About Utila
Utila Overview
Utila is a tropical island in the Caribbean Sea that is a vacation attraction for all budgets. Located 18 miles (29 km) from the Honduras mainland port of La Ceiba, Utila beckons scuba diving aficionados as well as those looking to get their feet wet with their first scuba diving experience.The island is surrounded by coral reefs teeming with life and there are protected areas on the North side that boast some of the best diving the island has to offer. On the diving circuit, Utila is renowned as one of the least expensive places to get certified as a scuba diver, from Open Water all the way to Divemaster or Instructor.
Utila is the smallest of The Bay Islands group, which also includes Roatan and Guanaja. The pace of life reflects that of a Caribbean island and you are as likely (if not more) to hear an almost incomprehensible Caribbean English than you are to hear Spanish, Honduras’ national language. Given its status as the low-budget of the Bay Islands, you’ll find it packed with Europeans and Americans looking for a diving experience or just fun in the sun with snorkeling or sun-bathing.
Brief History of Utila
The history of Utila goes back to Columbus’ fourth voyage on July 30, 1502, where he discovered the Bay Island of Guanaja. The story gets bloody after that when Spain enslaved the natives on each of the Bay Islands (Guanaja, Utila and Roatan). Later, thirsty for Spanish gold, English pirates invaded the Bay Islands. It wasn’t long before many of them decided to stay and make Utila their home, which is why to this day you still see a fair number of Caucasian Utileans. In 1642, an agreement was made between the supreme authority of Guatemala, the Govenor of Havana, and the President of the Audience of Santo Domingo to send an expedition to the area to expel the English pirates. In 1742, a fight over the Atlantic Coast of Honduras and the Island of Roatan began between England and Spain which lasted quite some time. In the end, a peace treaty was signed wherein the English agreed to leave the Bay Islands to the Spaniards. The Captain General of Guatemala at last gave an order to the Governor of Honduras to rescue the Bay Islands, and on August 28, 1814 Spain and England adjusted their peace treaty to leave the Islands under the jurisdiction of Honduras. In May of 1830, however, the Superintendent of Belize took possession of Roatan on behalf of the English Crown. It was not until April 22, 1861, that a decree was finally issued that proclaimed the Bay Islands to be part of the Republic of Honduras. In 1872 the Bay Islands (Nicknamed “The Garden of the West Indies”) became politically and geographically, a Department of Honduras.Read a More In Depth History of Utila and Bay Islands
The Cays
At the south-west end of the Island are the Cays (or Caylitos), a small collection of tiny islands, some just 100 feet across and 1-2 feet above sea level. The 2 main Cays, Suc-Suc (Pigeon) and Jewel Cay, are inhabited by local fisherman and the descendants of the original settlers who arrived here from the Cayman Islands in 1836. Most of the other Cays are privately owned but several are open to visitors, especially Water Cay, the definitive deserted tropical island, which is uninhabited and has no buildings or construction on it. It is possible to hire a water taxi for the 30 minute journey from the town centre to Water Cay and spend the day enjoying the isolation and the fabulous snorkeling that can be found there. Water Cay is also home to the famous Sun Jam, a 2 day music and dancing fiesta held at Water Cay every year during the 1st weekend of August. Several of the Cays are available for rent including Little Cay.(http://www.aboututila.com/).Utila Ecology/Marine Biology/Environmental Projects
| Utila Dive Safety & Environmental Council | UDSEC was formed by a group of dive business owners who felt it was important to work together to ensure that we provided a high level of dive safety and quality dive experiences to our customers. It was also recognized that in working together we could set up projects to take care of environmental issues both in the water and on land. UDSEC is now a legal association recognized by the Honduras government and as such will be able to approach the government for assistance to protect the resources of Utila as it grows and develops. |
| Utila Centre for Marine Ecology | A Honduran registered non-governmental organization that conducts progressive research on marine, coastal and island ecosystems. Initially founded on the island of Utila, the centre now has projects across Central America spanning the Caribbean and Pacific coasts. Combining both applied ecological research and socioeconomic studies, our holistic research interests focus on providing the science with which to develop proactive management strategies for the sustainable use of marine and coastal resources. |
| Utila Whale Shark Research | The Utila Whale Shark Research Project is an initial five-year study of the population dynamics and ethology of the whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) that visit Utila. These amazing creatures can be seen year-round, however, they are most prevalent during the months of February through April. Using cutting-edge technology for photo-identification, the project is generating data that can be used for local population estimation as well as for broader studies throughout the Caribbean and the rest of the world. As a “threatened species”, we seek to understand our local whale shark population in order to better protect it. This requires solid science and a commitment to local conservation. |
