U Dive, Utopia’s premiere dive operation, is fully equipped with brand new high-end gear and custom boats.  Utopia Village is reaching its goal of creating the best dive operation and resort environment in the Bay Islands.  U Dive is focused not only on providing the best equipment and staff, but also building an atmosphere that will both educate and foster the enjoyment of sharing underwater experiences.  The number one focus is the need to protect Utila’s most precious asset, the reef.
 
U Dive is a PADI Resort Dive Operator with the following amenities:

• Hours of operation: 7:30 AM to 9 PM, shore diving available Sunday-Friday by appointment only, weather conditions permtting
• New custom dive boats
• Dive equipment rentals, (Dive Shack)
• PADI continuing Educational Program that offers resort courses through IDC training (Sea Center)
• Convenient private equipment storage, fresh-water showers and rinse tanks
• Shore diving off the Utopia premises, weather permitting and with a guide only
• In town, recompression chamber and physician

1.0 U DIVE FACILITY
U Dive is a full service dive operation located on Utopia Village's resort premises.  An office, gear rental, guest locker room, and marina complete U Dive's facilities.

The Sea Center is open from 7:30 am to 6:30 pm for gear rental inquiries and daily dive information including sites and weather, course sign-ups and specialty equipment sales. 

The Dive Shack has a full array of dive gear available for rental on a weekly or daily basis.  U Dive has a brand new stock of regulators, BCD’s, gauges, wetsuits, and computers.  All dive packages include tanks, weights and weight belts.  Shore diving and pool training tanks are filled at this location.  Utopia Village packages include complimentary snorkel gear that may be checked out on a daily basis from the Dive Shack.

Personal gear storage is available to guests and is conveniently located next to the Dive Shack.  The Guest Locker Room accommodates (25) oversized lockers including benches, water and towel service and a restroom facility.  The lockers were constructed for full height hanging storage.  Guests are welcome to use this facility or use the hanging storage provided in the hotel rooms.

Located on one of Utila’s inland lagoons, the Marina is situated down the road from the resort.   The marina provides safe harbor for the dive, fishing and water taxi fleet, as well as, convenient passage to and from Utila Town for guests, staff and supplies.  Future plans for the marina include a full nitrox compressor system with direct boat fill capabilities.

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2.0 TEAM
Guests will enjoy exclusive attention from our dedicated and experienced U Dive team who ensure that special needs, requirements and diving goals are met.  The Staff will plan boat dives to a variety of dive sites throughout the week stay without repetition unless the group desires a return visit to a favorite site.   At the start of your U Dive adventure, a briefing on diving procedures will be given U Dive’s Manager of Dive Operations.  Guests will be briefed on how to sign-up for dives, daily procedures on getting to the marina and assign personal gear lockers.  There will be  a warm-up dive and equipment check prior to your first dive.

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3.0 DIVING

3.1 Dive Sites

Utila, the smallest of the Bay Islands, offers a wide variety of easily accessible dive sites with varying underwater terrains.  Sitting at the edge of the largest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere, Utila’s waters are teaming with colorful marine life.  Utila has over 100 charted dive sites which include sea mounts, shallow fringing reefs and plunging walls that circumnavigate the Cayman Trench. 

The shallow fissures with sandy bottoms and beautiful purple coral gardens just off Utopia’s shores will antalize shore divers.  Utila’s crystal blue waters host over 90% of marine inhabitants found in the Caribbean, including schools of Blue Tangs, Southern Sennetes, and scores of other brilliantly colored Tropical fish.  Everything from a myriad of juvenile reef residents to the larger Whale Shark, Manta Rays, Spotted Eagle Rays, and Moray Eels can be sited.

The North side of Utila is best known for its drop-offs, which are considered deep dives. The upper edge of the wall begins anywhere from 55-85 feet, with each dive site having its own personality and marine growth.  Inshore from the drop-offs,  excellent medium to shallow coral reefs can be found with diving depths ranging from 20-55 feet which allows both novice and expert divers to enjoy the sites.  Utila’s waters also house three wreck sites in varying sizes and depths.  With water temperatures averaging 80 degrees or warmer, gentle currents and 100 feet of underwater visibility, Utila will be a dive destination you will never forget.

