mjh,
I was diving with the Bay Island College of Diving (Instruction Center for the Utila Lodge) that same week so we most likely ran into each other. I must say that they are by far the most profesional dive shops in Utila. I have used other dive shops but BICD (Utila Lodge) are by far the best.
They have three great boats, the Sea Spray (Reserved for guests of the Utila Lodge), the Tiburon and the Neptune. All three boats and specially the Sea Spray and the Neptune have a great reputation as the best boats to find whale sharks. Surface intervals are usually spent searching for these great animals.
BICD and Utila Lodge have a great crew and staff. Our captain was Albert who normally guides other captians to find un-marked dive sites such as the mounds found on the South Side by the airport caves.
You have a great post and I am glad you liked Roatan and Utila. Next time you might want to consider a couple of days in the mainland to visit the mayan ruins of Copan or one of many natural reserves.
I live in San Pedro Sula (mainland Honduras) and when work becomes a little to much I take off to Utila for 2 to 3 days of diving. I can't tell you how lucky I feel that I can do this. I will be back in Utila on Sept. 3 for 4 days of diving and then 3 days in roatan. I will dive with Utila Lodge and in Roatan I use smaller operations such as Happy Divers or Sueno del mar.
Thanks again for the great post and I hope we can follow up to share photos and dive stories.
Semita
Sol, Agua, Vida......