the physical environment underwater, but even the slightest touch can upset the eco system and cause long term damages. Make sure you are always aware of your surroundings, your fins, and avoid coming into contact with any of the reef and marine life.

Remember, we are not from this world, our make up is different and touching our hands to anything can be very harmful.

2. Get your buoyancy down

A great way to make sure your body and fins do not disrupt your surroundings is to practice your buoyancy control. Being weighted correctly and maintaining proper buoyancy will help you to not crash into the coral or marine life. Take some time underwater to find out what positions work for you, and practice fining techniques for increased maneuverability. This is a big part of becoming a sustainable diver!

Pro tip: improve your buoyancy by completing your Advanced Open water. As part of this course, you are required to complete a dive that focuses solely on peak performance buoyancy. Also, taking a peak performance speciality course will really enhance your diving skills.

Buoyancy check!

3. Be conscious of your equipment and belongings

Make sure your SPG (pressure gauge) and any loose pieces of your equipment are tucked in. Often times, divers will not notice hanging items dragging along the reef disrupting the coral and marine life. Make sure to keep an eye on those hanging GoPros too!

Be aware of your belongings, do not leave anything behind. Make sure not to drop any weights, torches or personal items/equipment. Secure all items before jumping in!

Speaking of leaving things behind…

4. Trash that should not be in the ocean: pick it up!

Here at Coconut Tree Divers we like to leave the ocean better than we found it! This means picking up any fishing wire, bottles, plastic, cans, bags, anything that is not native to the ocean floor unless it has been there for a long time then be careful it could have reef life starting to inhabit it. Check with your dive guide first before taking anything from the reef that you are not sure about. If you want to do your part for the environment we offer a dive against debris specialty course, it’s great for all ages and certification levels.

Our Coconut family helping to keep the ocean free of debris!
Look at all that!!!

5. Do not feed the animals

It make seem super fun or even helpful to feed the fish.. but it is not. Fish can become reliant on this practice, throwing off the entire eco system and food web.

It may be hard to watch an animal fend for themselves but we really do not want to upset mother nature now do we!?!

6. Be respectful of the marine life

AKA don’t go chasing them and shoving GoPros in their face. Chasing the marine life can cause them a great deal of stress. This stress can cause transmission of diseases or death. Be respectful and always keep a proper distance.

Eagle ray sighting!

7. Wear reef safe sunscreen

It is important to protect your skin when you are exposed to the sun all day on a diving trip. Protect your skin, but protect it in a way that protects our coral reef as well. Certain chemicals found in common sunscreens take a major toll on the health of our coral reef. Always buy reef safe SPF, you can check out our guide to buying reef safe sunscreen here. If in doubt wear a rashguard / t-shirt and a hat to protect yourself.

8. Pick an eco-friendly dive shop.

An important aspect to being an environmentally conscious diver is choosing a dive shop that reflects that initiative. Check out their website, email the shop and ask questions so you can get a better feel for what they stand for.

Education and best taught practices start with the dive shops and example sustainable divers we learn from. We want to support the dive shops that support sustainable practices so that together we can support the over all goal : to keep our oceans healthy.

Coconut Tree turtle education course!

We hope you now have all the ammo you need to become a sustainable diver! It starts with us, we need to do our part so thank you for reading and being environmentally conscious !!

We would love to have you come dive with us!
For more info on Coconut Tree Divers, schedules, courses, and pricing head to our homepage HERE!
To make a reservation head to our online reservation page HERE!

Want to keep up with all things Coconuts?! Make sure to follow us!
Instagram : @coconuttreedivers

Who is Molson?

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If you follow us on social media you may be a wee bit familiar with this little guy…

But we figure it time he had a proper introduction!

Meet Molson

Molson on the dive shop deck
How stoic is he here?

Molson is the newest and most popular member of the Coconut Tree Dive shop.

He is a pug who loves his mother and father just as much as he loves livin’ the island life in Roatan, Honduras. Molson may be an island pup but his name is a tribute to his Canadian dad, who so brilliantly named him after a beer: Molson Canadian.

molson of coconut tree divers roatan
That face tho. THAT FACE

Molson is no ordinary pup.

