Tobago or Utila, which is better?

[KUFan452]

My BF and I are trying to decide between spending a week in Utila or Tobago. My BF has dived Roatan, but I have not. Neither of us has been to Tobago. Can you help us decide? Has anyone been to both and, if so, can you provide a good comparison of the pros and cons?

 

[Doc]

I see that you have double posted this, here and in the Bay Islands section as well.

Utila diving is fairly well similar from dive operation, one to the other.

Before anyone can give you a fair comparison, even if it is apples to oranges, you're going to have to decide and state which end of Tobago you want to enjoy diving. You really can't do both, no matter what some salesmen might propose, unless you spend a week on both ends of Tobago.

Are you looking at Tobago's area of Pigeon Point (South/Caribbean Side) or the North end (Speyside/Atlantic) ? If you really haven't made up your mind on that, this is a secondary question and is premature.

You're going to want to do both Islands in your dive lifetime.

 

[KUFan452]

I double posted in the hopes of covering my bases. I won't repost my answers here.

 

[scoobydrew]

Never been to Tobago but I have been to Utlia. In honesty it was a little bit of a let down. Of course the diving was ace but didn't live up to what i had made it out to be, i think it may be a little bit of a vicitm of it's own success, too many people coming through eating the fish out of the sea and dumping trash back in. There is a pretty good party scene there so if your in to drinking you'll have fun diving is definately the topic of conversation in the bars the only down side is that I got the impression that people I met there at the time equate your certification level to your social stauts

From talking to people since I believe that it's reputation comes from times gone by. Although I was reassured by other people on the island that there are still good places to go but my dive shop had not for whatever reason taken me there.

Either way you're gonna have a good time, enjoy!!

 

[DCBC]

Speyside, Tobago is a good bet. Lots to see by way of marine life, but vis can vary depending on the time of your trip. It (like Bonaire) is out of the hurricane belt and you have lots of birds and waterfalls if your into hiking. Carib Stu offers a private boat for goups of one to eight out of Charlottesville or Speyside. You dive where and when you want to (about $100 a dive). It costs a little more, but it's not a cattle boat. It's recommended that you book ahead. Top notch!

 

[Revid1]

Never dove Utlia, but dove in Tobago a number of years ago. We dove to Speyside and dove 3 days on a 7 day dive trip. It does take awhile to get from one end of the island to the other. We hired a local with a boat in Speyside to take us out. We were the only 2 on the boat (just a very small boat). Diving here was advanced, but well worth the effort. This is a must see in the Caribbean.

 

[KUFan452]

Thanks for the info! So far, it looks like Tobago is winning!

 

[DCBC]

Thanks for the info! So far, it looks like Tobago is winning!

I returned from Tobago last night. As it's the end of the rainy season, vis was down (60') with some chop. This cleared up yesterday and the conditions were much better (it figures, I was leaving the island :depressed. Should be 90-100' plus by next week. Speyside and Charlotteville both have good diving. I'd recommend that you dive with someone who dives both areas (30 minutes apart by boat). Stu has a boat mooring in both places and routinely dives one area for two or three days and then moves to the other, but there's lots to choose from in either location. Have a good trip!