View Dive Sites

The Halliburton (wreck dive)
The Halliburton, Utila’s favorite and largest wreck, is 100 feet by 25 feet.  The wreck sits at 100 feet in depth and is situated on a sandy bottom making it perfect for the Advanced Diver and those hoping to earn specialties in wreck, nitrox, and deep diving.  The Halliburton was sunk in 1998 to create an ecosystem that would add to Utila’s diverse underwater world.  Look for Grouper, Southern Sennet, Flameback Angelfish, as well as, Yellow Pencil Coral, Bearded Fireworm and Pore Rope Sponge.

The Aquarium
The Aquarium dive site is appropriately named for the colorful wall filled with coral and encrusted sponge.  Hang out with a big school of Southern Senate as you initially descend from this dive mooring.  Upon approaching the wall and turning left, enjoy watching the surf hit the lava rocks above you.  Here, there are two caverns shaped by the waves which mold them into sweeping arches.  These caverns and over hangs are great places to search for Octopus and Glassy Sweepers.  You will see everything from Greater Soap Fish to hundreds of juvenile reef residents congregating at this dive site.

Jacks Bight
At Jack Bight, drop down East of the buoy to 30 feet and find banded Coral Shrimp and a huge Green Moray Eel peering at you from within a chimney hole.  Further along there are narrow canyon swim through passages to deeper parts of the reef where an open basin of soft Coral heads reside. 

Blackish Point
This dive site gets its name from the volcanic rock that forms the wall running parallel to the shore.  The upper section of the reef is at 20-30 feet and filled with abundant soft and hard coral heads.  At 60-85 feet, swim past a series of caverns and view everything from huge lobster to Goliath Grouper.  There is a light current at Blackish Point making it a perfect drift dive.

Duppy Waters
Duppy is the Utilian word for ghost.  This dive site is named for the ghostly images of sharks seen in the greater depths below this buoy.  The marker sits on a knife-edge of coral.  On the island side of this knife head is a huge sandy patch with rock formations hosting large schooling fish.  On the ocean side of the buoy, the depths drop to 140 feet.  This area is teaming with reef life and sits right on top of the Cayman Trench.

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Ted’s Point (wreck dive)
Ted’s Point is approximately 45-50 feet deep.  Descend onto sandy area with a large coral head that sports a cleaning station.  Southeast past the coral head, at 65 feet, is a sunken concrete hull sailboat approximately 41 feet long where you will see a sandy patch littered with Southern Stingray and Spotted Eagle Rays.  Toward the West of the mooring are swim through canyons filled with Permit and Bermuda Chubs.  Listen to the Toad Fish as you swim by at approximately 60 feet.  East of the buoy, in the shallows, you can see turtles and an abundance of soft and hard coral.

The Pinnacle
The Pinnacle is named for the tall coral formation and several chimneys that are typical of this area.  Below the dive buoy are two small caverns that begin at 60 feet and drop to 160 feet.  To the East of the mooring, there are several swim through tunnels and sandy patches where you can find Nurse Sharks loitering under the rock ledges.  The second channel gradually slopes to a depth of 80 feet where it disappears to a depth of 130 feet just over the wall.

Cabanas I & II
The Cabanas are favorite sites just in front of Utopia’s shore.  Cabana is Spanish for bungalow and the site is named for the small cabana sized coral heads.  This fringing reef area begins at 15 feet and gradually drops to 90 feet.  This is an excellent multi-level dive featuring great soft coral formations.  Look for Nudi Branch and Sea Slugs in this area.

Jack Neal Point
Jack Neal Point is just East of Utopia and hits sand at about 90 feet.  This is a great site to view Southern Stingray and Spotted Eagle Rays.  Photographers will enjoy the “macro” marine life found in a perfect depth to make your safety stop. 

Black Hills
Located 1.5 miles off the coast of Utila, Black Hills is a must see dive site.  You will love the “aquarium” like atmosphere at this seamount that ascends to 35 feet, with a light current surrounding it.   At one side, the Cayman Trench drops from 165 feet into the abyss below.  Huge schools of Horseeye Jack, Yellowtail Snappers, and Barracudas frequent this area.  The aquarium like atmosphere hosts thousands of brightly colored Tropical fish.  Enjoy!

