(06-04-10) Over 130 bouyed sites to dive arround the island garantized exciting and varied experiences. Also, this Caribean island offers an unique and friendly welcoming.
The Caribbean island of Utila is one of three in a group of islands called the Bay Islands found just off the coast of Honduras in Central America, the other two being Roatan and Guanaja. It is the second largest island being about seven miles long and three miles wide.
It is less developed than its larger and better known neighbour Roatan and has a unique culture which is friendly and welcoming. The true Utilians speak English (well a version of) as their primary language and of course Spanish as the islands are now owned by Honduras.
The Caribbean island of Utila is made up of mangroves, forestry and dry lands which cover approximately 90% of this tropical island. It is rich with indigenous wild life and beautiful mangrove orchids. The mangrove Swamper iguana is only found on Utila and nowhere else in the world. The only town is built around a natural harbour on the south east end of the island.
The extensive reefs of Utila make an all inclusive scuba diving vacation an exciting and varied experience with over 130 buoyed sites around the island to choose from. Diving on the north side of Utila is awe inspiring with sheer walls dropping to over 1.000 m (3.000ft) with amazing coral growth on top of the wall.
There is always the chance of seeing dolphins, manta rays and many of the other large pelagic creatures that inhabit the Caribbean, including of course, the largest of them all, the whale shark. With the extensive macro life including seahorse and frog fish, it is a photographer and videographers dream.
The south side of Utila consists mainly of shallow fringing reefs, the top of the reef at around 5 m (15ft) dropping down to between 30-40 m (100-120ft). The reefs here are a mix of small walls with good overhangs and many sites with really pretty spur and groove formations.
Some of the favourite visitors to the south shore are eagle rays and turtles. There are also 4 sea mounds approximately 1-3 miles from the Utila coastline. The tops begin at around 10 m (33ft) and they drop to the ocean floor. The reefs are stunning with lots of soft coral and the chance of seeing the larger pelagic species. Dive trips will include a wreck dive, drift dives and of course, the ever popular night dives. Unlimited shore diving is also available from the resort beach on some of the best south side dive sites.
Dive trips will include a wreck dive, drift dives and of course, the ever popular night dives. Unlimited shore diving is also available from the resort beach on some of the best south side dive sites.
We stay at Deep Blue Resort, which is set in a private beach front location surrounded by coconut palms fruit trees, with indigenous wildlife and wild orchids. It is a beautiful get-away-from-it-all resort which can only be reached by boat through a lagoon at the back of the property. There are no telephones or TVs. If you need to contact the outside world, free Internet access is available.
The resort has ten spacious, deluxe rooms, each with a large private balcony overlooking a white sand beach and the crystal waters of the Caribbean. With a maximum of only twenty guests at any time, it is a place where you can truly relax and make yourself at home. You'll immerse yourself in unlimited shore diving on three of the best south side sites, plus three boat dives per day and a full range of PADI Courses and Specialties.
