Sun Divers Launches Eco Academy in Celebration of PADI AWARE Week
New three-tier education pathway combines PADI certifications, conservation training, and a higher standard of ocean stewardship
ROATAN, HONDURAS, SEPTEMBER 8, 2026 — In celebration of PADI AWARE Week September 12-20, Sun Divers Roatan is launching the Sun Divers Eco Academy, a new three-tier training pathway designed to transform dive education from a series of individual certifications into a more complete journey of skill development, exploration, and ocean stewardship.
As Roatan’s first PADI Eco Center, Sun Divers has long integrated conservation into its mission, operations and diver education. The Eco Academy builds upon that commitment by making environmental awareness and action an intentional part of a diver’s development — from their first certification through continuing education training.
“The Eco Academy is a scuba certification curriculum that reflects who we are as Sun Divers,” said Natalie Shuman, owner of Sun Divers. “We believe divers should leave us not only more confident and capable in the water, but more connected to the ocean and motivated to protect it. We wanted to create a certification pathway that recognizes that progression and makes conservation an integral part of what it means to be a skilled diver.”
A New Way to Progress as a Diver
The Eco Academy consists of three progressive levels, each combining complementary PADI certifications and local conservation experiences:
Eco Explorer — The foundation of the journey. Open Water students can pair their initial certification with PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy and PADI AWARE training, developing the skills and environmental awareness to become more responsible divers from day one.
Eco Adventurer — Designed for certified divers ready to expand their capabilities. The program combines PADI Advanced Open Water, Enriched Air Nitrox, and an active conservation experience through either Roatan Marine Park’s Lionfish Hunting program or PADI Dive Against Debris.
Eco Leader — The highest level of the Academy, focused on safety, leadership, and conservation. Divers complete PADI Rescue Diver, Emergency First Response, Emergency Oxygen Provider, and the PADI AWARE Shark & Ray Conservation Specialty.
All participants will also be introduced to the GreenFins Diver E-Course and Code of Conduct.
Rather than simply accumulating certifications, students progress through the Eco Academy by developing practical skills and participating in experiences that connect their training to the health of the marine environment.
More Than Just a PADI Certification
The Eco Academy is also designed to make continuing education feel like an achievement worth celebrating.
“There’s something powerful about giving divers a sense of accomplishment beyond the certification card,” said Shuman. “We want students to feel proud of what they’ve achieved and to see continuing education not as a checklist, but as a journey toward becoming the kind of diver who has the utmost respect for the natural world every time they explore underwater.”
Through bundled courses, students can also earn multiple certifications during a single trip while receiving special package pricing and a more intentionally connected learning experience.
Conservation at the Core
The launch during PADI AWARE Week reflects the Eco Academy’s central philosophy: divers are not simply visitors to the underwater world. They are part of its future.
From learning buoyancy techniques that help prevent accidental contact with coral to participating in marine debris surveys, lionfish management, and shark and ray conservation education, the Eco Academy gives students opportunities to translate what they learn into meaningful action.
“PADI AWARE Week is the perfect moment to launch the Eco Academy because conservation has never been something we wanted to keep separate from dive training,” said Shuman. “It belongs in the classroom, on the boat, underwater, and in the choices we make as divers.”
For more information about the Sun Divers Eco Academy, visit: https://sundiversroatan.com/courses/#eco-academy-package
About Sun Divers
Sun Divers Roatan is the island’s first-ever PADI Eco Center, offering small group, eco-friendly diving adventures and training in Half Moon Bay, Roatan. The dive shop combines a relaxed Caribbean atmosphere with top-tier instruction, high-end equipment and boats, and a passion for ocean exploration and protection.
Sun Divers is a Green Fins member and actively supports marine conservation and community initiatives throughout Roatan, welcoming guests of all skill levels to join their Dive Tribe and make a positive impact on Roatan’s reefs and community.
