Honduras: Utila

Nov 2025

I did 2 days of diving in Utila after a week in Roatan. I give Utila a slight edge for the actual diving, and Roatan an edge for locale. One fact I can verify: Utila is great value.

I wasn't planning to go to Utila as I prioritized Roatan as my only stop amongst the Bay Islands. But as fate would have it, my moto broke down after I returned to La Ceiba from Roatan, and I needed to wait for parts. So I headed to Utila. Things could be worse (like being stuck in La Ceiba). I took Dream Ferry (excellent) to Utila, about $60 from La Ceiba-Utila return.

I hadn't pre-arranged accommodation or diving. When I got there, someone recommended I check out Paradise Divers. Incredibly, they offer free accommodation to their divers, so I booked with them.

I did 4 dives over 2 days. Each dive was a small group, or just me and a DM. All dive sites were near the resort and decent. A bit more exciting than Roatan IMO, with some decent swim-throughs. The total cost was about $20 per dive, including gear. With free accom that worked out to $40 a day for the 2 main expenses - incredibly good value. Paradise also has a full kitchen, I cooked a nice chunk of snapper one night (I don't usually eat fish when diving, but made an exception here; I bought it off a local who cleans his fish on Paradse's dock, and it was very cool to watch him throw scraps to a school of Tarpon under the dock). The DMs, owner, and staff were good folks, as were the fellow divers.

Utila is more of a younger backpacker vibe compared to Roatan. It's a small and kinda sleepy island with decent F&B choices. I even got a haircut while there. Like Roatan, English is well spoken by locals.

Dive Center: Paradise Diver

Cost: ~$20 per dive (equipment included) and free accommodation