Nothing in life is free, and just like the rest of us… Molson pays his way through life!

Molson is officially employed by Coconut’s as the official Shop Watch Dog. Each day he works diligently to keep extra watch over the days events. His main responsibility (when he is not sleeping of course) is to guard and protect us.

Which he executes flawlessly, as depicted in the captures below

Molson guarding the shop
Have you ever seen a more well equipped watch dog?
So scary.

However, our Molson is a dog of many talents.

His other role responsibilities include: Moral booster, emotional support dog, and occasionally filling in on front desk duties.

Molson's front desk responsibilities
Molson takes his responsibilities very seriously.

Getting to know Molson

Molson has a zest for life and an affinity for cuteness. He is a friendly dog who loves all the cuddles. But don’t let those puppy dog eyes fool you, he may be cute as a button but he’s got all the sass and attitude as well!!

Molson of Coconut Tree Divers Roatan
Don’t pug with me

Lets get to know our dear friend Molson the pug a little better shall we?

Best friend: The rubber chicken. (His mother earns an honorable mention, but the rubber chickens is it)

Molson and the rubber chicken
Just a pup and his chickens, ya know?

Likes: Sleeping, chillin’ at the bar with dad, chewing on flip-flops, swimming in the ocean, playing with his sister Hela and the cat Swishy at home and lots of cuddles.

A little nap before a night out with dad
The kitty and prince Molson being carted around by dad

Dislikes: Being too hot, not getting enough attention, when people try to take away his rubber chicken, not being able to scuba dive

Molson of Coconut Tree Divers Roatan
Don’t mess with my rubber chicken!

Biggest Dream: To be the first dog to scuba dive. Armstrong was the first man to walk on the moon, Molson wants to be the first dog to walk the ocean floor. (A pup can dream)

Molson sad after being in the ocean but not being able to scuba with dad

Favorite things to do: People watching on the steps of the Coconut Tree Dive shop

Molson of Coconut Tree Divers Roatan
Molson loves to people watch (unless he falls asleep)

AND making new friends at the dive shop!

Photo opps with new friends at the dive shop!

Biggest pet peeve: Men in pants. Our French mechanic who wears long pants he does not like lol. When mom and dad don’t let him beg at the dinner table at the dive shop…huff!

Molson of Coconut Tree Divers Roatan
Check out that side eye…

Favorite food: Peanut Butter and MEAT! Not together but he might be in heaven if we did this. 

Molson with mom and dad!
Molson with mom and dad!

We love having Molson as a part of our dive shop.

He puts a smile on everyone’s face and we love watching how happy he is to receive all the love from customers, staff and passer by’s everyday. Come visit us as at Coconut Tree Diver’s Roatan and give Molson a squeeze, he would love to meet you!

We would love to have you come dive with us!
For more info on Coconut Tree Divers, schedules, courses, and pricing head to our homepage HERE!
To make a reservation head to our online reservation page HERE!

Want to keep up with all things Coconuts?! Make sure to follow us!
Instagram : @coconuttreedivers

Photography Corner – What Equipment to Buy for Underwater Photography

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Photography Corner With Alexandra Harper-Graham

Alex is part owner of Coconut Tree Divers Roatan, Honduras and an underwater photography connoisseur with her own business ‘Alexandra HG Photography‘. A photography degree from Plymouth University combined with her love for scuba diving has lead Alex to her greatest passion: Underwater Photography. With over 12 years of experience underwater Alex is here to help guide you through all of your underwater photography needs, equipment choices and tips!

underwater photography set up
Alex with her underwater set-up!

Today’s topic:

What is the best equipment to buy for underwater photography?

I am often asked my recommendation on the best equipment for taking decent underwater photos (Note: still photos, as video is not my domain).

Before responding I always ask two questions back:

  1. What do you want to get out of your photos?
  2. What is your budget?

As these two answers often make a huge difference in my recommendation for the right equipment and set-up. Like many things in life, there is never one correct all encompassing answer!

