Combining Utila and Roatan in less than a week

[eellenoff]

Hello, I'm trying to plan a dive trip that hits both Roatan and Utila in only 10-11 days this July. For Utila, it looks like ecomarine will be perfect, but I'm at a loss for who to dive/stay with on Roatan. All of the best deals I've found have been 7-day packages, and I was hoping to split my dive time more like 4-5days on each island. Coconut tree is the closest I've found, but I'm wondering if anyone has suggestions for a place that would let me do 4-5 days of 3-4 interesting dives/day + a night dive or two at a decent price. Also someplace inexpensive to sleep (onsite or near-by).

Thanks for any suggestions! (also, if you have thoughts on whether I'd be better off spending more days on one island vs the other I'd be interested to hear them)

 

[diversteve]

Some options for housing: Accommodation on Roatan

CTD has cabins behind the diveshop - the studios rent for something like $40/nt. You'll find plenty of affordable food in that area also.

I liked CTD and recommend them often. It's really convenient to most of the West End.

FYI, Nina Elizabeth makes the trip between Ecomarine and CTD's dock regularly.
http://www.aboututila.com/TravelInfo/Roatan-to-Utila/index.htm

 

[keesmon]

I'm actually planning on doing the same thing next Easter. My plan is to stay on the west end of Roatan and then listen for the whispers of whale shark sightings on Utila. Getting there is an easy 2 boat trip, which wouldn't cost you a dive day. Also plenty of place to stay in Utila, so my suggestion would be to just wing it in both locations. you can drop your gear at Capt. Morgan's by the Utila dock while you find a place to stay and dive. Nothing is difficult (except traveling on Good Friday)

 

[jlevine]

I think it's a matter of how comfortable you feel with a bit of risk. The ferry is very reliable but glitches happen. If you're prepared to "go with the flow," then go for it. Keep in mind that the two boat trips may take a day to complete when you include connection times. Also, when you say "next Easter," are you talking about the week before Easter? That's Semana Santa (Holy Week) and things get wild on Roatan. I'm not saying it's dangerous, I am saying it can be crowded.

 

[georoc01]

Some options for housing: Accommodation on Roatan

CTD has cabins behind the diveshop - the studios rent for something like $40/nt. You'll find plenty of affordable food in that area also.

I liked CTD and recommend them often. It's really convenient to most of the West End.

FYI, Nina Elizabeth makes the trip between Ecomarine and CTD's dock regularly.
Ferry between Roatan & Utila, The Bay Islands, Honduras, daily with Capt Vern on the Nina Elisabeth II Catamaran

I agree with the above, but not sure about the Nina Elizabeth. It was shut down when I was there for two weeks in May. If I did book that option, I would certainly work out an alternative as the ferry doesn't like the competition.

 

[RTBDiver]

Keep in mind that the two boat trips may take a day to complete when you include connection times.

Ok, Anythin can happen but if things went as scheduled then you take the early ferry from Roatan and the early ferry from ceiba to Utila and your there well before noon. The Galaxy from Roatan travels through a lot of stuff and very seldom has issues, I am not as familiar with the Utila princess.
As for doing this stuff during Semana Santa? Not my idea of fun but I try not to leave the neighborhood if I am on the island at that time.

 

[Cudabait]

Semana Santa DON'T DO IT!!!! La Cuda inadvertinately book a three week open ended trip, which included semana santa a few months ago. We have friends on both islands so it worked out OK. We ended up doing 1 wk Utila, 1wk west end Roatan and 1wk Fantasy Island Beach resort. We dove with small op on west end. All diving in the park......almost all surface intervals at the shop. They did a great job. Jason Brown, contact: jason.bluewateradventurres@yahoo.com. Have a good time!!

 

[Scuba_Bear]

Coconut Tree is a great choice the staff is amazing and you will have a blast. Also during that week the ferry is pretty much out of the question with people from the mainland coming to the island. However you can take Captain Vern's Catamaran right from the CTD dock. It departs everyday at 1pm and arrives 4 hours later in Utila.

 

[CODMAN]

If I absolutely had to do both islands on one trip, it would be liveaboard. I believe agressor fleets go there... Transportation included and maximum diving. But honnestly, I think 2 islands in 7 days is way too pressed for time. The bay islands (or what I've seen and read about it) are all about taking it easy. Rushing 2 islands and maximum diving there just doesn't make sense to me...

Good luck in your planning!