Bay Islands, Honduras Scuba Diving, Travel, Services and Accommodations

HONDURAS

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& The Bay Islands

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General Info | Dive Services | Accommodations | Travel/Tips

 



 

Honduras is a stunningly beautiful country, with marvelous beaches, lush green mountains, the idyllic Bay Islands, and the ancient Mayan city of Copan - just to scratch the surface.

Honduras is located in Central America bordered by Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua. Most visitors arrive by air.

Whether you are exploring the Mayan ruins, diving in the Bay Islands or relaxing on the North Coast at Tela or La Ceiba, there are great places to visit and things to do. The people of Honduras are very friendly and visitors and travellers are most welcome. If you have a spirit of adventure, make Honduras your next vacation spot.

Off the northern coast of Honduras, from 12 to 35 miles offshore, you will find the Bay Islands. They are located along the largest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere.

The Bay Islands remain today as some of the Caribbean’s most beautiful, pristine and tranquil islands. This exotic archipelago is a divers paradise, boasting clear waters and unspoiled reefs that are among the healthiest in the Caribbean. These virgin reefs teem with a myriad of unique reef creatures and 95% of all species of the Caribbean’s coral can be found in these alluring waters.

Roatan is the largest island, with the most infrastructure and the most developed for tourism. It is a long, thin island, measuring almost 40 miles in length and with a total land mass of 49 square miles. The island has a mountainous backbone and is totally surrounded by coral reefs, offering superb diving.

The tallest of the islands, Guanaja has become the most elite-oriented, with many of the better hotels on the Islands located here. Guanaja is a unique island, as it does not have any roads, and the largest community, known as Bonaca is not even on the island itself, but on a small cay a short distance from Guanaja. Guanaja has a paved runway as an airport, and is forested with the unique Caribbean pine that distinguishes it very much from its sister islands.

Climate Average High 85F 29C Can cool to about 68F 20C at night.
Water Temp 78 - 83F 25 - 28C Visibility 80 - 150 ft 24 - 45 m

Bay Islands Dive Sites

 
 

 Dive Services/Accommodations

 

Mango Inn
Cola De Mico
Utila, 34201 Bay Islands
Honduras
Tel.: 011 504 4253305
Fax.: 011 504 4253305

Mango Inn located on Utila in the Bay Islands of Honduras Central America, is a charming dive operation & hotel offering pristine waters, great reef formations, isolated cays and beaches, and a friendly, colorful community.
» Number of Dive Boats: 5
» Maximum Number of Divers per Boat: 12
» Gear Provided: New Scuba Pro
» Rental Gear Available: All equipment included
» Nitrox Available:
» Type of Diving Available: Boat diving (wreck, wall, reef, tec)
» Total Dive Sites: N/A
» Minimum Time to Dive Sites: 10
» Maximum Time to Dive Sites: 40
» Certification Agencies: PADI
» Courses Offered: All courses from open water to IDC to tec courses
info@mango-inn.com
http://mango-inn.com


 


Utopia Village - Utila

Mailing Address:
6302 McCommas, Blvd. Dallas, Texas 75214
Tel.: 214-215-7743
Utopia Village is a dive, fishing and spa resort. Our casually elegant hotel complex is nestled in the jungle along a quarter mile of beach front with abundant coral reefs and the best shore diving Utila has to offer. Amenities include 16 luxurious rooms with private bathrooms, AC and ceiling fans, oceanfront bar, air-conditioned lounge, BBQ patio and sunset roof terrace.
» Number of Dive Boats: 1
» Maximum Number of Divers per Boat: 20
» Gear Provided: Weights, belts, tanks
» Rental Gear Available: Brand New Cressi Sub gear, BCD, reg's wetsuits
» Nitrox Available: Yes
» Type of Diving Available: fringing reef, wall, swim through caves, wrecks, sea mounts
» Total Dive Sites: 100+
» Minimum Time to Dive Sites: 0 minutes, house reef just in front of resort
» Maximum Time to Dive Sites: 25 minutes to Northside
» Certification Agencies: PADI
» Courses Offered: OW, Advanced, nitrox, most specialties
cathy@utopiautila.com
http://www.utopiautila.com/


 


Foster's West Bay Resort

West Bay
Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras C.A.
Tel. USA# 1-877-245-5907 tollfree
Fax. 1-541-344-6072
Affordable beachfront cabanas located on Roatan's most beautiful white sand beach. Spectacular world-class diving available with our onsite dive shop. Restaurant/Bar.
fostersroatan@yahoo.com
http://www.fostersroatan.com


 


