Utila-May 19-26, 2012

With a reputation for world-class coral reef diving, Utila is an excellent choice for divers and non-divers alike. With it’s sloping walls on the South side, sheer drop offs on the North, wreck diving and sea mounds just minutes from Utila harbor, you’ll have endless diving opportunities. Let’s not forget, Utila has long been known as a “hot-spot” for Whale Shark activity due to it’s proximity to the Continental Shelf and strong upwelling currents. All this plus plenty of land activities make Utila an excellent choice for a warm water vacation!

Come join Channel Islands Dive Adventure for a fun filled week of diving, exploring and relaxing on May 19th-26th, 2012. CIDA has the whole Utila Lodge reserved for the week for 16 lucky people. It’s always fun to go on a vacation, but when your with a group and know everyone at the resort, that rocks!!!

Trip cost is $2450.00 and includes:

Round trip air from LAX to Utila (2 flights) and transfers (see below)
7 night air conditioned ocean view accommodations
3 full meals daily,
6 days of 3 boat dives daily which includes 2 night boat dives
Tanks, weights, belt, and use of kayaks
Welcome cocktail
Complimentary bottle of wine
High speed wireless Internet
Whale shark presentation
16% Government tax
Get together party before and after the trip

Deposits of $375.00 per person (non-refundable) due by December 31, 2011. CIDA also requires a trip application form to be filled out and turned in for every participant.

Final Balance due by March 15, 2012

Flight Schedule: Continental & CM Airlines

*The CM Airline flights are special charters for CIDA otherwise the normal departure time from Utila to San Pedro Sula would be 6:00am

1-CO1696 19MAY LOS ANGELES-HOUSTON 130AM 638AM

2-CO1487 19MAY HOUSTON-SAN PEDRO SULA 900AM 1045AM

*3-CM Airlines:San Pedro Sula- Utila, leaving SAP 3:00pm arriving Utila 335pm

*4-CM Airlines:Utila-San Pedro, leaving Utila 8:30am arriving SAP 9:10am

5-CO1488 26MAY SAN PEDRO SULA-HOUSTON 1145AM 328PM

6-CO1002 26MAY HOUSTON-LOS ANGELES 610PM 730PM

There is always something not included:

$4 per day reef fee
Drinks
Nitrox
Gratuities

Where is Utila?

Utila is nestled in the Caribbean Sea and located approximately 18 miles (29 km) from the Honduras mainland port of La Ceiba. The island is just 11 km long and 4 km at its widest and surrounded by vast coral reefs with prolific undersea life. It is the smallest of the major islands in The Bay Islands group and not far from Roatan.

Utila Lodge

The Utila Lodge is family owned and operated and provides personalized service and five star hospitality! Relax in the casual atmosphere of their intimate 8 room resort, located entirely over the Caribbean. With a secluded feel, easy access to town, and much to offer, it is easy to understand why Utila Lodge has been named the best hotel on Utila! See their reviews.

The Utila Lodge also has a full service bar, hot tub, spacious sundecks with lounge chairs and swim ladders, pool table & dart board, reading & reference library, complimentary clubhouse computer & Internet access, cable TV, kayaks, easy access to town, fax & phone service, on-site PADI 5 Star CDC, Onsite Hyperbaric Chamber & Trauma Center , on-site generator/electric (US cycles) and on-site owners & managers.

Diving Utila

With a reputation for world-class coral reef diving, it is no wonder divers from around the world go to Utila. Utila is connected to the Belize Barrier Reef, the second largest barrier reef in the world. Surrounded by spectacular turquoise water, abundant sea-life and outstanding coral reefs, Utila boasts endless opportunities for divers and then their is always a chance to snorkel with whale sharks feeding at the surface – the largest fish in the sea!

Diving is easy, fun and relaxing when staying at the Utila Lodge and diving from their 41-foot dive boat, the Sea Sprite. Their PADI-certified Divemasters will set up your gear for you and take all the hassle out of diving. Guests generally enjoy three dives per day including two dives in the morning and one afternoon or night dive. More or less dives per day can be arranged upon request.

Utila Lodge is committed to ensuring the safety of all of their divers. Utila’s only 24-hour trauma center and hyperbaric recompression chamberare located at Utila Lodge! Tours of our recompression chamber, and a specialty course in its operation, are available to interested guests. All of their dive boats are equipped with a first-aid kit and emergency oxygen. Additionally, all of their dive staff are PADI- certified professionals, trained in rescue techniques, hyperbaric chamber operation, and benefit from routine safety refresher training.

The Utila Lodge offers many other dive amenities like; rinse tanks, separate rinse tanks for cameras both on board the boat and ashore, equipment storage area, nitrox tanks (mixed on site), trimix blends, rebreather-friendly and fresh fruit on the boat during the surface interval.

Whale Sharks

Utila is one of the very few places worldwide where whale sharks can be reliably found year round. With years of experience at finding the elusive sharks, our captains will do their best to make sure you get a (or several) good looks at these magnificent animals. Most mornings, weather permitting, our dive boat ventures to the north side of the island which borders the Cayman trench. It is thought that the up-welling currents from the deep may provide nutrients that attract the small ocean creatures upon which whale sharks feed. Once a whale shark is found, our guests get the chance of a lifetime â€” to jump in and snorkel with a whale shark!

Utila Lodge is also the Caribbean field station for the Shark Research Institute. Our staff help SRI with tagging whale sharks, reporting sightings, and the collection of other data to better understand these gentle giants.

Questions? Please contact Channel Islands Dive Adventures at 805 469-7288 or info@channelislandsdiveadventures.com