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Dive Review of Utila Aggressor in
Honduras/Utila / Roatan

Utila Aggressor, Feb, 2008,

by John DeBonis, VA, USA ( 1 report). Report 3885.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 4 stars Food 5 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving 1 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ N/A
Beginners 5 stars
Advanced 4 stars
Comments This was my first trip to Honduras, and aboard the Utila Aggressor. My flight left Washington Dulles at 4:30 AM and I arrived In San Pedro Sula at around 10:00 AM. Once at the airport, there was no one to greet me, contrary to what was was stated in the "Know before you go". Guests arriving in San Pedro Sula prior to 2:00 PM will have to fend for themselves, as the flight to Utila (where the Utila Aggressor is docked) does not leave until 3:00 PM. The airport at SAP is sparse to say the least. There is one restaurant, Wendy's, and one bar/cigar lounge that charges $9 US for two beers.

We were greeted by a representative at 2:00 PM and transferred to our flight to Utila. The flight takes about 1/2 hour and is on a twin prop (loud take ear plugs). This flight is also an additional $150. On Utila we were greeted by staff from the boat and tranferred to the awaiting Utila Aggressor. At the boat we were imediately made to feel at home, and told that the boat "was our's for the week". I found this crew to be particularly warm and friendly. We set up gear, found our rooms, and settled in for some relaxation prior to our next day of diving.

We began our diving on Sunday morning around the island of Utila. Our first dive was the customary "check out" dive and the site was not what I would call very exciting. There were not many fish, vis was not up to Caribbean standards, and overall I thought OH NO! Alas though, it all came together on following dives. The diving around the island of Utila was great. Lots of corals with plenty of color, and most looked healthy. Many, many, fishes of all varieties and sizes (though none particularly large). On the second dive I saw the largest green moray eel that I have ever behold. It had to be about a foot around at it's head. There were many more eels through out the trip, of a couple different varieties. Lots of juvenile fishes, and overall some great dives.

After a couple of days at Utila we crossed to Roatan. Our first dive there was the famous Mary's Place. It was truly an impressive site. Huge swin throughs, with lots of colors, fishes, corals. We only did one dive there, and I wish we could have had more. The remaining diving on Roatan in my opinion was not as good as on Utila. We had to play hide and seek from the wind for the remainder of the trip, and I think this may have kept us from some of the better sites. The weather turned cloudy and windy the last couple of days. It was bad enough that we did not make the crossing back to Utila, and instead on Saturday were flown from Roatan to SAP. I think that this move was above and beyond on the part of the crew and the Aggressor company, and I applaud their efforts to insure guest comfort.

The accommidations were comfortable and I found the boat to be in good shape. I heard no complaints about rooms or services during the trip. Everything on the boat worked as it was supposed to. I dived nitrox for the trip, and on about the second day my mix was only at 29%. After a couple tanks of this, I brought it to the attention of the crew, and it was promptly corrected. My remaining tanks ranged from 32-34%. I found the 34% a bit more than what I would have liked (due to it's depth limit), but in all honesty, I did not see anything more below 100' than I saw above it. I would say mosty of my dives averaged around the 50' mark, and that was where the most life/activity was.

Food was excellant! Plenty of it and good variety. Always fresh snacks upon return from our dives, and hot cocoa after the night dives.

Crew were exceptional! All worked together, and no request made by any guest was to much to ask. All worked the dive deck and handed out towels. Capt Eddy was one of the most approachable I have ever had the pleasure meeting, and went out of his way to insure our comfort.

All in all, this was the typical Aggressor charter, and up to their usual stadards, which all others try to acheive. There is so much more that I could say, but it all boils down to this. Would I reccomend the Utila Aggressor? I definitely would. Would I return to Honduras for more diving? I seriously doubt it. One should go and see all the diving that the Bay Islands have to offer, but following that, I would say I have much more to see before I would return.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 101-250 dives
Where else diving Mexico, Belize, Turks and Caicos, North Carolina, Canada
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas choppy
Water Temp 79-81°F / 26-27°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 50-100 Ft/ 15-30 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions Return to the boat with 500 PSI
Liveaboard? yes Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 3 stars Tropical Fish 3 stars
Small Critters 4 stars Large Fish 2 stars
Large Pelagics 1 stars

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

Subject Matter 4 stars Boat Facilities 5 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 4 stars Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments Dedicated table and rinse tank for cameras. Crew always available to answer questions and to give guidance. Use of computer to download photos, and ability to transfer photos to disc.
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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