3.2 Shore Diving

The diving and snorkeling off Utopia’s shore is one of the nicest sites in Utila. It has many ideal features that make it for an interesting dive.  A gradual descending beach makes for an easy entry on a calm day.   There is bedrock so using booties is a must.  The area is ideal for a multi-level dive due to the two descending shelfs.   Plenty of unique landmarks make the area easy to navigate.

The coral is plentiful, healthy, and vibrantly colored including several elkhorn coral and giant pillar corals.  There are several sea mounds at 120 feet spread out at the breaking point between the coral shelf and the sandy seabed.  These mounds run along the wall at a depth of 100-120 feet.   At the ridge of the wall in 12-20 feet is a sandy patch ideal for open water evaluations.

• Wetsuit boots or Booties are highly recommend due to the rocky entry.

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4.0 BOATS
U Dive offers a recently constructed custom dive boat that features the utmost comfort for divers.  The Miss “U” is 39 feet long and a beamy 13 feet allows a capacity of 26 divers with 52 tank racks.  She is equipped with a marine head, freshwater showers; two rinse tanks, ice coolers, a camera table and large diving platform with two ladders for easy entries and exits.  Ice water and fresh fruit are served after every dive.  Her engine is a 370 hp Yanmar diesel, a fast and dependable machine to take guests to the renowned North side in record time.

Plans to build the Miss “U II” will commence in late 2007 to meet the diving demands for Utopia Village in 2008.  A 22-foot rigid inflatable boat, that holds four to six divers, will also be added to the U Dive fleet.

Specifications
Name: Miss “U”
Length: 39 feet
Beam: 13.5 feet
Year Built: 2007
Engine: Yanmar diesel 370 hp marine engine

Electronics
VHF radio
FM radio, CD player and marine speakers
GPS with fish finder
Depth sounder
Compass
Two-way radios

Outfitted With

• Two Aluminum dive ladders
• Oversized dive platform and twin dive ladders
• Sun canopy
• DAN Oxygen Unit (Demand and Continuous Flow)
• First-aid kit
• Fresh water shower system with 215 gal. capacity
• Two Safety stop drop bars
• Two 15 foot spare regulators
• Large camera rinse tank
• Camera table
• Underwater recall system (air horn)
• Individual custom dive stations with extra elbow room and gear storage
• Semi-closed cabin, canopy top
• Side and rear entry points
• Marine head/toilet and changing room

All vessels have the following safety equipment on board:

1. USCG first aid kit
2. Life Vests / Floatation devices
3. Life sling
4. Emergency oxygen
5. Back board / stretcher
6. VHF communications set
7. Fire extinguishers
8. Emergency radio beacon
9. Horn
10. Navigation lights
11. Halogen floods
12. Docking lights
13. Strobe

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5.0 TRAINING

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6.1 EQUIPMENT RENTAL RATES

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7.0 GALLERY

Under Construction...

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8.0 Packages & Policies

Dive Policies
All divers must dive on the South Side Reefs as their first familiarization and orientation dive.
All divers are required to have a certification card.  See all acceptable Valid Certifications below for further details.
All divers are required to have dive insurance. U Dive is a DAN (Divers Alert Network) member and policies can be purchased online at

 http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/join/index.asp?RC=1844224

Divers with special needs should call the dive shop for further instructions.

Dive packages are not available to Junior Divers (ages 10 & 11 years old) and are limited to a depth of 40 feet.  Junior Divers may only dive Utopia’s afternoon one-tank dive.
Refresher Course Policy
Last dive was:

• One year ago-refresher course recommended
• Two to six years ago - U Dive mini-refresher course required
• Seven to nine years ago - U Dive full refresher course required

Please contact dive shop for assessment prior to booking your dives.

Junior Divers
Junior Divers (10-11 years old) are permitted to dive to a maximum depth of 40 feet and Junior Divers (12-14 years old) are permitted to dive to 60 feet deep with a PADI professional, parent or legal guardian.  Parents must provide a written statement authorizing a legal guardian.

Wetsuits
Generally, wetsuits are not needed during the summer months as the water temperature is approximately 85 degrees. Guests may chose to wear a 3mm wetsuit or dive skin during the winter months when the water tends to be a few degrees cooler.

Shuttle Service
Utopia Village provides complimentary transportation to and from shore dives for guests staying in the Utopia Village area.

