Heading to Utila for open-water certification, what would be a good trip length?

[atc132]

Hey, after much consideration, I think I have decided on Utila for a first diving trip.
I plan to do the OW certification, which I read takes about 3-4 days. I feel that if I am paying for the plane ticket down there, I should spend more time there then that. Currently, I am aiming for around 8-10 days in late May.
What is the next step after OW? Would I want to start working on the next level of certification? Just do some recreational dives? What would be the costs of these?
I guess what I really want to know is will have things to do as a beginner diver after the OW certification? Or will I get bored on such a dive-centric island? What is the optimal amount of time? Know of any day trips near Utila?
Thanks!

 

[Doc]

This is a more important question hidden inside your other questions.

...What is the next step after OW? Would I want to start working on the next level of certification? Just do some recreational dives?...

The next step after OW is to do a bunch of recreational dives, and you're in just the perfect spot to do that. Gain experience, and lots of it. On Utila, you can also do some night diving, possibly some shore diving, and although those might be components of AOW, you are hereby fully authorized by :sblogo: to go ahead and soak up experience, versus completing checklists to get another c-card.

I guess what I really want to know is will have things to do as a beginner diver after the OW certification?

On Utila, most people drink like fish, however, as above, I recommend diving even more.

Or will I get bored on such a dive-centric island?

Not too late to take up juggling or philately. There is no Casino.

What is the optimal amount of time?

Some people say it in terms of years, I shoot for around four weeks per trip.

Know of any day trips near Utila?

You could go to Roatan, but most folks do it the other way around. Other than that, not much other than going out on a boat for the day.

Go, become a diver, do as much of it as you can. Gain experience, not c-cards. If this is something you really like, Utila is the place to be for a Dive Vacation. If you become bored with just this single activity, look to other islands that might offer things that would broaden your selection (golf, tennis, spas), the Caribbean is full of that kind of stuff.

Right now, Utila should be understood for what it is, and fully enjoyed for that. There will come a time when you will say to some young diver, "Utila? I remember it when...."

 

[Lorenzoid]

Utila is indeed a dive-centric island, and there's not much to do beyond diving. After your 3-4 days in the Open Water class, you can spend as long as you want diving for fun on Utila. A week would not be too long IF you enjoy diving.

Lots of young international backpacker types do pass through Utila for four or five days or so to get certified and do some partying, but then they head back to the mainland and continue their travels. If a full week or more of diving is not your thing, then maybe Roatan would be a better fit for you than Utila?

Even Roatan is too far to be practical for a day-trip from Utila--if you base yourself on Utila, you would need to spend a couple of days doing a side-trip to Roatan if that's what you want to do. And heck, even Roatan is pretty dive-centric, though much less so than Utila.

If you're determined to stay on Utila and don't want to dive for a full week or two, a side-trip to Roatan or even mainland Honduras are your options for non-diving sightseeing. But you'll need to set aside a few days for that.

 

[diversteve]

Since there are short flights from Roatan to Utila - and also flights from several U.S. points to Roatan, maybe fly there first, connect on, do your diving/training then spend a few days on Roatan. Morgans or Alice at Worldwide Travel can help with the local flights. She posts deals on her Facebook page, I've seen $59 one way recently. We did both ferries, it took a whole lot longer - 4-5 hrs. and was $102/rt. Someone also posted last fall that the Princess isn't running anyway - IDK if that's changed.

There's not a heck of a lot to do on Roatan either but more than on Utila. Nightlife is mostly in the West End and there's a lot of dive operators/training there also so dives are around 10/$300 and lodging is everything from 2 hostels to decent apts. under $100 or less. Lots of good food options there also. Ziplines, bonefishing, nice beaches in West Bay. A stand-up paddleboard shool also but they do that on Utila as well.

The other thing you can do now is fly from Roatan or San Pedro Sula direct to Belize on Tropic Air. So maybe spend a few days there, either diving/hanging out on Ambergris or diving/eco-touring in South Belize. Mayan Ruins, Cave River Tubing, Ziplines, Jaguar Preserve, Howler Monkeys etc. Dive trips in south Belize are farther out - typically an hour or two boat ride. It's quieter in south Belize also - Placencia is pretty laidback. The local airlines (Tropic/Mayan Air) fly frequently throughout the country to/from Belize City - the int'l airport there has connections to several US hubs.

 

[Stout]

Longer is better..longer is always better.

The Open Water course will run you four days. Most shops toss in a few free "fun dives" at the end so call it five days.

The next step is Advanced Open Water, a course I've cynically described as existing solely so dive instructors can make money. The reality is that, unless you take this course, most dive shops won't take you night diving or allow you to go below 60 ft. It costs $300, gives you five dives with a couple of free fun dives thrown in so 7 dives altogether call it four days. $300 will buy you a pack of 10 fun dives and depending on how you use them will cover 3-5 days.

Will you get bored ?
Do you like to drink ? if yes, then no.

 

[RTBDiver]

The next step is Advanced Open Water, a course I've cynically described as existing solely so dive instructors can make money. The reality is that, unless you take this course, most dive shops won't take you night diving or allow you to go below 60 ft..

Kind of reminds me of a post years ago when some dude from CCT told us they were they only ones allowed to dive the Josie J. I guess he should have told me before I did it. I am sure they would have wanted to charge me a ton of money to "learn' their procedures and in fact maybe My instructors did have some shortcomings since three of my tech instructors are now no longer with us but thats a different can of worms

 

[drrich2]

The OW course may take 4 days if everything goes smoothly with no complications. That is not guaranteed. Sometimes it can take longer. A head cold and trouble equalizing could set you back, for example.

Richard.

 

[Stout]

Kind of reminds me of a post years ago when some dude from CCT told us they were they only ones allowed to dive the Josie J. I guess he should have told me before I did it. I am sure they would have wanted to charge me a ton of money to "learn' their procedures and in fact maybe My instructors did have some shortcomings since three of my tech instructors are now no longer with us but thats a different can of worms

Yea, I met a guy who was OW certified in the '80s, did a bunch of dives on the Great barrier Reef. He found himself in Australia wanting to dive those sites again. The shop informed him that they couldn't take him unless he did AOW. He only had a couple of days so diving ended up being a no go. He did his AOW on Utila this past January and seemed rather unimpressed with the new rules.

I've never been able to figure out why PADI doesn't just roll both courses into one week long course. When it comes right down to it, AOW is fun and could almost be considered recreational diving

 

[RTBDiver]

, AOW is fun and could almost be considered recreational diving

Pretty sure all PADI Diving is recreational

 

[Lorenzoid]

I've never been able to figure out why PADI doesn't just roll both courses into one week long course.

I don't think "weeklong" is convenient for most people, or at least most Americans who get little time off from work. Weekends are the unit of choice for working people, and a "long weekend" is about the limit of what the basic classes should entail if convenience to working people is one of PADI's goals. I did my OW course over a span of six weekends.

I took AOW on Utila. That reminds me of something. Utila being such a dive training machine can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, the instructors there get a lot of experience, as there is a constant supply of students coming through. On the other hand, if you are one of those students, you need to be prepared for being in the midst of a lot of other students. It's a busy place. I recall the night dive I did--my very first night dive ever--as part of the AOW course. There were something like 20 people in the water at the site with their various instructors, and visibility wasn't great. Students were getting separated from their groups. It just wasn't pleasant at all. There is something to be said for somewhat more personal instruction in a place that sees fewer students. I think Utila is great, and it can be a great place to take some dive training, but a student needs to be prepared to be part of the herd.