Roatan V Utilia?

[Doc]

My final, and probably most important question...where else in that part of the world (caribbean/central america) is the diving better? Belize? Tobago? (not Cocos Islands)

Better? That's a strange word.

Things you shouldn't miss in the Caribbean? Everyone's list will vary depending on the breadth of their experience.

I would say Tobago is in the top 5 of my list, notably the North end around Speyside. The place is buggy with Brits, mostly bird watchers. Go figure. It is more of a carnival ride than anything else. There are currents that are absolutely insane, some of the divesite names give you a hint: Heart Attack, Washing Machine, African Express (You might have to give that last one a thought to get "the drift"). Most dive operators that travellers wind-up with simply can not find Mantas to save their souls. The guys that can~ they have very marginal boats but are likely to be safer than the mainstream slicked-up operators, anyway. I have been there multiple times, once doing IMAX films. Not for the feignt of heart.

Belize should be done on a liveaboard- it's the only way to see the place, really. There are many lovely land based opportunities on the out islands however. Belize City itself is not a viable base of your vacation, though. When passing through the transit lounge at BCE, be sure to locate a man named "Jet". It's part of the deal! The Blue Hole? Highly over rated.

Roatan's landowning class is very closely related to Cayman Islanders. They are, quite literaly, Cousins. They talk the same, they think very similarly. As to the other comments about the rougher side of what passes for locals, well... if you lie with dogs you're bound to wake up with fleas.

Incidentaly, Roatan tops out at 900 feet above sea level, Jamaica is at 7,400. I guess I was "baffled" by the comparison because no matter how Roatan's West End doesn't suit my needs, I find it much preferd to the grimy, crime infested streets and trashed out reefs of the other compared island. I could have a great, carefree time walking about Roatan's fun West End, drunk as a Lord, and never fear for my safety other than by my own clumsiness. Try that in Jamaica.

I find my visits to Roatan's AI's to be an admittedly sanitized version of the island culture, but then again, I came to dive as much as possible. In many years of travelling to Roatan, I have gotten out and seen the island from many different perspectives, including as an agent of their government. If I was looking to recommend a party oriented dive experience, I would pick a dozen well known places long before Roatan. It is in the process of change from 0 to 60... this has been in the last 5 yeras. However... now is the time!

I look at prioritizing my vacation destinations in terms of where they currently teeter on the "development scale". I started diving Cayman in the very early 70's. Has much changed since then? Everything. Roatan is at the brink. Go now, ASAP. Before Burger King moves in. (BK always precedes McD in the Caribbean) Then I would rank it's next closest "on the edge" island to be Utila~ about 8.7 points behind.

There are some islands that are entirely developed and an ecological wasteland in terms of nearshore ecosystems, yet they icontinue to be very popular dive destinations. You can't know what you don't know.

Then again, there are some great places that "you just can't get to", like Cisne (Swan), Los Roques, the NorthEast barrier islands of Grenada, Cayos Lobos, and the list goes on and on.

When they build a Pizza Hut or a Club Dread, it's pretty much so over. So- that's how I pick them. Go to Roatan and Utila now!

 

[Sorrows]

First off, can I please advise everyone here to check out MJH's www.aquabluedreams.com? I have this site bookmarked--I always look forward to your reports, MJH, and I think you are a very gifted photographer.

That said, we went to Roatan several years ago and plan to go to Utila this Spring. I have to say, I don't recognize this drug/prostitution/hippie Roatan described, but then we are a family and we stayed at AKR. Needless to say, we didn't see any of THAT. My only adivce would be not to go during the winter--it's just too chancey. The weather was pretty bad--unlike the rest of the Caribbean, their rainy season is from October-January.

I'm a little concerned about Utila--I hear such conflicting reports! Low visibility, lack of "fishiness" bleached corals vs. people who absolutely loved it. Perhaps it has to do with whether one sees the whale shark or not? Most people, if they don't get the "brass ring" seem to find dolphins, orcas or even mantas, so they seem content. And the price is very good. I'm also not thrilled about the flights--TACA through Salvador and Sula and then Utila. Ugh.

 

[Sorrows]

Shafan1234, the BEST place to start diving in the Caribbean is Bonaire, IMHO. None of the big stuff, but more fish than any place I've ever been to in the Caribbean. And shore diving is just a phenomenal experience.

I think the diving in Belize is very good. And in Cozumel you get a lot of bang for your buck--unlike, sad to say, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, which have the walls. But Bonaire just can't be beat.

YMMV.

 

[Bay Island Diver]

August '05 I did Deep Blue in Utila, August '06 was Fantasy Island in Roatan.

If I had to choose between these two, I´d choose Utila, BUT if I could choose between the WEST END of Roatan and Utila, I´d choose the West End any day.

You haven´t seen Roatan if you have only stayed in Fantasy Island, I´m not knocking their Dive Op ypu just can´t compare a dive shop in a town with an isolated dive resort.

Just my two cents!

 

[GoProHonduras]

BUT if I could choose between the WEST END of Roatan and Utila, I´d choose the West End any day.

Of course you would, your dog lives there!

Warm regards,
Andy

 

[marcoa]

Hey Shafan1234,

The difference between the two... Going all out on this one could cause sparks to fly. I live in Roatan and love it here. I did my IE, PADI's Instructor Examination, at Utila.

You can fly directly into Roatan and it's real easy to get to Utila. My suggestion is that you check out both. The ferry route is kind of a pain, as you have to head to Ceiba and then switch operations to head to Utila. Alternatively, you can charter a boat and be there real quick, it's also a great trip. I'll get you Vern's number if you'd like it.

As for diving, there's plenty being done on both. The Bay Islands are beautiful and I hope you get to experience them.