Utila or Cozumel

[cmaha76]

I've got a tough question to throw out there for everyone. My wife and I have been kicking this around for awhile now and are soliciting the advice of others. We have an opportunity to go to Utila the end of July and stay at Deep Blue or Cozumel at the tend of October and stay at Fiesta Americana. Our dive group is planning both trips and we'd like to travel with them, so the resorts/dive ops are locked in. Originally we said Cozumel because it was much cheaper, but now they look like they will be the same price.

We've been to Cozumel before, but it was shortley after Emily(I think) so I don't know that we got the best the island had to offer. My wife has been to Roatan and she enjoyed it, but neither of us has been to Utila. I know direct comparison of the resorts/islands is almost apples to oranges, but I was curious if anyone had been to both islands and could shed some light. So... in your opinion, which should we choose?

 

[Doc]

I know direct comparison of the resorts/islands is almost apples to oranges

No, it's more like suburbia to the outlands, neon to oil lamp, Carlos and Charlies to I don't know what that was but it tasted good.

What do you have a taste for?

I'd say go to Utila before it gets Cozumelified.

Hurry.

 

[robint]

I would do the Utila trip, especially if they are close to same price. It is very different from Cozumel from what I understand and you can always go back to Coz another trip.

robin

 

[ScubaduoAdventures]

We like Utila for its more laid back feel but the main reason would be for a chance to see a whale shark there

 

[tarponchik]

I'd vote for Utila, especially Deep Blue, no hesitations.

 

[cmaha76]

I'm trying to not take the potential for whale sharks too much into the equation since we will be there end of July. However, I know our group has seen them both times in Utila. Once in September and once in July.

 

[georoc01]

Yeah, I wouldn't let whalesharks be your guide given the time of year. Now if you were headed to the Yucatan in July, you could do whalesharks in Isla Holbox, but the dates of the two trips kind of puts you at the opposite ends of where the whalesharks will be on your trips.

Part of the adventure with Utila also is getting there. As long as you have factored that into the equation, I would certainly consider trying that one!

That said, I am headed to Cozumel at the end of October myself. For me its like my 2nd home. Easy travel and great diving. Not quite as hot as July will be down in the Caribbean. Both are in hurricane season, but more on the ends. Close enough though to consider trip insurance for either destination.

 

[ccohn2000]

I've been both places. Utila is definitely the road less traveled. I saw more life on the reefs in Cozumel though. I stayed at Deep Blue and they were fine. They have an excellent house reef if you are into beach diving after boat diving. Lot's of mosquitos at that time of year so bring lots of Deet. We did see a whale shark. A word on getting there, I would recommend against Taca Air. They schedule you on multiple flights too close together so you will inevitably miss a connection. There are direct flights to Roatan on Continental, or American Airlines, then you can take the ferry to Utila. If you are traveling with a group though, I guess you are at the mercy of whatever the general plan is.

 

[cmaha76]

Well, we found even some better airfare for the Utila trip so we jumped on it. Thanks for your input. Flying Continental through Houston to get into Roatan around noon. Our leader has arranged air transport to Utila a couple of hours after that, so the travel shouldn't be too brutal. Came down to input from folks like you and some friends that had been to both. Consesus was for even money hit Utila, the price for Cozumel will always be pretty much what we were looking at in October, so we can go there next year. I'll try to get up a trip report and some photos when we return.