Luna Beach Resort

West End, Roatan
Bay Islands, Honduras
Tel. 866-710-LUNA
Fax: 303-362-1044

Luna Beach Resort offers a perfect get away, with our Beach Suite accommodations. Our Island style Tropical Houses and Premium House tucked away in the Jungle, with spectacular views of the Caribbean. On site dive staff and dive packages available.
» Number of Dive Boats: 2
» Maximum Number of Divers per Boat: 24 - 7
» Gear Provided: Tank and weights
» Rental Gear Available: All new brand name gear- full kits
» Nitrox Available: Yes
» Type of Diving Available: Reef, Wreck, Wall, Deep, Drift, Night Diving
» Total Dive Sites: 40
» Minimum Time to Dive Sites: 2
» Maximum Time to Dive Sites: 20
» Certification Agencies: PADI, SSI
» Courses Offered: All PADI courses
reservations@lunabeachresort.com
http://www.lunabeachresort.com


 

Oak Bay Resort
5353 W. Tyson Ave, Tampa, FL 33611
Tel. 011-504-435-2337

Oak Bay Resort is a small resort located in the Oak Ridge area of Roatan. Some grocery stores and restaurants are located in Oak Ridge. Safety is always number one with us and on training dives or pleasure dives we will never take divers below 110 feet.
ah6pn@arrl.net
http://www.roatandiving.com


 


Reef Gliders
West End, Roatan
Bay Islands
Honduras

Tel. +504 8913-5099

A small PADI Gold Palm Resort specializing in small group diving. Located on the water we have over 40 sites within a 15 minute journey.

» Number of Dive Boats: 3
» Maximum Number of Divers per Boat: 12, 8, 6
» Gear Provided: All gear included
» Rental Gear Available: No
» Nitrox Available: Yes
» Type of Diving Available: Reef, wreck, wall, drift, night and dawn dives
» Total Dive Sites: 50+
» Minimum Time to Dive Sites: 5
» Maximum Time to Dive Sites: 20
» Certification Agencies: PADI
» Courses Offered: Scuba Refresher, Scuba Diver, Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Rescue, Emergency First Response, Specialties, Divemaster, Internship, Assistant Instructor
admin@reefgliders.com
http://www.reefgliders.com


 


Subway Watersports Roatan

Brick Bay Resort
Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras
Tel. ++504 387 0579

A small and personal PADI Gold Plam Resort and National Geographic award dive center on Roatan's south side. Catering to multiple hotles and vacation rental homes.
» Number of Dive Boats: 7
» Maximum Number of Divers per Boat: 6 to 14
» Gear Provided: Tanks/weights
» Rental Gear Available: Yes
» Nitrox Available: Yes
» Type of Diving Available: Reef, wreck, wall, shark
» Total Dive Sites: 50
» Minimum Time to Dive Sites: 5
» Maximum Time to Dive Sites: 45
» Certification Agencies: PADI
» Courses Offered: All through instructor
info@subwaywatersports.com
http://www.subwaywatersports.com


 


West End Divers
Calle Principal, Proxima Pura Vida
West End, Roatan, Islas de Bahia, Honduras
Tel: Honduras/504-445-4289, US/786-623-5627

PADI 5 Star Resort. Experience the beauty of the underwater environment while diving on the world’s second largest coral reef. Conveniently located, where some of the best dive sites are 10 minutes from our dock. Our professional staff is committed to making your Caribbean dive vacation one of unforgettable memories. PADI Certifications from Discover Scuba through Assistant Instructor, and many specialty courses.
» Number of Dive Boats: 4
» Maximum Number of Divers per Boat: 3 @ 8, 1 @ 20
» Gear Provided: Mask snorkel fins BCD regulators weights tanks and shortys
» Rental Gear Available: Oceanic and Cressi-Sub
» Nitrox Available: Yes - 32%
» Type of Diving Available: Reef, Wreck, Wall, Deep, Swim throughs, Drift, Night
» Total Dive Sites: 40+
» Minimum Time to Dive Sites: 3
» Maximum Time to Dive Sites: 15
» Certification Agencies: PADI
» Courses Offered: Discover Scuba through Assistant Instructor
westenddivers@gmail.com
http://www.westendivers.com



Travel to Honduras and the Bay Islands

 

The main airport serving the area is the San Pedro Sula International Airport. Serviced regularly by
LACSA, TACA, COPA, American, Continental and Iberia, San Pedro Sula is easily reached from the following North American gateways: Miami, Houston, New Orleans, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Orlando, Mexico City and Cancun. In addition, there are excellent connections via the Central American Airlines through San Jose, Costa Rica; San Salvador, El Salvador; Panama City, Panama and Guatemala City, Guatemala. There is also daily air service by Isleña Airlines to San Pedro from La Ceiba, Roatan and Tegucigalpa.

