I feel like this photo should be on the cover of some magazine that’s distributed to cold, wintery cities in December and January, just as those brutal winter winds arrive.
We spent a week training for our PADI Open Water Certificate on Utila, the smaller of the Bay Island in Honduras. Some travelers we met there had planned to stay a week and ended up staying a month or even six months. One British couple, who had planned to backpack all of Central America, ended up spending four months on Utila training for their Dive Master Certificate. You see, Utila is a place that’s hard to walk away from.
Sure there are sand flies and all of the negatives that go along living on an island, but the positives, like the view, the soft ocean breeze, a hammock in the late afternoon, they go well beyond beating out the positives.
Is this paradise? I’m not sure, but it’s likely pretty close.
IF YOU GO: The Bay Islands are known for diving and Whale Sharks. We missed the Whale Sharks by just a few days, unfortunate timing on our part. The sharks migrate up and down the gulf coast of Mexico and Central America, so check a calendar before you travel if snorkeling with them is a priority on your list. The islands are heavily dived, so be extra cautious of your equipment and impact on the environment. Locals rely mostly on tourism for income so be fair in your negotiations. All of the dive shops on Utila will meet you at the ferry. Take a look around and explore the various shops and classes. Ask questions about safety—as fun as diving can be, it can also be dangerous.
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