Roatan vs. Utila

[emilynewbie]

Hey guys,

I'm looking into getting my OW cert and then diving in Roatan or Utila. I've done some research, and it looks like Utila will be great for seeing whale sharks (a big pro for me), and I've also found packages that include accommodation there as well as the cert for only about $300 over four days. I haven't looked much into Roatan b/c I got so sidetracked by the whale sharks in Utila!

My question is more about where a good beginner diver will have a better experience, on Roatan or Utila?

And also, which will be the more cost efficient option?
I am also traveling alone, so I don't want to pay a lot for accommodations, especially when I have no one to share it with.

Thanks so much for your help!

Emily

 

[Doc]

Emily bubbled: ...will be great for seeing whale sharks (a big pro for me), .... I haven't looked much into Roatan b/c I got so sidetracked by the whale sharks in Utila!

During your Certification process, in the highly unlikely event that you encounter a Whale Shark, you are most likely to see only your SPG. Simple advice: DO NOT select a dive destination for your Cert based on what most come to ScubaBoard and refer to as "great diving".

In terms of "great diving", at least where you are right now, either place would do fine.

 

[diversteve]

One thing to understand about the Whale Sharks is that the highest likelihood of seeing them is right now - the "season" is typically Feb-May. So unless you're planning on getting certified soon, it may be less of a factor in your decision. And if a Whale Shark is spotted, it will be at the surface and you are only allowed to snorkel with them.

Also where you'll be doing your checkout dives and where the Whale Sharks are spotted is often on opposite sides of the island. All the Whale Sharks we saw were some distance out from the island in deeper water - they swim along the surface to feed - and the encounters are typically brief. We jumped in near six (over 2 days and 2hrs+ per day spent looking) and five immediately went deep when they saw us. The last one circled around us once before leaving faster than we could swim. The operators are restricted to making 2 attempts to place you in the water ahead of an approaching shark - no one wants to harass them.

It is however a great experience. Especially if you get lucky enough to see a big one. One we saw was about as big as our boat - the guide estimated it at 25+'. The rest were juvenile males in the 16-20' range.

There's affordable housing in town in Utila since it's a backpacking destination.

There's also very reasonable options on Roatan in the West End. The West End would likely be the best place to get your OW on Roatan, there's a lot of dive shops, affordable restaurants, a small market and affordable housing all within about a mile or so. Options: Accommodation on Roatan I liked the West End, it gets a little busier near the weekend but there were always people on the street or in the bars/restaurants. Many of the accommodations are just off the street also. You might look at Coconut Tree Divers/Cabins, they offer package deals as well. We dove with them and several of our group stayed there, pretty quiet at night.

The nice thing about Utila cert dives is that there's several shallower dive sites that are also among what I thought was the best diving there. One of the best, Black Hills, near town (and most of the shops) was only 40' deep as long as you didn't drop off the sides of the seamount. We saw an amazing variety of smaller and larger fish there - most seemed relatively indifferent to our presence. We also saw boats from town with newer divers out front of our resort on the Pretty Bush/Labrynth dive site area - also a very good dive and fairly shallow.

Since cost is a concern, be sure to compare flight costs. From Phoenix, Roatan was $6-800 thru Houston, Utila would have been $1200 and 2 connections in Honduras. To save money fly into Roatan and take two ferries - the Galaxy to La Ceiba and the Utila Princess from La Ceiba to Utila. They dock next to each other. R/T cost us $100. If you can get thru the Roatan customs/immigration (plan for an hour esp. if yours isn't the only flight) to the Galaxy dock in Dixon Cove by 2PM you can be on Utila by 5PM.

 

[emilynewbie]

I am planning on going mid to late April. When you saw one, was it on a dedicated whale shark outing or just a regular dive outing? And was it in Utila?

Do most dive operators make an effort to look for whale sharks? And if you are lucky enough to see some, do you get in and snorkel and then dive later?

Also, on Roatan, are there dive shops you would recommend? I Know there are many dive sites on the island, and I'd like to see as many different kinds of underwater environments as possible.

Sorry for the 20 questions!

 

[laurenceh]

all the boats on utila search for whale sharks on the surface during surface intervals and on the journey to and from the dive sites. if there's any around all the skippers are on the radio sharing location with one and other.