Choosing a Dive Site
The dive boat captain will make every effort to reach requested dive sites. However, as there is a “first come, first served” policy for the moorings, sites cannot be pre-booked or guaranteed.  Weather is also a factor in selecting the appropriate dive site for the group.

View Dive Site Locations

Safety & Conservation
Utila’s recompression chamber is located in Utila Town at Bay Island College of Diving. Utopia Village and U Dive are members of the Utila Dive Safety & Environmental Council (UDSEC), an association that endorses safe diving practices and encourages environmental conservation among its members.  Divers are encouraged to stay above 100 feet and to avoid damaging the coral reef.  Utopia Village instructional prices include the $3/day Reef Fees.  The Utila Reef Fee contributes to the maintenance of dive site buoys and the availability of the Utila Hyperbaric Chamber.

Reef Care
UDSEC, together with local dive operators, make it their business to protect the natural beauty Utila has to offer.  The reef, which encircles the island, has taken centuries to develop and should be treated with respect.  Please be aware that a piece of coral that is broken off by a diver or snorkeler, whether intentional or not, only grows back at a rate of half-an-inch per year.

For the future enjoyment of everyone in The Bay Islands, residents and visitors must act responsibly.  Things to keep in mind while underwater:

• Avoid touching coral with any part of you body or equipment.
• Do not stand on or use coral to push off.
• Do not collect mementos or any marine life.
• Do not feed the fish harmful food.
• Molesting marine life is not acceptable.
• Observe and follow marine life at a safe distance.
• Treat the reef with respect and it will continue to be here for the next generations.

Dive Ratios
U Dive dive ratio is one Divemaster per ten certified divers on each guided dive.  We provide one instructor for every four Resort Course students.  U Dive does not allow divers to dive solo from our dive boats.  A Divemaster guides deep wall dives, shallow one-tank dives and buddy-team dives.

Dive Computer
U Dive welcomes dive computers aboard all of our dive boats. Computers  provide divers with more bottom time on their wall dives, however, we ask that you follow the following rules if you plan to dive with a computer:

• Each diver must have his, or her, own computer, fully operational BCD, regulator with octopus & console (depth & pressure) and timing device.
• Divers must be back on the boat with no less than 500 psi in their tank and back at the time announced by the Divemaster before each dive.
• Divers must stay within five minutes of the no-decompression limit.
• U Dive recommends a five-minute safety stop at 15 feet after each dive.
• Profiles will be recorded after each dive.

Valid Certifications
If your certification is listed below you may qualify to enroll in the PADI Adventure Diver and/or the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver courses.

• ACUC Open Water or Plongeur Scuba Eau Libre
• ANIS One Star Junior or One Star Diver
• AUSI Level 2 Diver
• BSAC Ocean Diver, Club Diver or Sport Diver
• CMAS One Star Diver
• FFESSM Niveau I
• FIAS Base Avanzato
• IDEA Open Water
• IDD Open Water Diver
• IDF Two Star Diver (with Alternate Air Source Ascent and 50 yard compass swim)
• NASDS Open Water
• NAUI Scuba Diver or Open Water One
• PDIC Open Water
• SAA Club Diver
• SSI Open Water Diver
• SNMP NICEAU (Level) 1
• SSAC 3rd Class Diver
• YMCA Bronze Star, Open Water or Scuba Diver

Other certifications may qualify for enrollment in the Adventures in Diving program.  To be considered, your certification must show proof of an entry-level scuba certification with a minimum of four open water-training dives.  Contact dive@utopiautila.com for further information.

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9.0 COMMUNITY

U Dive is committed to continued education and programs that help Utila maintain a healthy and active dive community.   U Dive is focused not only on providing the best equipment and staff in their facility, but also building an atmosphere that will both educate and foster the enjoyment of sharing underwater experiences.  The number one focus is the need to protect Utila’s most precious asset, the reef.  U Dive is a full voting member of UDSEC, the PADI International Resort Association, DAN, and Projects Aware.  Below we’ve provided excerpts from each of the organizations’ websites in which we are proudly associated.

Utila Dive Safety & Environmental Council- UDSEC

UDSEC was formed by a group of dive business owners who felt it was important to work together to ensure that a high level of dive safety and quality experiences is provided to Utila’s dive customers. UDSEC also sponsored projects that 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 has access to the government for assistance in protecting the resources of Utila as it grows and develops.

