Hail Canada and Hail tall Canadians. Last week was the first week since we've opened Utopia where we had all Canadian guests. Must be mighty cold up North as we have more of our “friendly neighbors to the North” staying with us again this week. Quebec, Ontario and Alberta were represented and let me tell you, they grow em' tall in Ontario. We had some rough weather mid week, but their diving was book ended with sunny days and calm seas. They had a day with a large pod of dolphins who playfully stuck around during their dives. Dolphins bring good luck so this may be the week for our elusive whale sharks to make their presence known. Happy day from Utopia, we’re holding a hammock for you.

Just another day in Paradise. Enfield Scuba, Enfield, CT. We loved this group!

We aim to please at Utopia. You want romance for Valentine's Day, we provide. I don't about you, but this does it for me (am i that simple!). Happy Valentine's Day from Utopia. We're holding a hammock for you.

Super Bowl sunday, island style. Go Saints! We were able to pick up the game on our satellite, so all were happy post dives and post sun!

Quite an adventurous week with a resort full of divers from Enfield Scuba, Enfield CT, one token couple from Oregon and Honeymooners from Toronto who wed on Roatan last week. The Enfield group was large enough that they booked back to back weeks to accommodate all their divers for this Honduran excursion. The second half arrived yesterday for a week, leaving snow packed streets in their rear view mirrors. They were happily greeted with sunshine and 85 degrees yesterday (we always aim to please, although Mom Nature had a hand in that one). Really delightful group, with much entertainment from several "colorful"
Enfield characters at the champa bar in the evenings. No whale shark sightings yet, although we're holding high hopes for this week as the seas are calm. Step away from the cold, come see us at Utopia!

View of the full "wolf" moon last night at Utopia. SPECTACULAR! We're holding a hammock for you!

Hello everyone.  Check out our newest Utopia Video by Liquid Assets TV.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPv_eJX-tAE

2010 seems to have brought new light to the Honduran tourism industry. Our little island is flourishing once again. The past 6 months have been tough economically on many businesses, but this week everyone has noticed many new faces in town and a surge of flights and a full daily ferry from the Mainland. The good times are back for our country. I, personally, am very proud that Honduras held strong to their democratic values and have weathered the political storm and world scrutiny over the past year. We are stronger and better than before! We've had an enjoyable week with new diving friends from Alaska, Wisconsin and Oregon. Many of our "neighbors" are also back on the island and have joined us for happy hours and dinners at our Dulce Vida restaurant. Underwater visibility has been excellent this week with many happy divers and a wide variety of underwater sightings. Our Alaskan couple was thrilled with the Octopus encounter during their night, shore dive . The whale sharks have been elusive thus far, perhaps they are waiting on YOU to get here. Attached are some photos from this week. All you snowbirds out there, we're holding a hammock for you. 85 and sunny today!

Utila Voted One Of Best 

Wall Dives In The Caribbean

By Scuba Divers Magazine 2009 Top 100 

Readers Choice Survey

Off the southern shore of Utila, an underwater mountain rises from the seafloor, stopping just 35 feet short of breaking the surface and becoming an island. Drop down deep over the side of the seamount at Black Hills to start your dive and then work your way around and back toward the top. Another recommended site is Duppy Waters on the eastern edge of Turtle Harbor, where enormous barrel sponges sprout from the beautiful reef. Utila is still at the top of the list of Caribbean whale shark hot spots. The biggest fish in the sea congregate around the banks north of the island and may be encountered year-round, though the sightings occur most dependably March through May, and August through October.

-Excerpt from above link from Scuba Diving Magazine online January 2010

Read more at http: //www.scubadiving.com/travel/

caribbean-atlantic/bay-islands-honduras

Texas Dive Show Specials

2010 Whale Shark

High Season Special

Selected Weeks Available in February, March & April

“Dang! Thats bigger than a long horn”

$1380 + tax

• Utopia’s boat captain is very versed in spotting Whale Sharks

in Utila waters. Although we cannot guarantee a sighting,

chances during this time of year have been most favorable!

• Includes Whale Shark lecture by knowledgeable research

scientist.

* 7 to 1 comp policy for groups:

Book 7 dive packages and get one absolutely free!

Summer S.M.A.S.H.

(Send Me on A

Special Holiday)

$799 + tax Non-Diver Package

$999 + tax Diver Package

• Valid May-Sept 2010

• Must book by April 30, 2010

* 9 to 1 comp policy for groups:

Book 9 dive packages and get one absolutely free!

All Packages include seven-nights ocean-view accommodations and three gourmet meals daily. Dive package includes five days of two-tank boat dives, one night dive and unlimited complimentary shore diving on our amazing house reef.

Conditions for all specials:

Based per person-double occupancy; Based on availability; Fully commissionable to travel agents; Does not apply to previous bookings; Deposit and balance per Utopia booking policies; Does not include airfare; Get travel info, inclusions, exclusions and booking policies on our website.

