Dive Review of Deep Blue in
Honduras/Utila

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Deep Blue, Oct, 2007, by Susan Titus, VA, USA ( Sr. Reviewer 8 reports). Report 3688.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity	N/A
Dive Operation		Shore Diving
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$	N/A
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	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.
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	251-500 dives
Where else diving	All over Caribbean
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	cloudy	Seas	surge, noCurrents
Water Temp	78-84°F / 26-29°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	50-150 Ft/ 15-46 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	Max Depth at 120 was requested; all other profiles were by your computer.
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	N/A
What I Saw
Sharks	1 or 2	Mantas	None
Dolphins	Schools	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	> 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's	N/A	Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	Amazing location for small critter photos, and many varied species of reef fish.

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Dive Review of Deep Blue in Honduras/Utila

Deep Blue, Oct, 2007,

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Dive Review of Deep Blue in
Honduras/Utila