Compact Camera vs DSLR

Compact Camera

A compact camera, often referred to as a point-and-shoot camera, is a small and easy to manage camera designed to make photography easy for everyone. They are popular cameras for travel and everyday life because they are usually lightweight, easy to use, and budget friendly.

A point and shoot camera is just that… you point, you press a button and the camera automatically handles the settings for that shot.

DSLR

AKA a Digital Single-Lens Reflex. These are very popular cameras and pretty much synonymous with professional cameras. A Single-Lens Reflex camera means just that. The DSLR that you photograph with has one lens, where the light will travel through to hit the digital sensor. These cameras are more complex in nature and allow you to completely customize each shot instead of just pointing and shooting in automatic.

Underwater photography
Alex Harper-Graham Photography. Pederson cleaner shrimp with eggs.

Cameras

Recommended camera brands: Nikon, Canon, Sony, Olympus, Lumix, and Panasonic are all great brands of cameras that have plenty of models to choose from.

Compact camera recommendations: 

A photographer friend who has been visiting Roatan for years takes amazing photos with the Sony Rx100V compact camera with Fantasea housing. This set-up for just the camera and housing is approximately $1,400. She also uses dual strobes and a wide angle wet lens to really bring out the colors in the shots.

My absolute favourite is the Canon G series. Over the years I have used many starting with the G11 and worked my way up to the current Canon G7x Mark ii. You can shoot with underwater preset modes with a red filter if you want a simple point and shoot capability but also shoot in manual so it can work for many different photography skill levels. It also shoots in RAW which is important for post editing but I’ll save this for another blog. To give you an idea on price you can currently buy a Canon set-up with Fantasea FG7XII housing for around $1000. Another option you can go for is the Canon own brand housing which can bring the cost down a bit if you’re already thinking this is out of your budget.

Left: Sony RX100V RIght: Canon G7x Mark ii

 

DSLR recommendations:

An example of a high end DSLR take look at the Canon EOS 6D Mark II DSLR camera. You could then buy a Nauticam for $3,390 or Ikelite housing $1,695 for this camera. The cost starts from $3000 without all the bells and whistles.

This example of a DSLR set-up has been recommended from professional photographer Francesca Diaco. She uses Nikon D810 in SEA&SEA housing; Sigma 15mm fisheye, Nikon 105mm macro and dual SEA&SEA YS-D2 strobes. It costs around $10,000. Her photos are stunning, check out her bio here.

Left: Canon EOS 6D Mark II DSLR Right: Nikon D810

 

Housing

What makes a camera available for underwater photography is not the camera itself, but the housing you choose to encase it in! Choosing a housing is important, it obviously protects the camera from the water but also you can still use all the same functions underwater as you can on land. They are all depth rated and can vary quite a bit so make sure to choose wisely if you enjoy deeper dives or technical dives.

Some recommended housings:

Aquatica & Nauticam – The more expensive option, yet the most durable and excellent for deep or tec dives. Many have an immense depth rating of 100-150 meters/500ft. A downside here is these set-ups tend to be slightly heavier than most due to their extreme durability.

Ikelite – This is the most popular housing choice for DSLR and mirrorless cameras but recently they are branching into making models to fit cheaper point and shoot cameras. Ikelite is a reputable solid manufacturer at mid-range cost, you can find their housing options here.

Fantasea – This housing is designed for compact camera’s like the Canon G series. A solid product found also at mid-range cost.

Olympus – This is one of the cheapest models you’ll find available for underwater photography. Olympus have recently brought out the new TG-6 with many new features. If you like macro you’ll love this camera. The cost is around $750 for the housing and camera on Amazon.

Underwater photography silversides
Alex Harper-Graham Photography shot using the Fantasea housing. Silversides in Hole in the Wall

Strobes

A strobe is an external underwater flash. This really can help improve in underwater photography as strobes allow you to try different lighting output, angles and help to reduce backscatter when used correctly.

