Utila dive OP recommendations?

[vanisleboy]

I have decided that I need a dive vacation (who here doesn't?....) Would like to check out Utila. Searching the internet, staying at the Lighthouse seems like the way to go. Can't figure out a dive OP though...I just want to dive and see as many sites as I can, 3+ a day, staying 7-10 days, with some night diving. I'm looking for a dive guide rather than a "Put Another Dollar In" outfit. If I want to take some courses, I can do them at my LDS, 5 minutes away. Anyone know of a good OP to just "dive" with?

 

[Stout]

I spent a month with Deep Blue Divers, the in town shop, not the resort last Jan/Feb and I was more than impressed. Mind you, I was only interested in doing a couple of dives a day. Surfing their website, I see that their staff has turned over but if the same woman who is running the place, is still running the place, then I'm there again next Jan/Feb without even looking at the competition.

However

Were I to find myself in a situation where I needed to look elsewhere, then my first choice would be Alton's. Rob, who posts here, says all the right words, one hour dive times, dive boats with divers sharing a common level of experience ( it sucks having to end a dive with 1200 PSI in your tank because some guy in the group sucked his tank dry ) and...free t-shirts.

Alton's has a very appealing deal offered in the trips and marketplace section.

So if you're willing to pay for the Lighthouse Hotel would you consider doing an all inclusive ? Deep Blue resort has (had ?) a special which when you add up the cost of dives, hotel and food, meets or beats staying "in town"

Want to stay in town ? I've never heard anyone say anything bad about UDC ( except me and that was a "personal" issue which had nothing to do with their quality of service ) and the Mango Inn.

By and large, all of Utila is about selling courses with very little focus put into marketing the place as the inexpensive and appealing dive holiday destination that it is. Conventional wisdom would have you showing up in the island and spending half a day interviewing dive shops to see which one(s) meet your needs and wants.

 

[laurenceh]

in no particular order i'd recommend, deep blue divers, altons and udc. all top knotch operations

 

[keesmon]

We had a great experience at Alton's. They really went the extra mile for us, helping us get on the island when plan A fell apart, helping us with lodging, when plan B fell apart, and going to whereever we wanted to pretty much all week. We were 2 divers and were assigned a personal dive master to dive with(and drink beers with afterwards) all week.

 

[freshorangina]

I just got back from Utila, where I was staying at the Lighthouse and diving with UDC. First off, The Lighthouse is AWESOME!!! Thelma and O'Neill are amazing people and will make sure your stay is great. The place is clean as a whistle, you can flush the toilet paper and has nice hot running water. The rooms are impeccable and very comfortable with A/C, fan, cable TV, fridge and microwave. You get your own freshly laundered hammock, and Thelma makes sure you get as much privacy as possible depending on the number of guests staying. When I got sick they were on the phone to the doctor La Fey and had their son take me and stay to translate (it was the weekend so Dr. John was not available....). I would stay there any time, it is well worth the modest price.

Diving with UDC was good. I did my rescue diver course with them and many, many fun dives. In the morning the boats usually go to the north side, but stay around the south side in the afternoons. I had some spectacular night dives with them, and even did a dawn dive, which I had requested. It ended up being me, and about 10 other UDC employees for the 4 am dive. Was pretty cool to see the fishies waking up. My last night dive there was just me and the DM. The AOW course was cancelled, but they still made sure I got to go out. It was an awesome dive. Everyone there is really nice. I would bring your own BCD and Regs, but then I would pretty much do that anywhere...

Carey

PS, UDC has a weekly Saturday BBQ which is awesome. 150 lemps for unlimited free rum punch, big piece of chicken or pork, rice, potato salad and green salad. YUM! Also, they offer the only PADI Specialty on Lionfish Hunting. I really wanted to take it, but didn't have time. Definitely next time!