Diver finds paradise in Utila, Bay Islands of Honduras
When I first arrived in Honduras, I headed to La Ceiba, the gateway port for the Bay Islands. Located off the north coast of Honduras, the Bay Islands is formed by three small Islands, Utila, Roatan and Guanaja.
I headed to the smallest of these three, the next morning I took the one hour long ferry ride to Utila, and this little island is famous amongst backpacker because of its laid back atmosphere and magnificent diving.
The Utila Princess ferry runs between La Ceiba and the island twice daily, with departures in the morning and the afternoon.
The main industry in Utila is tourism based upon diving. The island boasts superb diving for a small price. The island of Utila is also famous for its whale sharks and is one of the few places around the world where they can be spotted any time of year.
Choosing a dive shop is a matter of personal preference, no matter what dive shop you choose however, the prices for dive courses vary very little between all the shops. One thing is for sure, Utila is a cheap place to learn to dive with basic introductory courses and the PADI open water course.
The diving course normally takes four days to complete and is recognized by dive shops across the world. Most dive shops offer free accommodations while diving and free fun dives upon completing the dive course.
My initial plan was to stay only long enough to get my Open Water certification, but then, I found myself coming up with excuses to stay on this beautiful island. I ended up staying in Utila for three weeks, during this time I swam with the whale sharks, bottlenose dolphins, dove 40 meters below the surface and saw a whole lot of colorful tropical fish.
Cars are rare, with locals usually walking or riding small scooters and motorcycles. Unlike the mainland of Honduras, the main language spoken on Utila is English, due to a history of British occupation and colonization.
Eating in Utila is cheap and filling, with barbequed meat and seafood being the two main staples of local cuisine. However, as most restaurants are only open on certain days of the week, often the hardest part of your day is simply remembering what place is open when.
The island is also host to an exciting nightlife fueled by a stream of thirsty backpackers. Locals and travelers mix freely in all the popular places as Treetanic, a big outdoor assembly of gangways, platforms, sweeping archways and a funky marine decor.
Despite its undeniable charm, Utila remains a well-kept secret. Utila is a haven for the weary traveler, a place of sunshine, warmth, and relaxation.
By Richard Overall