Coconut Tree Divers (PADI Gold Palm)

I have done my advanced and divemaster course here and know the shop and its managers well. I like the space the one boat “bottom time” gives however I get frustrated at the amount of dive sites covered and this is due in part to them having the one boat.
They are currently working on a new boat. They offer two tank dives in the morning and this is rare in west end. They cover Pablo’s place to the odyssea, OXYGEN is available on the boat.



Will offers the new PADI tech deep course here and this is unique. They also mix and teach Nitrox, and all the other specialties including A.I.
Mark a marine biologist has taught me a lot about the reef here (and I’m sure will one day be a course director) has a wealth of experience and contributes to the forums on http://www.roatan-diving.com- go there and test him. This shop is a fun and young -oh no wait we have Pinot who is fast becoming a legend after he was forced to leave Utila. None of that last sentence was true except his age but I like him. Crazy Kate is just that and a lot of fun, then we also have lock up your daughter Hugh and Beckham look alike Irish Barry. I should also mention Tree Gaynoor and PJ who manage the place. A nice deck, beer cooler and sizeable shop means that there is a healthy after diving atmosphere most evenings I think this is what I like most about this shop. They have a great air conditioned classroom as well.

Tyll’s Dive- Independent

Tyll’s dive for me has a slightly unattractive  front end for a dive shop. This is due to it being set back on the wrong side of the road and it being a rather white concrete structure with no sign but a painted wall instead. It feels enclosed and these small things might stop me diving there, and what a snob I am!
I want now to dive with these guys since getting to know them more and it has nothing to do with them having some hot DMT’s right now either. I had a wonderful conversation with Uwe and Dorte at Ilias’ BBQ one evening and I really feel that they were my kind of people. On with the show, they have 2 boats able to take 12 and 8 divers. Interestingly they use a drop tank on their deep dives which is very good. What they DO have is a passion for diving and in all their staff this is important to Uwe and Dorte the owner/managers. Their instructors need to commit to a long duration of work to work there.
The current core is Uwe, Dorte, Tanguy, Jimena and Sarah (with Marcus the boat captain) covering English, Spanish, French, German and Danish.
They always have DM’s and DMT’s on dives and they set up your equipment for you if you are not on a course. I’m not sure where I stand on that, now I can do it I’m happy to have someone set up my equipment but it has been only through practise that I can do that! They have a maximum of 4 students per course and there is no rush for a student to finish a course, a very good thing I think. Their range is from Pablo’s to Spooky channel but would arrange special trips. They don’t do Nitrox. They will also do SSI and NAUI referrals. In all it reminds of a very European operation. They get their divers from being listed in the lonely planet from walk-ins and they have a good word of mouth and repeat custom. Tyll the original owner no longer has anything to do with the shop.