UDSEC Projects in Progress

Reef Regeneration

Utila is very lucky as our reefs are still in a very good and healthy condition and the members of UDSEC will strive to keep them in good condition by creating projects to this end.

A few UDSEC members are working together to help re-populate the Staghorn and Elkhorn Coral that has been so dramatically reduced in the Caribbean since approximately 1998. They have been working with specialists from other countries who have managed to breed these corals on nursery frames; once they have grown to a reasonable size they are then placed back on the reef to re-populate it.

Another method of regeneration we are experimenting with is reef balls. Reef balls are large concrete structures with holes made in them; they will be placed in specific areas to create fish habitats and artificial foundations for new reef growth.

Dive Buoys
The dive buoys around the island, approximately 80 at the moment, are paid for and maintained by UDSEC, this is an ongoing job with the need for all buoys to be serviced, repaired and new ones placed. The buoys are an important part of protecting the reef in that they provide safe mooring for the dive boats and also get rid of the need to use anchors that break delicate reef structure.

Whale Sharks
All members of the council are totally committed to the welfare of the Whale Shark, a common visitor to the waters around Utila. Rules of encounter with the Whale Sharks have been agreed and introduced on all dive boats on Utila.

On Land
UDSEC has been funding the local Tourist police force on the island, these police are friendly locals who are there to help tourists during the evening hours.
UDSEC are involved in an ongoing project of keeping the environment clean, with continual beach cleanups.
Other projects
UDSEC is looking at Rubbish Disposal, plastic recycling and fish breeding programs. A new idea being explored at the moment is special mats that will be placed in all boat bilges to reduce oil contamination the waters around Utila.

Check out www.udsec.com

Professional Association of Diving Instructors- PADI

PADI is the world’s largest recreational diving membership organization.

PADI exists to develop programs that encourage and fulfill the public interest in recreational scuba and snorkel diving worldwide.

In all that they do, PADI strives to achieve the commitment to preserving the aquatic environment for future growth.

PADI is committed to the protection of underwater cultural heritage for future generations of divers and non-divers alike.

Check out www.padi.com

 


PADI International Resort Association - PIRA

Dive Resort Operator
As a Dive Resort Operator, Utopia Village and U Dive cater to recreational scuba and snorkelers. U Dive offers activities such as recreational scuba and snorkeling instruction, Discover Scuba Diving experiences, guided dives and snorkeling excursions from the shore or a boat, and dive equipment rentals.

About Project AWARE Foundation

Our Mission
Project AWARE Foundation conserves underwater environmentsthrough education, advocacy and action.

Who We Are
Project AWARE Foundation is the dive industry's leading nonprofit environmental organization. Offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Switzerland and Japan combine efforts to protect aquatic resources in 175 countries around the world.

What We Do
Project AWARE Foundation works in partnership with divers and water enthusiasts to combat challenges facing underwater environments. We involve these volunteers in hands-on environmental activities like International Cleanup Day and The International Whale Shark Project. Project AWARE also inspires conservation by incorporating its messages in dive training materials as well as creating awareness and education campaigns like Protect the Sharks, Protect the Living Reef and AWARE Kids. The Foundation Grant Program funds grass-roots environmental projects that address key foundation focus areas, volunteer-supported community activism and critical research with direct contributions made by people like you.

Check out www.projectaware.org

About DAN

Divers Alert Network (DAN) is a 501(c) (3) non-profit medical and research organization dedicated to the safety and health of recreational scuba divers and associated with Duke University Medical Center (DUMC). DAN is supported by the largest association of recreational divers in the world.

Founded in 1980, DAN has served as a lifeline for the scuba industry by operating diving's only 24-hour emergency hotline, a lifesaving service for injured divers. Additionally, DAN operates a diving medical information line, conducts vital diving medical research, and develops and provides a number of educational programs for everyone from beginning divers to medical professionals.

Divers Alert Network is supported by membership dues and donations. In return, members receive a number of important benefits including $100,000 emergency medical evacuation assistance, DAN educational publications, a subscription to Alert Diver magazine, and access to diving's first and foremost accident insurance coverage.

Join DAN Today!

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