Dive Review of
Deep Blue in
Honduras/Utila

All over Caribbean

Dive Conditions

Max Depth at 120 was requested; all other profiles were by your computer.  

Amazing location for small critter photos, and many varied species of reef
fish.    

Overall Rating

Deep Blue (resort and dive operation) was a great and wonderful surprise
for our group of 3 - it far surpassed our expectations in all areas of
value, service, accommodations, food and great diving.  They do not yet
advertise, and we chose it on the strength of a few reviews we found on
some assorted travel sites when we booked a few months ago.

The resort is a short boat ride from the main town (no direct roads) so it
is rather private, quiet, and feels secluded. The rooms are simple, well
appointed and air-conditioned.  They are also very clean and spacious -
with a closet, ceiling fans, small refrigerators, and private balconies
with chairs and hammocks. You are given bottles for water for drinking and
brushing teeth, which you can refill as needed in the main lodge. Power is
on 24 hours, so you sleep as cool as you wish! The owners are very
concerned about the preservation of the reef and the local environment, and
the resort is maintained to minimize as many adverse impacts as possible.

The shared dining hall and great room is very comfortable and welcoming
with couches, computers, a pool table and a shared library shelf. The food
is fresh and varied, and great quality. For dinner there is a salad to
start; then your choice of a beef, fish, chicken or vegetarian entree with
sides, and several desserts.  Lunch and breakfast are chef's choice
buffets, with enough selection to make everyone happy. The portions at all
meals are hearty. (I have food allergies, which were accommodated at all
meals - and never affected the wonderful quality and flavor of my meals!)
There was also a total of 17 divers at the start of our stay, with the
numbers dwindling down to 5, and the quality of the food and service was
constant no matter the number of guests. Sodas, ice tea, water, coffee and
beers are always available (honor system for items that go on tabs)and wine
and spirits are available at the bar. The owners  - Steve and Jasmine - are
also very social and extremely knowledgeable about diving and aquatic life,
which adds to the enjoyment of dinner and afternoon and evening activities
in the clubroom. Steve's mom, Shirley, handles the travel to and fro as
well as booking other activities on the island and is also wonderful
company in the evenings.

The boat is a good size albeit a bit slow, with a great captain (Swin), and
the staff will go anywhere around the island to dive sites based on the
daily water conditions. Efforts are made to not repeat sites when groups
cross over (unless by request). The boat has a fresh cooler of water and is
stocked with fruit and snacks each day. It is a bit crowded with a very
large group, but there is space for all the gear and divers can sit on the
bow as well as in the rear.  Rolling entries prevent waits to get in the
water for the dives. A large cooler is filled with water for cameras. Three
dives a day are done from the boat - you can also shore dive at any time. 
Night dives are twice a week (the afternoon boat dive is skipped) and are
no extra charge. For surface intervals, the crew will cruise and look for
signs of whale sharks.  While we were not fortunate enough to find one, it
was not for lack of the hunt!

The diving is close to that of Little Cayman.  The sites come in all
different topologies - walls, finger reefs, sand flats, etc. The best sandy
site we've ever been on is here; even after three dives (by request)it
didn't lose it's appeal by offering up multiple seahorses, pipefish,
batfish, lined soles, zebra soles, spoon nosed eels and other exotic
creatures on every dive. On all the reef dives there were varied species of
fish and many of them...lots of schools and varied sizes.  While the truly
'large' fish such as goliath groupers are absent, we saw many groupers,
snappers, etc. of sizes that are rarely seen anywhere in the Caribbean. 
The largest eagle ray we have ever come across swam right by us while
trying to ditch a remora.  The dive guide, Matt, is extraordinary at
finding new and interesting fish and creatures, and knew the name of
everything we found.  When our group was small, we logged many dives well
over an hour long. 

Quick notes - the Deep Blue website contains all the information you need
to know...I am guilty of not reading through all of it! The dive shop
location with classes is in town - if diving from the resort there is no
travel back and forth to the shop.  You head directly out to the sites each
day after breakfast.
Bring good bug repellant (high DEET) if you want to walk anywhere or sit
outside if the breeze is down.  Bring boat or beach towels, they are not
supplied. Guests can access email from the resort at no charge, so you can
be in touch with the 'real world' if needed. Bring DVDs if you need visual
entertainment - there is also a small selection of movies there. Everywhere
in Utila is very informal, so this is one trip for which you can really
pack light!  

Overall, one of the top 3 trips we've done in the past 15 years.




 

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