 

[Doc]

Also, on Roatan, are there dive shops you would recommend? I Know there are many dive sites on the island, and I'd like to see as many different kinds of underwater environments as possible.

You are correct, there is a huge variation in the dive sites on Roatan, best divided into the North/West and the South Shore.

It is very difficult in a one week stay to get any real taste of both sides. The North/West is well served by AKR and all of the day-dive ops that line the West End.

The Southern shore is largely served only by AI resorts, necessitating a week-long stay at your choice of BFK, FIBR, CCV, and RHR. You may do well to investigate whether you can jump aboard one of the boats from BFK (Barefoot Key), as they are located in a commercial harbor where you will always be able to snag a cab if you are based on West End (My best guess from previous posts). That way, you could dive the common West End as well as the Southern shore.

Do not imagine that you are seeing the true uniqueness of the South shore by doing the two dives that most people make it to- Cara a Cara (Shark dive) and Mary's Place. See if you can get to any of the Southern dive sites located between French Key and East along to First Bight.

 

[diversteve]

I am planning on going mid to late April. When you saw one, was it on a dedicated whale shark outing or just a regular dive outing?

It was on a research trip: Deep Blue Utila - swim with whale sharks at our all inclusive resort. Utila, Bay Islands, Honduras It looks like the last 2 weeks in April are optimal this year.

And was it in Utila?

Yes, the chances of seeing a whale shark off Roatan are fairly remote. Occasionally one passes by but we saw 3 different ones in 2 hrs. one day off Utila.

Do most dive operators make an effort to look for whale sharks? And if you are lucky enough to see some, do you get in and snorkel and then dive later?

We did two dives in the morning while Deep Blue put a spotter boat out. They called our captain when they spotted a likely boil. (small fish churning on the surface - it's what attracts the sharks) Our captain also shared with other captains as they're all limited to the number of snorkelers/times they can drop near a shark so if someone finds a cooperative one other snorkelers have an opportunity. There's also a limit to the # of snorkelers per drop but we saw that abused daily. Just so you know, it's a lot of semi-boring scanning the surface followed by 2-3 minutes of intense activity when one is spotted.

Also, on Roatan, are there dive shops you would recommend? I Know there are many dive sites on the island, and I'd like to see as many different kinds of underwater environments as possible.

The two I recommend are Coconut Tree Divers - we dove a week with them and I often recommend them and Barefoot Divers - they're just off the Mary's Place dive site near Barefoot Caye. One of the better of the regularly dove southern sites. However a new diver won't be taken to Mary's Place as it's somewhat overhead obstructed - they'll want to see an Advanced card to dive it. If you dive with Coconut Tree ask Gay to set something up with Barefoot Divers - they do reciprocal bookings - I think she said the owner used to work with them.

For our 2nd dive we dove the Prince Albert wreck off Cocoview. So you'd get an opportunity to see what that area is like also.

 

[laurenceh]

the whale shark "season" can really be anytime, its just luck. sure march, april and may are traditionally good months but in recent years september has also been good, december too and this year we saw them for ten days in a row, mid january. if you're on utila doing your openwater followed by some time doing fun dives and whale sharks are around, there's a good chance you'll get to see one.

 

[bhubb]

Biggest difference, nondiving, is probably the crowd. Utila is mostly a younger crowd (20's) and Roatan is a bit older crowd.

Utila probably be a little cheaper when staying there but you will pay more to get there.

I got certified in Utila and don't worry about seeing any whale sharks because they only take you about 50 feet from shore @ 30' depth. Maybe if you did some fun dives after your certification.

I got certified at Utila Dive Center and it was great. They are grouped with Mango Inn and have some really cheap rates, depending on how comfortable you want your room.

 

[Damselfish]

I suggest focusing on getting certified in an appropriate location with a good instructor. Worry about whale sharks (or any other specific critters) another time, that should not be one of your criteria right now. You will have plenty to deal with just getting certified and sorting things out, and everything you do get to see will be neat at this point. If you get lucky, that's a bonus.

(I've been diving for 22 years, and finally saw whale sharks for the first time a couple weeks ago. Even though I've been a number of places they were "supposed" to be.)