Just back from 2 weeks at Deep Blue Utila. This was our first time there, but definitely not our last. Shirley, Steve and Susan were fantastic hosts, entertaining, informative and a joy to be around. They became more friends than hosts!

Now to the diving! This a diving resort, so if you are a diver you will love it. Small and individually catered to each divers experience and comfort level. We spent our first three days with Matt, who is fantastic ( then he went on holiday). The remainder of our time was with ZAB (Izabelle). We could not have asked for a better dive master. She is very enthusiatic, informative and loved to pick out and show you all the small and unusual aquatic life. I was a very timid diver (wife) when I arrived at Deep Blue, but after spending time diving with ZAB, my confidence and ability improved immensley with her help and suggestions.

Swin, the boat captin, just loves to find Whale Sharks and he did not disappoint! His knowledge of Utila and the surrounding oceans is like having a living encyclopedia on board with you. Great meeting you Swin and hope to be on your boat again soon.

Our rooms were very clean and comfortable. The cleaning staff came everyday to make sure we had clean towels, and that our bed was made and the rooms swept. If we requested no service (which we did one day), they were not offended. We did not worry about our valuables being taken or our belongings being disturbed.

As for the meals, there was always plenty to eat (sometimes too much, (they offer small portions and a vegetarian menu). Everything was delicious and Susan provide a variety on the menu. Three course meals followed by some of the most delicious desserts we've ever had.

Personal experience (husband)--has traveled throughout the Caribbean over the last 13 years diving and found the waters of Utila to be among the best. Very interesting topography and a good variety of aquatic life. We saw Eagle Rays, Manta Rays, Lesser Electric Ray and Stingrays, along with Turtles, Whale Sharks, Dolphins and Pilot Whales(this was just the large stuff)!

Only down side, --be prepare for the bugs-- not unusal for the Tropics-- won't stop us from going back.

I recently returned from my 6th stay at Deep Blue Resort on Utila. What a great trip. I stayed for two weeks this time. I travel extensively in the Carib and this is one of the places that I return to year after year. The resort is a very comfortable place to relax and unwind. The diving is getting better with each visit. Unlike many of the Caribbean dive locations where there is noticeable degradation to the reefs, Utila acutally seems to be recovering somewhat. There was a noticeable increase in growth of staghorn coral and I did not see as much algae as in other locations.

Of course the highlight of this trip was the numerous sightings of Whale Sharks. We got to smim with them 7 times while I was there. Any experienced diver knows that there is no guarentee of seeing whale sharks on a dive trip. After all the sharks do not work for the resort :-) but it is always a thrill when you do get a chance to be in the water with one.

As always the staff at Deep Blue were warm and friendly. They take excellent care of their guests and unlike other resorts that I have stayed at where you really feel like you need a vault to keep your valuables in, I have never felt like I needed to worry. That is not to say that you should not use common sense but I have never felt like it was an issue.

The Dive Masters are awesome. I am impressed by how protective they are of the reef system. Making sure that the groups of divers that they are leading are not damaging the reef. I have been to other locations where the divers are laying on the reef or kicking the coral. If more operations where like this one, maybe the health of the reefs throughout the carib would be in better condition.

I am looking foward to my next trip already.

We recently made a trip to Utila and stayed at Deep Blue Utila Resort. First, let us say that the resort, itself, was great. Clean rooms, groomed grounds, and great food. Beautiful beach, free shore diving and being with friends we haven't seen since last August. We think that's where the good parts end.

Boy, how disappointing, to say the least. Let's start with their "wonderful" dive master, Zab. It was right after our first dive, on the first day, she saw something she didn't like. Some of the divers were crowding in on a sea horse. Well, let me tell you...when we got back on the boat , she started screeching and screaming at us, AND she used foul language. Telling us we were killing thousands of little animals and that by the end of the week, we were going to learn to dive in a group or else she was throwing us all off the boat. She claimed it was HER reef and we would dive it the way SHE wanted us to. Now, we are all in favor of diving correctly and saving the reef and all of us were experienced divers. We guess she doesn't know that there is a professional way of discussing problems with her divers. All she knew was to start in with her tirade that lasted several minutes. In all our years of diving, we have never been talked to the way Zab talked to us. We were there with friends and we know for sure that the 4 of us designated to the owner that she get none of the tip that we designated for the dive masters and crew. The others were were great, but none of them stood up to her about the way she was treating paying guests. After that first dive, I was ready to get on a plane and go home!

