Utila

Utila Aggressor, Bay Islands, Honduras,

March 15-22, 2008

1 Spot Left

This is the prime season for whale sharks. We will be here the week of the full moon, maximizing our chances of whale shark encounters. We fly directly to San Pedro Sula, Honduras’ mainland, from Miami and continue by charter plane to Utila, where we board the boat for 7 nights 5 ½ day of diving. We typically dive Hog Island, Coco’s Sea mounts, Roatan, Utila – including the wild side, some wrecks, etc. High likelihood of seeing Whale sharks …

Utila Aggressor:

Five “Deluxe” staterooms with double and single berths, lavatory, and private head and shower. (at this time all our spots are this type)

One “Quad” stateroom with four single berths, and private head and shower.

Salon with entertainment center, personal computer station and e-mail service.

Partially covered sun deck with wet bar, hot tub, ice machine, bar-b-que grill, and chaise lounges.

Full-service galley with freezer and refrigerator storage

Sample Itinerary:

Sunday: Cayos Cochinos, also known as the Hog Islands. All dives are conveniently made from the swim platform of the mothership. A skiff is available for any shore excursions. Most guests enjoy up to five dives each day. Night dives are offered.

Monday & Tuesday: The journey continues north with a stop at the remote Coco’s Sea Mounts. Later, divers sample Roatan’s southwest and west end sites.

Wednesday & Thursday: After diving Roatan’s Taviana, Dolphin Caves and Wreck of the Aguila, the Aggressor heads west to Utila.

Friday: The final dives of the week are Friday morning at Blackish Point, on the northern tip of Utila. 1:00 p.m., the boat docks at Utila Watersports. Later that evening, the crew hosts a 6:00 p.m. cocktail party. Dinner is not served onboard the Aggressor.

Dive Sites:

Cayos Cochinos (Hog Islands) – Cayos Cochinos is made up of a group of 65 cays that stretches over 10 miles. There is a variety of diving which includes walls, pillars, different species of hard and soft corals, and many different species of fish.

Coco’s Sea Mounts - Coco’s beauty is in the mix of coral and good visibility that divers always enjoy.

Mary’s Place – One of the most famous dive sites off of the south side of Roatan, Mary’s Place has a lush reef with crevasses and tunnels running through it that provide great photo opportunities.

Taviana’s Wall - Lots of turtles are here and this site makes a great night dive with octopus, crabs and lobsters.

Wreck of the Aguila- This 8-year-old wreck is home to 15 - 20 large Groupers and a big blue Parrot Fish, as well as a big green Moray Eel that is always willing to come out and play.

Black Hills – A favorite among all divers, you can count on seeing schools of Creole Wrasse, Atlantic Spadefish, Horse-eye Jack and Southern Sennets at this seamount, along with Scorpion-fish, Toadfish and the rare Frog Fish. A resident turtle appears unafraid of divers, as do the Barracuda. Large pelagic fish can be spotted here, such as Manta Rays, Marlin, and sharks including the big boy himself – the Whale Shark!

Duppy Waters – A coral garden begins beneath the boat at 20 feet, with walls sloping off into the blue. Eagle Rays, stingrays, octopus and schools of Creole Wrasse and Blue Tang are in abundance.

CJ’s Drop-off - This is one for the deep-dive enthusiast. Spiny Caribbean Lobster, Golden Tail Moray and schools of Jack are plentiful.

Raggedy Cay – This popular site begins at 30 feet and falls away to 140 feet, with Majestic Eagle Rays swooping by and Hawksbill Turtles munching away on soft corals. Octopus can be found around the sand channels along the coral garden as well as Spotted Morays.

Old Bank – This is a very nice shallow dive site, where the rare Elkhorn Coral flourishes and smaller critters, like the Fringed Filefish and Caribbean Reef Squid, can be seen along the walls. In the sandy areas, the allusive Yellowhead Jawfish can be spotted peering out of its hole.

Cannery Bank – Here’s a prime opportunity to witness large pelagic fish that roam the open waters. There are logs of vibrant color on the mounts, beginning at 25 feet and sloping to 110 feet.

Jack Neil Point – Sand, walls and individual coral heads make this a must dive. Long-snout Seahorse, Large-eye Toadfish, Flying Gurnards, and octopus make this one of the area’s best night dives.

Halliburton Wreck – Sunk in 1998 for diving purposes, this artificial reef begins at 65 feet with the wheelhouse and continues down to the vessel bottom at 100 feet. Green Morays, Spotted Drum, Yellowline Arrow Crabs, Channel Clinging Crabs and Bearded Fire Worms are usually seen on this exceptional deep dive, as well as the occasional Porcupine Fish and Pipefish.

Hawksbill Bank – The Utila Aggressor is the only visitor to this seamount beginning at 40 feet and sloping down to 80 feet. Bluebell tunicates are in abundance, and the rare Fingerprints can also to be found. A resident hawksbill turtle gives the site its name.

UTILA DIVING CONDITIONS:

Water that averages 78 - 80°F; some sort of protection is needed. A 1/8” (3mm) wet suit or shorty is recommended. All diving is directly from the mothership.

For more information:

Check out the boats website: http://www.aggressor.com/subpage14.php

INCLUDED: TIP; Airport Transfers; PORT/ Marine Park fee - $95.00; FUEL SURCHARGE - $100 ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE TAXES: $30.00. All meals and snacks (except Friday dinner)

NOT INCLUDED: Airfare – $300 (see below) and Nitrox $100

Price: $2500; Deposit $200

Payments: Aug-Nov & Jan-Feb $350; Dec $200

UPDATE: Recommended Airfare:

Spirit: from Ft. Lauderdale does not arrive or depart at times compatible with our trip. Other options are TACA, AA or Continental from MIA. At this I will buy the ticket for you unless you prefer to do it yourself.

Currently signed up: Eunice H, Chary L, Nils, Mary L, Larry L, Bernie M, Patrice M, Rob M

 

Any questions to:

Trip Lead/ VP of Overseas travel
Nils Jacobsen
TGM349@email.mot.com