The most popular brands of strobes include Inon (more expensive), Sea&Sea (mid range) and Ikelite (larger and bulkier but powerful)

Strobe recommendations for DSLR:

A few of the most popular and highly recommended are the Sea & Sea YS-D1, Sea & Sea YS-D2, the Ikelite DS-160, and the Inon Z330. All at different price points!

Strobe recommendations for compact camera:

A few of the most popular and highly recommended are the Sea & Sea YS-01, Sea & Sea YS-03, Inon S2000, and Ikelite DS-51s.

Left: Sea & Sea YS-D1 Right: Ikelite Substrobe DS-51

 

What is right for me?

I mentioned in the beginning the two questions I ask to those interested in underwater photography.

What do you want to get out of your photos and what is your budget?

Remember buying the best is not a shortcut to taking great photos! I have seen many a photographer will all the gear and no idea! If you are a beginner, sometimes starting with the basics and working your way up is the safest way to go.

Here are the pros and cons of each type of choice you could make:

Choosing a DLSR

Pros: Amazing high quality photos and sharpness. Recommended for those interested in really perfecting their underwater photography skill set. DSLR’s can give you a wide range of freedom in the type of composition and photos you desire.

Cons: This is the most expensive avenue as prices can get from $3000-$6000. This set-up is not for everyone and the housing will be more expensive than that of a compact camera. Before starting your dive, you will have to commit to shooting in wide angle or macro since you cannot change this underwater. So it is best to discuss with your dive shop and dive master the type of dives you’ll be going on.

Underwater photography turtle
Alex Harper-Graham Photography shot with the Canon G7x Markii. Hawksbill Turtle
Choosing a compact camera

Pros: Price, you can get an array of compact cameras for a much lower price point compared to DSLR. Great for beginners as the cameras are lighter, more manageable and easy to use. With these cameras you are able to use wet lenses on most housings so you can shoot in macro or wide angle in a single dive.

Cons: Overall quality can be compromised when in comparison to high end DSLR cameras. However, with a good eye and knowledge of your camera you are still able to get great shots.

Overall, any quality camera is going to get you great shots if you know how to use it. One of my biggest pieces of advise is to take a photography course and learn to how to use your own equipment!

underwater photography
Alex Harper-Graham Photography. Trio of Flamingo Tongues

My personal pick

I shoot multiple times a week and teach underwater photography. With how much my life involves underwater photography I have invested in higher quality equipment because that is what is best for me! I use a mid range set-up of Fantasea housing with a Canon G7X Mark ii, dual strobes Sea&Sea, a Fantasea wide angle wet lens, and Nauticam CMC macro wet lens and SubSee +10 diopter lens, both of these macro lens are great for getting the detail out of the smallest of small creatures.

underwater photography equipment
My personal set-up!

Happy picture taking! If you find your self in Roatan Honduras stop by our dive shop and say hello! We offer photography course’s taught by me, and we would love to have you!

We would love to have you come dive with us!
For more info on Coconut Tree Divers, schedules, courses, and pricing head to our homepage HERE!
To make a reservation head to our online reservation page HERE!

Want to keep up with all things Coconuts?! Make sure to follow us!
Instagram : @coconuttreedivers

How to Conserve Air While Diving

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How do I conserve air while diving?

We hear this a lot. If you are familiar with diving then you know the amount of remaining air in your tank is often turned into a competition among divers. While some friendly competition never hurt anyone, remember everyone’s body is different!

FACT: Different body types are going to require more air than others. If your body is stressed or tired, it is not going to operate at 100% and therefore use more air.

However, no one wants to be the guy or girl who causes the rest of the group to end the dive early because they are low on air.

If you are struggling with air consumption, or tired of frequently running low on air… or you simply want some tips to beat out your buddies.. you have come to the right place! These tips will help.

how to conserve air while diving roatan honduras
Some happy divers at our shop, Coconut Tree Divers Roatan, Honduras!

Tips to conserve air while scuba diving

Breathe slowly and deeply.