Then, our dive light was stolen from the room. Our friends lost $500 worth of pesos from their room. We did get our light back, but not before we were told it was in there somewhere and we just couldn't find it. We tore the room apart 5 times, and no dive light. I reported it, but "the girls" knew nothing about it. Meanwhile, everytime we had the opportunity to look for it in our room, it WASN'T there. We took everything out of draws, looked under the bed about 5 times, looked through our empty luggage, and it wasn't there. Finally, the owner sent "the girls" to rummage through all our belongings, while we were diving. and what do ya know?!?!? They claimed they found the light in one of the draws that we must have emptied 5 times. We were really glad they rummaged through all my belongings (cough, cough). I have just never heard of such a thing. We're sure at other places, we've stayed, 'the girls' looked through our things, but to be told that they were instructed to do this horrified us. The bottom line was, the owner's common law wife told us it was in our room the whole time.

All our friends had to do was report their pesos missing, luckily the afternoon before we left, so they didn't get the 'must be in your room, you just can't see it' treatment. When they got home and didn't find it in any of their luggage, the owner sent them a check for $500. I am very glad they were reimbursed, but not thrilled that our ability to find a silly light, in our room, was called into question.

We would NEVER recommend any of our friends to go there. We were NOT happy with the way we were treated. By the way, the owner said that no one was ever robbed before and he didn't respond to our comment of didn't he think it was more than a coincident that it happened in 2 different rooms, in the same week?

To say the VERY least, we will never go to that resort, again, and for that matter never go to Utila, again, either. No whale sharks seen and the rest of the diving was so-so. Oh...did we say we both have about 350 Caribbean dives under our belts? It's not like we're newbies. If you go and stay there, good luck! Hope nothing like this happens to you!

What a great week! Shirley arranged our travel from Roatan in a 3 seater and greeted us at the Utila airport. After a quick run through town in a pickup truck, we got on a boat to the resort. Our bags were taken to the room while Susan and Steve gave us the resort orientation over a couple cocktails. That night at dinner we got to meet the other guests. The food was much better than we imagined. Breakfast buffet with plenty of protein, carbs, and fresh fruits, lunch buffet was different and delious every day, The 3 course dinner was always customized to menus Susan handed out at breakfast, Susan made every effort to accomodate special preferences. The fish was a favorite (prepared a variety of ways...garlic butter, coconut milk), tacos were wonderful, and you must try Steve's soups, especially the Orange & Ginger soup.

Diving started out slowly with the bouyancy check on a sand flat, but Matt knows how to point out little things most would not notice. From nudibranchs half the size of a rice grain, to immaculate flounders as small as 3", Matt doesn't miss anything.

The next day we ventured to the north side in hopes of seeing whale sharks before the first dive. No such luck, so we did the first dive. During our surface interval, Swin, the boat captain, exhibited his skills at finding tuna boils, whale sharks, and positioning the boat precisely where we could jump in and see the whale sharks.

The rest of the week was of a pattern of good food, good diving, informative (whale shark) talks in the evening, and visiting with the staff and other guests. The guest common area has plenty of room to spread out; computers, pool table, darts, and a library. We brought our own playing cards, but some are provided. Deck entertainment during the day are the constant hummingbirds at the feeders; at night it's the fruit bats.

Plenty fresh bottled drinking water, ice tea (sweet & unsweet), coffee are available 24 hrs a day, as well as ice (for Americans). The tap water is only for bathing.

We did a day trip into town on Tuesday (there are no afternoon dives on Tues & Thurs, when night dives are offered). Prices are good to pick up crafts, souvenirs, or an extra bottle of wine.

The main attraction in Utila is diving, although our neighbor enjoyed walks on the beach. Pay attention to Deep Blue's what to bring list, especially bug spray and sunscreen.

Thank you Susan, Steve, & Shirley

B&B 3/21-28