Hi all! I've never dove before, but am leaving for Utila in a week. I've gotten loads of useful info from this forum, but I still have a lot of questions!
I'm on a limited budget: maybe not quite rock-bottom, but I'd like to not spend very much money. Hot water and air-conditioning seem like unnecessary luxuries.
I'll be arriving in Tegucigalpa at 11:30AM, and would love to get to Utila that very same day. I've heard Sosa airlines has flights... should I make a reservation now? (And if so, through whom?) Or should I just get a ticket when I get in to TGU?
I'm planning on getting my Open Water Cert and then just doing "fun dives" for the rest of the time. I've heard that the best way to pick a dive shop is just by walking around and getting a feel for them all... but I have this weird fear that I'm somehow arriving in the peak of high season and that things might be booked up? Is that possible, or can I be more casual about picking a place? Would it be cheaper to negotiate for some 8-day package with accommodations included?
I've heard now that all OWC classes include the cost of the book, but would it somehow be to my advantage to buy the book now and bone up before I go?
Does anyone have any recommendations for a particular dive shop or budget lodging? A friend tells me that Alton's is a good place to learn, but I'd be interested in hearing stories of other shops. My priorities are: safety & quality of instruction, price, variety of sites, and *whale sharks*, in that order. (Okay, okay, I'll try not get my hopes up about the whale sharks...)
Lastly, I've heard stories that Mastercard isn't as widely accepted as Visa is. I only have MC, so what's the best way to deal with $$$ in Utila? Traveler's checks? A fat wad of cash hidden in my shoe?
Thanks in advance to all for you for providing such a valuable message board!
jonathan
I'm on a limited budget: maybe not quite rock-bottom, but I'd like to not spend very much money. Hot water and air-conditioning seem like unnecessary luxuries.
I'll be arriving in Tegucigalpa at 11:30AM, and would love to get to Utila that very same day. I've heard Sosa airlines has flights... should I make a reservation now? (And if so, through whom?) Or should I just get a ticket when I get in to TGU?
I'm planning on getting my Open Water Cert and then just doing "fun dives" for the rest of the time. I've heard that the best way to pick a dive shop is just by walking around and getting a feel for them all... but I have this weird fear that I'm somehow arriving in the peak of high season and that things might be booked up? Is that possible, or can I be more casual about picking a place? Would it be cheaper to negotiate for some 8-day package with accommodations included?
I've heard now that all OWC classes include the cost of the book, but would it somehow be to my advantage to buy the book now and bone up before I go?
Does anyone have any recommendations for a particular dive shop or budget lodging? A friend tells me that Alton's is a good place to learn, but I'd be interested in hearing stories of other shops. My priorities are: safety & quality of instruction, price, variety of sites, and *whale sharks*, in that order. (Okay, okay, I'll try not get my hopes up about the whale sharks...)
Lastly, I've heard stories that Mastercard isn't as widely accepted as Visa is. I only have MC, so what's the best way to deal with $$$ in Utila? Traveler's checks? A fat wad of cash hidden in my shoe?
Thanks in advance to all for you for providing such a valuable message board!
jonathan