UTILA, BAY ISLANDS, HONDURAS
LAGUNA BEACH RESORT
April 16 – 23, 2005
| Join HUC Tripleader Mark Metz, continuing the tradition started by Dick Zingula, as he leads a group of 14 divers to this delightful island retreat for a week of superb diving. The resort is clean & comfortable (air conditioned cabins), dive boats are roomy, food is excellent & plentiful, & the resort personnel are very competent and extremely helpful. The resort is located on its own secluded peninsula with the Caribbean on one side and a quiet lagoon on the other. Cabins face the lagoon and each has its own dock and porch overlooking the lagoon and magnificent sunsets. The main building, hammocks, & seaside dock are on the Caribbean side. |
| The 3x8 mile island of Utila offers an unusual biological diversity of marine life due to its location on the edge of the continental shelf. The north side has shallow reefs bordered by a wall that in places drops 1200 ft. with a variety of landscapes and marine life. Pelagics, such as turtles, rays, & whale sharks are likely to be spotted there. In 2001, a pod of killer whales were spotted, but that is very rare. The south side offers shallow reefs with walls that drop to 60-90 ft., with sand slopes & coral bommies there. A great variety of corals (black coral at 30 ft. at one dive site!!) & sponges, tunicates, various eels, occasional seahorses, and spotted eagle rays at a couple of the sites, in addition to a plethora of reef fishes. We have seen such rare critters as a Southern Stargazer, berried anemones, and unusual ells there. |
| We will do a 2-tank boat dive each morning, usually on the north side of the island. During our surface interval we will cruise around looking for whale sharks, which we will snorkel with if possible. After lunch, we will do a 1-tank boat dive on the south side of the island. Unlimited shore diving is available on the reefs and flats in front of the resort & we’ve seen some spectacular critters right in front of the dock, especially at night. Night boat dives on Monday & Thursday. All dives have good viz & little current!!!!!!!!!! |
| Saturday April 16, we’ll fly Continental to San Pedro Sula, Honduras, and then transfer to a small plane for the continuation of the trip to Utila. The following Saturday, we’ll reverse the procedure. Trip includes round trip air, all meals, diving, double occupancy accommodations on Utila, Honduras, departure taxes, pre-trip meeting, and post trip party. Your other costs will be your bar bill, souvenirs, resort & dive personnel tips & marine reef protection charge. Trip is limited to 14 people, including Mark, and slots fill fast!! |
| For more information contact Trip Leader Mark Metz at 281.580.8838. |