Gap Year Diver - scuba trips for people taking time out, a career break and gap year

Destination Guide

Location

Honduras is strategically located in the heart of Central America, surrounded by high tropical mountains. The mountainous topography contributes to the diversity of climates. Its northern border is the Caribbean Sea, offering long stretches of beautiful beach, warm weather and friendly people.

Utila is a different world to mainland Honduras because of the 300 year British influence on the Bay Islands. The island is mostly uninhabited except for the small fishing village of East Harbour with a population of 6000. The main language on the island is English whereas mainland Honduras speaks Spanish. Historically Utila was largely a fishing and agrarian community. Its claim to fame is that Henry Morgan's treasure is buried somewhere on the Island.

The beaches are found west of town toward Blue Bayou. At Blue Bayou you can swing in a hammock, relax and enjoy the beach with a good book or snorkel on the reef just offshore. The Utila Cayes are just short boat trip away where you will find 11 palm studded islands surrounded by white sandy beaches.

Programmes and Trips

• Utila Modular Divemaster Internship (Utila, Honduras)

  
  • This modular internship offers PADI training from Open Water to Divemaster, a Tec support diver course, a Marine Science Instructor programme, wreck diver certification, hands-on underwater photography, Divemaster work experience…
  • Trip Duration: 4 to 10 weeks
  • Suitability: Beginners and qualified divers up to Rescue Diver
  • Tailormade - From £1425pp
  FULL TRIP DETAILS REQUEST A QUOTE

• Utila Variety Learn to Dive (Utila, Honduras)

  
  • A fully-loaded learn-to-dive trip. PADI courses from Open Water to Rescue Diver, wreck diver speciality, introduction to marine biology, underwater photography, loads of recreational diving and it is all done…
  • Trip Duration: 2 to 4 weeks
  • Suitability: Beginners, Open Water and Advanced Divers
  • Tailormade - From £390pp
  FULL TRIP DETAILS REQUEST A QUOTE

Optional Tours / Excursions

The following tours are available to add-on to your gap year diving experience. Tours can generally be done either before or after a programme, but in some cases they can be done during the programme.

Sorry, but we do not appear to have any tours listed at present. Please check back again. Alternatively, please call us to learn more about tours / trip extensions and we can discuss possible options.

Climate / Weather

Diving Conditions

Utila offers a wonderful variety for underwater adventurers. The reefs are packed with life and the corals are in pristine condition. It is not uncommon for divers to play with manta rays, swim with dolphins and gasp with wonder as the biggest fish in the sea, the incredible whaleshark, goes by.

Utila has some of its best diving just minutes from the town on the south side of the island. The shallow coral spur and groove formations are perfect for beginner divers. Sand patches abound and open water classes have plenty of space to practice their skills without damaging the fragile reef. It is hard to imagine a more ideal environment for those awe inspiring first visits to the underwater world. Every instructor can tell stories of classes where nurse sharks or dolphins have passed close to wide eyed students just moments after they have been underwater for the first time.

The north side of the island offers advanced divers the opportunity to do some deeper diving. The continental shelf actually meets the island at Turtle Harbor Marine Reserve and even the most experienced of divers will be delighted by the amazing drop offs. The walls start at just 5m (15ft) and drop vertically down to over 1000m (3300ft). CJs drop off and Duppy waters are famed in The Bay Islands for their vertigo inducing views into the deep. Hawksbill turtles, eagle rays, reef sharks, moray eels and sting rays are all common, as well as giant sponges and a tremendous variety of soft and hard corals.

As well as fringing reefs, Utila has some spectacular sea mountains which rise from the ocean floor to just a few feet from the surface. These act as magnets to filter feeding fish and of course to the fish that like to eat other fish. Many people's favourite, a site called Black Hills, is one of the top dive sites in the Bay Islands. Sharks are common and large schools of jacks swirl around you as you drop down the coral encrusted hill top. Only the best local captains can find it, using secret coconut trees as markers as they steer away from the island.

Weather / Climate

Utila has a hot season and some rainy seasons. It is generally hot and humid throughout the year. Rainfall is scarce during the hot / dry season resulting in clear blue skies on most days but there are two rainy / wet seasons. The first rainy season falls in June / July and the last beween October and Februrary. It might not rain all the time during the wet seasons but the rainfall may be very heavy and abrupt. We recommend a jacket during the rainy season!

Photos for Honduras

Travel Advice

Facts

Official Name: Republic of Honduras
Location: Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Nicaragua and bordering the Gulf of Fonseca (North Pacific Ocean), between El Salvador and Nicaragua
Population: c.8,000,000
Languages: Spanish, Amerindian dialects
Religion: Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant 3%
Capital: Tegucigalpa
FCO Travel Advice Link: Honduras Information

Visas / Entry Requirements

British nationals can obtain a 30-day visit (tourist) visa on arrival. These may be extended by 30 days on two further occasions (to a maximum of 90 days in total) if you apply to an Immigration Office. There is no fee payable for this initial arrival visa, nor for the two extensions to this visa. British nationals can also obtain a 30-day work visa in advance at a Honduran Embassy or upon arrival if they are conducting short term internship or voluntary work. This also may then be extended by 30 days on two further occasion by applying to an Immigration Office. Each extension, up to the maximum of 90 days in total, will cost US$20. Should you overstay your visa then you shoud expect to pay a fine either upon departure from the country or at the Immigration Office when you apply to extend you stay.

Vaccinations

Please visit www.netdoctor.co.uk for more information or consult with your local GP for professional advice.

Flight times / routes

There are no direct flights from the UK to Honduras, but connecting flights to Tegucigapla, and a small number of other cities in Honduras, are available via Mexico or the USA. We actually recommend flying to Miami and taking a Taca Airlines flight direct to Roatan. Alternatively you can also fly to San Pedro Sula and take a flight (via La Ceiba) to Utila.