Roatan and Utila
The Scuba Sister Islands of Honduras
When it comes to scuba destinations in Central America, two names always seem to come up – Roatan and Utila. But what do these destinations have to offer? And which should you plan to visit on your next scuba holiday?
Read on to learn everything you’ve ever wondered about these two terrific islands from the professionals that call this place home.
Scuba Diving in the Bay Islands, Honduras
The coast of Honduras is protected by the world’s second-largest coral reef, the Mesoamerican Reef. Approximately 125 kilometers from the mainland, Roatan and Utila are situated in a little pocket of this Caribbean Jewel.
These Bay Islands are full of fantastic reef diving for all levels. While both islands are popular dive hotspots for scuba divers from across the globe, Roatan and Utila each offer unique qualities and experiences.
You can travel to both islands by way of ferry or airplane. Utila has a small charter flight company, whereas Roatan has a fully functional international airport.
As you approach the island of Utila, you begin to see why it has the simple nickname of “the rock.” One large hill sits at the east end, while the rest of the island is relatively flat.
Utila is smaller and less developed than its sister island, Roatan. As a result, you can count on one hand the number of cars you will see while visiting Utila. Instead, mopeds, ATVs, tuk-tuks, and bicycles are the primary forms of transportation.
Over the past thirteen years, Roatan has also become a popular international cruise ship port, drawing in about one million tourists per year.
Roatan vs. Utila: Where Should You Go?
Each island has its pros and cons, and this list can vary depending on what type of dive trip you are looking for. Ask yourself questions such as
Are you looking to go on a scuba vacation with your family?
Are you looking for a place to achieve your goal of becoming a dive professional?
Do you want to feel like you are on vacation or feel like one of the locals?
While these questions are important when deciding your dive destination, what ultimately matters most to the majority of divers is below the surface.
“Roatan is fishier. There are always schools of fish pouring over the reef and lots of massive barrel sponges,” said Valerie Gilbert, a freelance PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer.
Gilbert, who currently works as a freelancer at Sun Divers Roatan, has lived on both islands and has approximately 100+ dives in each place.
“Anywhere on the north side [of Utila], you have more of a chance of seeing a turtle or nurse shark. But Pinnacle is my favorite site,” said Gilbert. The Pinnacle site is a wall dive with lots of unique coral topography.
Turtles are significantly more abundant in Roatan than Utila and are a favorite amongst divers. “A lot of shops guarantee you will see a turtle on almost every dive,” said Gil Sassi, a PADI Divemaster and underwater photographer for the Bay Islands College of Diving in Utila.
Since the islands are close to each other, the diving conditions are about the same. Water temperatures range from 25 to 30 degrees celsius. Meanwhile, visibility can range from 10 to 30 meters.
Although Utila does some drift diving, this is usually only because there are no moorings to tie up to. However, Roatan’s west end site, The Point, has an actual current where you can do proper drift diving. This also means more chances of migratory shark sightings!
Utila is known for dolphin and whale shark sightings while in transit to dive sites. If the captain spots a pod or a whale shark, they will stop, and anyone who wants to pay $10-15 extra can jump in to snorkel with them.
Gilbert mentioned she has never seen dolphins in Roatan but would see them consistently in Utila. This is probably because the boat rides to the dive sites in Roatan are very short.
Roatan’s sites are numerous but very close in proximity to one another. Therefore, there is not much time for dolphin or whale shark watching.
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Dive Operations in Roatan and Utila
Another aspect that sets the islands apart from each other is the dive shops themselves. Roatan is home to about 34 dive shops, primarily small, full-service style operations. These kinds of shops give the impression they go above and beyond for each diver.
Utila has about 15 dive shops, but most are larger and more focused on training than acting as a concierge service.
Basically, Utila has larger shops but a smaller quantity. On the other hand, Roatan has smaller shops but a larger quantity.
“Utila does cater to fun divers, but it’s more of a training island. Because of this, boats on Utila leave early in the morning and have shorter [~45 minute] dives so they can get back to do more training in the afternoons. On Roatan, you will often dive for more than an hour and leave later in the morning,” said Sassi.
Eco-friendly Diving in Roatan and Utila
Luckily, both of these islands are surrounded by marine protected areas. Organizations like Roatan Marine Park and the Bay Islands Conservation Association constantly work to preserve their part of the Mesoamerican Reef. The local communities and dive shops are also involved in these efforts whenever possible.
Utila and Roatan work closely on ocean conservation issues and projects. If you are interested in using your dive skills for conservation projects, both islands have excellent opportunities for eco- programs and events.
Utila Coral Restoration and Utila Dive Center offer PADI distinctive specialities in lionfish containment, coral nursery maintenance, coral outplanting, and fish identification. In Roatan, you can even earn a PADI distinctive specialty as a Bay Islands Reef Restoration Diver from the Bay Islands Reef Restoration NGO.
Both islands indeed take ocean conservation very seriously. As ocean ambassadors, this is an essential factor when deciding on a scuba destination.
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Types of Travellers Attracted to Roatan and Utila
Everyone has their own preferences and creature comforts when it comes to traveling. Some want to be taken care of, treated like a VIP.
Others want to be fully immersed in the culture and shown places only the locals know.
Gilbert describes Roatan as a family-friendly destination in itself. Whereas Utila is simply a spot to pass through - unless you stay awhile to train – and is far more popular among backpackers.
Roatan also has a bit more to do above water and has more options for shopping, dining out, and lodging.
“You can get more for your money, stay longer, and have a more authentic experience in Utila than you can in Roatan. There are a lot of hotels to choose from [in Roatan], and you are treated more like a tourist,” said Gilbert.
Roatan vs. Utila: Which Island Will You Choose?
Utila has a locally famous saying by Rupert Eden, “There’s no other place anywhere near this place, just like this place, so this must be the place.”
On an island full of dive professionals that were asked point-blank which island they preferred to dive, no one could give a straight answer.
“Overall, Roatan has a good balance of both [topography and life],” said Sassi.
No matter which island you choose, remember the other is a short 60-minute ferry ride away. So why not visit both!
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About the Author
Nicole is a writer and photographer who travels the world in pursuit of ocean conservation stories.
It took one Bachelor’s degree in journalism, one scuba instructor certification, hundreds of dives, and hours of underwater photography training… and her dream career as an ocean journalist became a reality.
Currently based in the Bay Islands of Honduras, if she is not writing or photographing above the water, you can find her about 20 meters under it.
Find her @my.naturalcompass on Instagram, her own website - www.thenaturalcompass.com - or her own excellently named blog www.theoceanspulse.com
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