The Utopia Marketing team will be attending the Texas Dive Show in Allen Texas February 13th. Come on down and say hello to Pete, Phil, Cathy and Angelika. Angelika recently moved back from Utila to get to know our clients in person. She is looking forward to sharing the island experiences and answering dive questions at the show.

Utila has over 99% of the marine life found in the Caribbean. From delicate bluebell tunicates to the world’s largest fish, the Whale Shark, the diverse underwater terrain around Utila is spectacular!

Check out our show specials and hopefully we will see you there!

Hello from Utopia on Utila. I've spent the psst month visiting friends and family in Texas and Kansas, arriving back on the island yesterday. I left Kansas with snow still on the ground, today nothing but sunshine and warmth. The weather is gorgeous. Our rainy season on the island is behind us, the attached photo taken this morning is what you can expect for months to come on Utila. Spring is a glorious time to be here in Honduras. Take a break from the cold and join us for some diving and relazation. We're holding a hammock for you.

Christmas came a day early for our divers. On the eve of Christmas, Utopia divers were given a gift, whale sharks! Although the gentle giants reside in our waters year round, it is not every day that our guests get to a chance to swim with whale sharks. They estimated the sharks to be approximately 35 feet in length. It was an amazing day for all. Happy Holidays and may 2010 bring global peace and a world without war. Happy New Year, we're holding a hammock for you.

12/8/09 Representatives for Honduras tourism announced this morning that the U.S. canceled all pending travel alerts to Honduras yesterday. The Department of State issued a travel alert in July, stating “The Department of State alerts U.S. citizens to the current unstable political and security situation in Honduras, and recommends that American citizens defer all non-essential travel to Honduras until further notice.”

The alert was issued shortly after Honduran military ousted President Manuel Zelaya and sent him out of the country. However, on November 29, the Honduran people peacefully elected their new president – Porfirio “Pepe” Lobo, who will take office on January 27. The United States and other countries have already expressed their recognition of President-Elect Lobo. Wholesalers have looked to the elections as a positive sign and are once again aggressively selling the destination.

It's a new dawn for Honduras. Last Sunday, Hondurans elected their new leader, President Porfirio Lobo of the National Party. We all look forward to a new beginning and emerging as a stronger, unified nation. Viva Honduras, viva Democracy.

Our multi-talented dive staff below, week of November 7, 2009.

Juan Carlos "JUCA" Utopia's manager of dive operations and latin rock star. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiqS7ZEzEFA

Roi Krispin, Utopia DM.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2mInuOhMZU

We'd love to host you and a friend at Utopia Village in 2010. Enter to win a week for 2 at the website below. Happy day.

http://intothedrink.tv/utopia/

Thank you Hurricane Ida for fizzling out and turning NE just in time for our dive group from the Boston area "Mass Diving" (and one token Texan's) safe and dry arrival. We had a great week of diving, waters were calm and visibility surprizingly good following Miss Ida's appearance earlier in the week. Our divers ranged in age from 13 to 75 yrs. I tell you, I'd be perfectly satisfied in life with half the energy of our wonderful new friend Pam who is 75 years young. Her positive spirit and youthfulness was contagious. We had some night time entertainment from some of our own. To the delight of our guests, Roi (DM) fire danced several evenings and our one and only "Juca" aka Elvis, strummed his guitar to his latin beat ....... and threw in a Presley medley for good measure and in step with his reputation. Juca is Elvis! Truly enjoyable week. The Honduran political mess seems to be finally behind us ....... we're holding a hammock for you!

Utopia Free trip Winner September 2009

The Utopia Team wants congratulate Cathy Whitlock from Houston, Texas our September FREE DIVE TRIP winner!   
Thanks to everyone that entered the first "Free Trip" contest on www.utopiautila.com.

Enter below to win a free trip to be announced February 2010.
http://www.utopiadivevillage.com/contact/free-trip-9-01-09.php

--
Angelika C. Lukacsy
President & Director of Business Development
Utopia Village
Calle de Suenos
The Bay Islands, Utila
Honduras, C.A.
Www.utopiautila.com
Honduras cell: 504-3-310-5224

Rated #1 Hotel on Utila by Trip Advisor!!
“Only resort on Utila to be the Recipient of the Honduran Environmental Permit”

While The Bay Islands are certainly feeling the drop in tourism due to the Honduran political "situation", Utopia hosted guests in July and August from a nice geographical mix. We had guests from England, Canada, Florida, Tennessee, Oregon, Mass., Texas, Illinois and D.C., to name a few. I've attached several photos of our new friends. Please continue to pass the word that Honduras is safe to travel, particularly The Bay Islands. Our country is struggling financially due to the termination of international aid and the loss of tourism. Please help support democracy by visiting Honduras and think of us for your next dive getaway. We are running some great specials. Happy day!