Roatan Coral Ambassador Course: My Journey with Sun Divers

After spending a year living in Roatan, I’ve kept close ties to the island—and I always dive with Sun Divers when I return. On my last trip this January, I finally got the chance to check something huge off my diving bucket list: the Roatan Coral Ambassador Course with Sun Divers and the Roatan Marine Park.

This course had been on my radar for years, but I never quite found the right time to do it. Since I moved away from Roatan in early 2022, I’ve made it a priority to come back every year—and every time I return, it breaks my heart to see how much the reefs have changed.

There have been several documented bleaching events in the Caribbean since 2022, and it’s impossible not to notice the damage, especially when you’ve spent as much time on Roatan’s reefs as I have.

Over two exciting days, I gained hands-on experience with coral restoration and learned a ton about coral reefs and how to help protect them. And the best part? Once you’re certified, you can volunteer with the Roatan Marine Park on coral nursery dives and outplanting events to help restore the island’s reef systems!

Ready to clean some baby corals? Let’s go!

**I want to extend a huge thank you to Sun Divers for allowing me to take the RMP Coral Ambassador Course free of charge. While this post is sponsored by Sun Divers, I paid full price for both of my PADI courses and almost all fun dives booked with Sun Divers in the past. All opinions in this review are 100% honest and my own.

Introducing The Roatan Coral Ambassador Certification

The Roatan Coral Ambassador Certification is a conservation-focused diving course developed by the Roatan Marine Park and offered through select, sustainability-focused dive shops like Sun Divers. It’s designed to give recreational divers the training they need to participate in coral restoration efforts around Roatan.

In the course, you’ll learn about coral ecology, the threats facing reefs today, and the hands-on techniques used to bring struggling reef systems back to life. The program focuses on an asexual reproduction method called fragmentation—which is a process that’s most effective in branching corals.

The first part of the course revolves around coral nurseries. These are underwater structures where the coral fragments (a.k.a. baby corals 🥺) are grown under controlled conditions until they’re big and strong enough to be “outplanted” back onto damaged parts of the reef (the second part of the course).

It’s one of the coolest things I’ve done as a diver—and now, as a certified RMP Coral Ambassador, I can actually volunteer to join future coral nursery cleanings and outplanting events through the RMP!

👉🏼 Heard enough to be convinced? Click here to sign up for the Sun Divers
& RMP Coral Restoration Course!

Introducing Sun Divers Dive Shop

Sun Divers is my go-to dive shop in Roatan—not just because they’re located right in the heart of West End, but because Natalie and Shannon, the owners, have built a dive community that’s welcoming, conservation-minded, and genuinely passionate about protecting Roatan’s reef.

Beyond offering incredible dive experiences, Sun Divers is deeply involved in sustainability efforts on the island.

Natalie sits on the board of the Roatan Marine Park, and the shop assists with coral spawning monitoring, eco-safe sunscreen advocacy, and marine conservation education. When I decided to take the Coral Ambassador Course, there was no question I’d be booking it with them.

In addition to the Restoration Certification Course, Sun Divers offers plenty of other diving courses like Discover Scuba Diving, PADI Open Water & Advanced, Emergency First Response, and Open Water Rescue Diver.

Everything You Need to Know About the Course

Thinking about signing up for the Coral Ambassador Course? Here’s the full breakdown of what to expect—from what you’ll learn, to how it’s structured, and everything in between.

What Will You Learn?

During this two-day course with Sun Divers, you’ll:

• Learn the basics of coral biology and why reefs matter so much for marine ecosystems
• Understand how climate change, pollution, and other stressors are impacting Roatan’s reefs
• Get introduced to the different types of coral restoration, like fragmentation and microfragmentation
• Practice real conservation techniques, like nursery cleaning and coral outplanting

The certification includes a classroom portion and two dives—the first one at the nursery and the second where you’ll actually learn to outplant the fragments onto the reef (weather permitting).

Coral Ambassador vs. Coral Adventurer

If you’re thinking about taking the course but not quite sure which version is right for you, here’s a quick breakdown of the two options: Coral Adventurer and Coral Ambassador.

The Coral Adventurer is kind of like the intro course. It includes a short education session plus one training dive at the coral nursery, where you’ll learn how to clean and maintain the trees where the coral fragments grow. After completing the course, you’ll be certified to volunteer on nursery dives with the Roatan Marine Park.

The Coral Ambassador, on the other hand, is the full experience. You’ll get the same classroom education, plus two training dives: one at the nursery and one at an outplanting site, where you’ll actually transplant coral fragments onto the reef. With this certification, you’ll be qualified to volunteer on both coral nursery and coral outplanting dives with the RMP.

Coral Adventurer—costs $150 and takes 3 hours.

Coral Ambassador—costs $200 and takes 6 hours.

A portion of the cost of both courses gets donated to the Roatan Marine Park ❤️

**Depending on ocean temperatures and how much thermal stress the coral is currently undergoing, sometimes students aren’t able to outplant coral onto the reef. In this case, you would only be able to earn your Coral Adventurer certification.

Why Does the RMP Need Ambassadors?

Coral reefs only cover about 0.2% of the ocean floor, but they support around 25% of all marine life—including sea turtles, over 4,000 species of fish, seahorses, sponges, and lobsters.

Beyond being biodiversity hotspots, reefs are also key to protecting coastlines, supporting billions of dollars in tourism and other livelihoods, and sustaining the delicate balance of ocean ecosystems.

But right now, coral reefs are in crisis.

Warming ocean temperatures are fueling mass bleaching events, deadly diseases like Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease are spreading rapidly, and human activities—like cruise ship traffic and coastal construction—are doing serious damage.