La Ceiba is perhaps the best communicated city in Honduras. The largest domestic carrier,
Isleña Airlines has its operations hub here, and from here you can fly to Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, Choluteca, Roatan, Utila, Guanaja, Trujillo, as well as the Miskito Coast. Aerolineas Sosa and Rollins Air also have their main bases in La Ceiba. In addition, TACA and LACSA both have international flights to San Salvador, El Salvador, San Jose, Costa Rica, as well as Houston, Miami, New York and New Orleans, in the USA.
La Ceiba is also a departure point to the Bay Islands. Schedules are subject to change, so check with your destination or travel agent for any changes.

For visitors coming from Europe, you may book through
KLM, Lufthansa, Alitalia, Air France, British Airways, and Iberia.

Getting to the islands from the mainland is an easy task these days

Roatan

By Ferry
La Ceiba is the closest city to Roatan on the mainland, which is only thirty miles away. The Galaxy ferry travels between Roatan and La Ceiba on the mainland of Honduras.
La Ceiba - Roatan 11:00 a.m. daily
La Ceiba - Roatan 4:15 p.m. daily
Roatan - Ceiba 6:00 a.m. daily
Roatan - Ceiba 1:45 p.m. daily

15$ adult and 7.50$ child approximately - All prices are subject to change without notice.

By Air
Taca Airlines provides direct flights from Miami (Sundays), New Orleans and Houston (Saturdays)
www.taca.com. Solair also provides direct flights from Miami (Fridays, return Saturdays) www.solair.net. Continental (from Houston) and American (from Miami) also fly into San Pedro Sula (where you can then travel to Roatan on smaller local airlines, listed below). Continental Airlines also provides a new nonstop Saturday service between Houston and Roatan.

Utila

By Ferry
Ferry service between La Ceiba and Utila aboard the 118' Utila Princess -
UtilaPrincess@yahoo.com
Departs La Ceiba 9:30 AM and 4:00 PM Tickets may be purchased at La Ceiba's main cargo port.
Departs Utila 6:20 AM and 2:00 PM - Tickets may be purchased at the Utila Municipal Dock.

By Air
Aerolineas SOSA and Atlantic Airlines service Utila locally (see schedules on Utila page).

Guanaja
Getting to Guanaja is only by air only.
Isleña Airlines and AEROLINEAS SOSA has flights from La Ceiba to Guanaja. Flights are generally $35.US to $45.US each way.

Entry Requirements

Passport valid 6 months beyond intended stay in Honduras.

Ticket for return or onward travel.

Departure tax US$25.00.

Visa is not required for stay up to 30 days for nationals of the following countries: Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, European Union, Guatemala, Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Puerto Rico, San Marino, Switzerland, Uruguay, United States and Vatican.

Visas are required for nationals of other countries and can be purchased from Honduran consulates.

**New Travel Requirements**

The Department of State and Homeland Security have announced a "Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative" in which they are proposing to require all U.S. Citizens, Canadians, citizens of Bermuda and citizens of Mexico to have a passport or other accepted secure document to enter or re-enter the U.S. by January 1, 2008.

Beginning January 23, 2007, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document.

As early as January 1, 2008, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including ferries), may be required to present a valid passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. While recent legislative changes permit a later deadline, the Departments of State and Homeland Security are working to meet all requirements as soon as possible. Ample advance notice will be provided to enable the public to obtain passports or passport cards for land/sea entries.


Helpful Information

Getting Around on the Mainland
There are car rental agencies at the airpors and in the larger towns. An international or foreign driving license is all you need. Roads in the city and on the highways are in fairly good condition but not so in the rural areas. Driving is to the right. If you prefer to let someone else do the driving, you can hire a taxi. But taxis are unmetered so remember to fix the fare before you step into one.

The cheapest option is the local buses. The signs on the buses indicate the direction they are headed in.

Getting Around on the Islands
There is little need for transportation on the smaller islands. Roatan with it's 60 miles of roads, offers cars, trucks, bikes and scooters for rent.

Language
Spanish is the official language of Honduras. English is spoken in the Bay Islands and in most tourist areas. Traditional languages are still used in some remoter areas of the country such as Olancho and the Mosquitia.

Taxes/Tipping
A 12% value added tax is added to the price of all services and merchandise. Also many restaurants or hotels will add an additional 10% service charge as a tip. This is not compulsory to pay. Check your bill before tipping as it may have already been included.



 
 

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