How it All Started: In the Words of Blue Island DIvers Owner Eric White
How did we get the idea to start Blue Island Divers in the first place? An enchanting dive, God’s will, family bonds and support, and the need to pursue our dream is what propelled the decision to develop Blue Island Divers in Roatan. While many trips and other people helped influence our decision to come to Roatan, no one person more than Jason McAnear, with the help of his Dad’s spirit, can be credited with our journey. Jason, an ambitious scuba instructor himself, had encouraged us to come to Roatan and we finally did. We spent two years traveling to the island to visit again and again. We began making our plans of how to own a dive center and what it would take to make it happen. So, most life changing experiences have that defining moment. And for me, Eric, I believe this was our defining moment. We were making our last dive of this particular trip with Jason, in the pristine waters of Roatan on a gorgeous day. While diving, we encountered every underwater creature you could imagine – turtles, spotted eagle rays, green moray eels. Everything was perfect. It was one of those moments when you get choked up and think ‘this is it’. I was also hearing Jason’s dad’s spirit speaking to me, I was feeling his presence and being overwhelmed while on my dive. I did not know his father well and only met him a few times, but in that instance I knew he was with us, underwater, encouraging me to embrace this journey. If ever I was spoken to by a spirit, this was the time. It was truly awe inspiring and brought me to know we needed to be in this place. Carly and I decided this is a journey we needed to pursue. We set about making the plan happen and with a lot of work and more logistical planning……,we set our course for Roatan. MORE ABOUT THIS JOURNEY…… During our time traveling to and from the island my wife and I enrolled in a PADI Open Water to Divemaster course and completed 7 specialties together in the cool and less visible waters of Texas lakes. This training and continual trips boosted our interest to commit to creating a dive resort on Roatan! I truly believe lakes develop a divers skills more quickly due to the limited visibility and temperature changes. It was challenging and rewarding and a new adventure with every dive! At the same time we began evaluating all possibilities of creating a diving/snorkeling/fishing charter business catering to small groups. With the help of our entire family; we found a place to establish what is now Blue Island Divers.
After evaluating several possible sites on Roatan, we settled on the current site In November of 2014. We began operating with a single boat and a very limited dive operation. We began with a single captain and instructor to maintain the operation. We soon saw the need to move to Roatan and develop our business personally. We became involved with several mission ministries on the island and knew we needed to pursue our work and our mission contributions. In January 2015, we sold all of our personal possessions, checked our kids out of school with transfer papers, and moved our family to Roatan and began living our dream. Throughout the years we created more lodging, a restaurant, and acquired a 2nd boat, and developed relationships with our mission focused friends and the island community as a whole.
Carly and I now reside in our original home in Texas. We replaced the items we sold and settled back in to life in Texas while we continue to manage our dive center on a daily basis. We finished raising our son’s and enjoying time with our family. Our son Garrett, now age 21, completed his Associates degree in Applied Science and is a certified diesel mechanic who currently works with us in general construction. Grant age 19 is an accomplished welder, certified crane operator, and became a United States Marine on April 06, 2023 to pursue his love of aviation as a helicopter crewman of Huey helicopters. We are extremely proud of both of them and feel Roatan only helped in shaping them as young men. They are both exceptional divers and love returning to the island. . We enjoy booking our guests and working with them to create the same unforgettable trip which we experienced that glorious trip in 2012. I have many mentors and family to thank. My own parents are as much a part of Blue Island Divers as anyone and it could not be possible without their sacrifice, ownership, and encouragement. We continue to pursue making our operation the absolute best hidden gem you would expect! We continue to refine the offerings and premises to what you now see and we are extremely proud to offer all of it to our guests. Developing the business and the resort from the ground up gives me great pride. We maintain a simplistic offering and “island style” feel for everyone to experience the island as it should be seen. I don’t come to Roatan to watch television, it is a majestic island the entire day and night and unlike any other we have traveled to in the Caribbean. You can still stay connected while visiting since all the comforts of home are afforded. However, it is a place to become “disconnected” from the world's problems and find that self you have put on the shelf while living in the fast pace of work and Western society. I hope this “short” version of our experience will entice you to visit Roatan and Blue Island Divers in the near future. You will never regret a trip taken; only those you didn’t take. Whether on a dive with customers or a dive with family and friends, we want to share that love of diving and amazing feeling with others. That is what keeps people coming back.