AKA control your breath, be conscious of it. Ever taken a yoga class? If so it’s the same concept. Deep breath in, slow exhale out. Try to pause a second after your deep breath in, do not hold your breath, simply pause, then exhale. A deep breath, compared to shorter more frequent breaths, allows a greater amount of fresh oxygen to be absorbed by your body. To get your body familiar with this breathing try counting as you inhale and match that count as you exhale. Keep that count in your head until your body becomes familiar with it.

Control that buoyancy.

The better your buoyancy control, the better your air consumption will be. The constant manoeuvre of going up and down requires energy expenditure, causing more air intake. As well as inflating/deflating your BCD frequently and using your fins to compensate for your buoyancy. All of this drains air and energy. Practice is everything when it comes to buoyancy control. Have patience with yourself, you will get there… and when you do your tank will remain fuller longer!

An excellent way to improve your buoyancy is obtaining your Advanced Open Water certification. One of the five dives you could elect to take is called Peak Performance Buoyancy, it is solely focused on buoyancy and guaranteed to help you improve!

how to conserve air while diving roatan honduras
Buoyancy control spot on!

Dive slow and steady.

This ain’t a race, sloth it up! Higher speeds take an increasingly higher amount of energy out of you. Directly correlating to more air consumption. Take it easy, soak it in and go slow… the slower you go the more time your eyes have to spot our underwater friends and the more you will conserve air while diving!

Gear check please.

Always make sure to check your equipment for leaks with your buddy before each dive. Be sure to check your o-ring, inflator hose, and all connection points. If you are unsure how to do so, simply ask one of your dive leaders to show you how! No leaks is a sure way to conserve air while diving.

Gear Check how to conserve air while diving roatan honduras
Gear check! #buddycheck

Streamline your dive.

Dive horizontal, AKA don’t be a seahorse! (ugh how cute are seahorses though?!) Getting your hydrodynamics down will help you maintain air. When your body is in a vertical position underwater it automatically has less control. You start using your arms, your fins are flipping around more, and overall you are expending way to much energy. Get horizontal, make sure none of your equipment is dragging, and keep your arms close to your sides. Arms are not to be used to manoeuvre your body underwater, keep them at your sides, it is all about your legs and fins! Speaking of letting your legs and fins do all the work…

Perfect your kick.

Your fins are your biggest asset. When used correctly they will get you to where you want to go with minimal effort. Avoid bicycle kicks, try frog kicks! Long frog kicks allow the fins to push water behind causing you to soar forward, while bicycle kicks slice through the water and propel you forward less. Take a look at your dive leader, how is she or he kicking? Try and mimic that, kick from your hips not just your lower legs and you will save air!

How to conserve air while diving turtle roatan honduras
Turtle Turtle! Cruising around the Roatan waters

Dive shallower.

This is a super helpful one, especially for those really struggling with air consumption. Just like you learned in your open water certification, the deeper you go the more air your body requires. Try diving a few feet above the group, it can make a big difference in how much air you consume.

Keep calm and carry dive on.

Being nervous underwater is the quickest way to empty your tank faster than your fellow divers. The heart rate goes up and your body uses more oxygen.

The solution to this starts above water. Take a moment before entering the water to visualize your decent and dive, go over the motions and become comfortable with the idea of getting in the water. It may sound funny but talk to yourself. Tell yourself ‘this is going to be a great dive, I am calm.’ Jump in the water, check in with yourself often and practice that deep slow breath like mentioned above!

Silversides roatan honduras
Swimming in a sea of Silversides in Roatan Honduras

Lets sum it up

Next time you are about to the hop in the water.. check your equipment for leaks, take a minute to mentally prep yourself for your time in the water, practice your breathing pattern above water then jump on in. As you descend keep focusing on that breathing, then once at the bottom take a minute to really find your buoyancy while keeping that breath. Stay streamlined, go slow, perfect that frog kick and have a kick ass dive…. you got this!

Whether it is to last a full 55 minutes underwater or to beat out your buddies… Follow these tips and you are certain to save more air while scuba diving!

coconut tree divers roatan honduras
Our Coconut Tree Dive shop in Roatan, Honduras!
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