That’s exactly why the Roatan Marine Park launched its coral restoration project—and amazing dive shops, like Sun Divers, are making it a priority to train as many Roatan Coral Ambassadors as possible.

How is the Course Structured?

So what can you expect when you sign up for the Roatan Marine Park Coral Restoration Certification with Sun Divers? Here’s a breakdown:

Part 1: Classroom

The course starts with a 2-3 hour classroom session in the upstairs space above Sun Divers in West End. You’ll go through a slide presentation created by the RMP that covers the threats facing Roatan’s reefs, the goals of the coral restoration project, and an overview of the techniques you’ll use during the dives.

After the presentation, you’ll get hands-on practice with dead coral skeletons, reef putty, fishing wire, and pliers. You’ll learn how to attach coral fragments to nursery “trees” and practice the outplanting technique on dry land—giving you the chance to get comfortable with the tools before doing it underwater.

You’ll also go over how to clean the coral trees, which helps keep the nursery environment healthy and thriving.

Part 2: The Nursery

The first dive of the Coral Ambassador Course takes place at the coral nursery—where you’ll get hands-on with real restoration work.

Bright and early, we grabbed our gear at the dive shop, hopped on Sun Divers’ new speedboat, and headed out for a full day of coral conservation.

At the nursery site, our instructors Natalie and B gave us the rundown before our initial descent. We were given scrubby pads, pliers, and brushes to clean algae off the coral trees and hang new coral fragments. I actually found the process kind of calming, although you definitely have to keep an eye out for fire coral (a few of us resurfaced with minor stings).

During the dive, Natalie came around with a slate to help us count our coral fragments and check the health of the tree while pointing out common threats to the coral like predation from fireworms.

Sunscreen was a no-go since we were working so close to the coral, so I’d definitely recommend bringing a sun hat or long-sleeve SPF shirt for the boat ride.

**According to our divemasters, we had the strongest current they’d seen during a coral restoration course dive. So chances are—your course will be easier than mine!

Part 3: Outplanting

For our second dive of the day, we moved from the nursery to a nearby outplanting site. We used reef putty to secure mature Staghorn coral fragments onto a healthy section of the reef, placing them close together so they could eventually grow into one connected colony.

This part of the course definitely felt more challenging—especially trying to line everything up perfectly while maintaining buoyancy in that strong current. Still, it was so rewarding to see the fragments in place, knowing (or at least hoping) that they’d grow into something much bigger over time.

Once we wrapped the dive, we officially earned our certification and can now join future outplanting events in Roatan with the Marine Park!

Course Requirements

To become a Coral Reef Restoration Volunteer, you’ll need to either have your Advanced Open Water or Peak Performance Buoyancy certification, as well as be able to show solid buoyancy control during a fun dive.

The course is open to divers at least 16 years of age (or 13 years for the Coral Adventurer version).

How to Sign Up

Ready to get certified and start doing your part to give back to the Roatan coral reef?

Head to the Sun Divers website and reach out directly to book your course. For answers to any frequently asked questions about scuba diving in general, check out my Sun Divers Roatan review for a complete overview.

Is this Course Right for You?

Since living in Roatan in 2021, the island has always held such a special place in my heart. I love diving, I love this island, and I’ve always felt a strong pull to protect the beauty of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef.

Taking the Coral Ambassador course felt like the first real step in giving back to the reef that’s given me so much joy. Whether you’re a frequent visitor to Roatan, passionate about sustainability, or just looking for a way to make a positive impact while you’re on vacation, this course is such a meaningful way to get involved.

That said, this course isn’t for everyone. If you’re only on the island for less than a week and don’t plan on coming back, this probably isn’t the best fit. The certification only applies to Roatan—it won’t qualify you to volunteer on coral dives elsewhere in the Caribbean.

But if you’re staying a week or longer, already meet the dive requirements, are a frequent visitor to the island, and want to give back to the reef in a real and lasting way, I would count this course as one of the best things to do in Roatan for eco-conscious visitors.

Next Steps: How to Use Your Certification

So you’re certified as a Roatan Coral Ambassador…now what? Here are some ways to use your certification to give back to the island we all know and love:

Volunteer on Coral Nursery Dives

After you complete the course, you’ll automatically be added to the RMP Coral Restoration group chat on WhatsApp. Divers from the Marine Park will send out text blasts when they’re coordinating nursery dives—all you need to do is respond to RSVP!

Outplanting Events

The best way to stay up-to-date on the latest coral outplanting events around Roatan is to follow the Sun Divers and Roatan Marine Park Instagram pages. Annual outplanting events, like Coralpalooza, will also be promoted in the WhatsApp group.

Need Help Planning Your Roatan Vacation?

If you’re passionate about marine conservation and looking to make a difference on your next dive trip, taking the Roatan Coral Ambassador Course with Sun Divers is an incredible way to give back to the reef and connect with the island on a deeper level.

Not only are you learning a new skill and potentially making some new friends, but you’re using your vacation to do some good in the world. Take it from me—the world needs more tourists like that.

If this is your first trip to Roatan, or if you’re just looking for a little extra planning help—I’ve got you covered. Think of me as your go-to guru for all things Roatan.

Feel free to reach out with any questions, or check out my full library of Honduras travel guides packed with everything you need to plan the perfect trip. From where to stay in Roatan and the best local restaurants to try, to how to get there and what to pack, I’ve got every aspect of your Roatan trip covered.

Want to stay in the loop on all things Roatan? Join my email list for updates on new blog posts, the latest happenings on the island, and destination guides from around the world!

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