Whale Shark diving in Honduras
| country: | Honduras |
| departures: | We offer accommodation & scuba diving courses year round but Whale shark sightings are best during Feb, Mar, Apr. Standard rates (Jan, Jul, Nov, Dec), low season (Aug-Oct), high season (Feb, May, Jun), peak season (Mar, Apr) |
| price: | From US $850 - US $1595 (8 days) per diver and US $750 - US $1495 per non-diver excluding flights, 16% tax, and diver reef tax (US $4 per day). Additional charges apply for courses. Please contact us to discuss |
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the amazing things you'll be doing
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, but are most prevalent during Feb, Mar & Apr.
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.
Who is running this project? The Utila Whale Shark Research Project is managed locally by the staff at our Dive Centre, and data is collected from visiting divers and snorkellers and from local fishermen. Data from the project is entered into the ECOCEAN Whale Shark Photo-identification Library where it can be accessed by researchers all over the world. Using the ECOCEAN Library ensures that collected data is available locally and globally, and the open and visible nature of the database and its built-in email system ensure that contributors are informed of how their data is being used.
Because we use safe, non-invasive photo-identification, the Utila Whale Shark Research Project allows anyone visiting Utila or another Caribbean dive site to collect whale shark data. From the photographs, these spots are mapped into a database and pattern-recognition software scans for matches to previously identified animals. This data can be collected from a safe distance and without any harm to the shark. More importantly, photo-identification data is valuable far beyond the very limited timeframe of conventional plastic tagging. The data you collect will help build "life histories" for each animal, and with an estimated life span of 60+ years, your data will have a long-term impact on global whale shark research and conservation.
We give talks every evening with the Marine biologists & Whale Shark specialists. The photos are downloaded and studied, and if good enough the information is submitted to www.Ecocean.org for spot pattern matching. Within an hour, the guests will know whether they have spotted a 'known' Whale Shark or one that has not been seen before.
You will be staying in our 5 Star Gold Palm PADI Resort surrounded by coconut palms, fruit trees, wildlife & wild orchids. Each of our 10 spacious, air conditioned deluxe rooms have large private balconies overlooking our own white sandy beach and the crystal waters of the Caribbean. Our guests have unlimited shore diving night or day on 3 of the best south side dive sites.
Scuba diving on Utila is rich and varied with more than 70 buoyed sites. The North side has the 2nd largest barrier reef in the world with sheer walls dropping to over 1,000m!
The South side of Utila consists mainly of shallow fringing reefs, the top of the reef at around 5m dropping down to between 30 & 40m. And of course during the surface intervals the whale shark search is on!
Prices quoted include: Ocean front accommodation, air conditioning & fans in all rooms, refrigerator in each room, welcome cocktail & resort orientation, breakfast, lunch buffet & full service 3 course dinner, drinking water, iced tea, hot tea/coffee, unlimited snorkelling & internet access. Divers benefit from unlimited shore diving, 3 boat dives daily inclusive of 2 night dives, tanks, belts & weights and a buoyancy control workshop to help protect our reefs. Diving & snorkelling equipment & wetsuits etc. for rent.
Our Dive School: Our dive school can be found in the center of Utila town with the best scuba diving prices in the world. However, cheap prices do not mean reduced quality or service, and we pride ourselves on the quality of our equipment, the enthusiasm of our staff and the professionalism of the services we provide. We offer PADI Scuba Diving Courses, PADI Specialty Courses, DSAT Technical Courses, PADI Instructor Development Courses, and plenty of opportunities for fun dives for the certified diver.
Please contact us for course details & prices.
By boat: Ferries go from La Ceiba to Utila. We can help you arrange this.
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.
Who is running this project? The Utila Whale Shark Research Project is managed locally by the staff at our Dive Centre, and data is collected from visiting divers and snorkellers and from local fishermen. Data from the project is entered into the ECOCEAN Whale Shark Photo-identification Library where it can be accessed by researchers all over the world. Using the ECOCEAN Library ensures that collected data is available locally and globally, and the open and visible nature of the database and its built-in email system ensure that contributors are informed of how their data is being used.
a day in the life of a volunteer
In our Whale Shark research period we encourage guests to become involved in our research. At 8.15am the researchers' boat leaves for areas frequented by Whale Sharks and the guests' dive boat heads in the same direction. With the help of guests, we combine GPS readings with depth readings to enable us to map the underwater topography, conduct plankton sampling, and monitor water temperature. Guests will go for a dive until the researchers' fast boat has located Whale Sharks, at which point the guests are notified so they can swim with the Whale Sharks & take photos.Because we use safe, non-invasive photo-identification, the Utila Whale Shark Research Project allows anyone visiting Utila or another Caribbean dive site to collect whale shark data. From the photographs, these spots are mapped into a database and pattern-recognition software scans for matches to previously identified animals. This data can be collected from a safe distance and without any harm to the shark. More importantly, photo-identification data is valuable far beyond the very limited timeframe of conventional plastic tagging. The data you collect will help build "life histories" for each animal, and with an estimated life span of 60+ years, your data will have a long-term impact on global whale shark research and conservation.
We give talks every evening with the Marine biologists & Whale Shark specialists. The photos are downloaded and studied, and if good enough the information is submitted to www.Ecocean.org for spot pattern matching. Within an hour, the guests will know whether they have spotted a 'known' Whale Shark or one that has not been seen before.
scuba diving & accommodation
You will be staying in our 5 Star Gold Palm PADI Resort surrounded by coconut palms, fruit trees, wildlife & wild orchids. Each of our 10 spacious, air conditioned deluxe rooms have large private balconies overlooking our own white sandy beach and the crystal waters of the Caribbean. Our guests have unlimited shore diving night or day on 3 of the best south side dive sites. Scuba diving on Utila is rich and varied with more than 70 buoyed sites. The North side has the 2nd largest barrier reef in the world with sheer walls dropping to over 1,000m!
The South side of Utila consists mainly of shallow fringing reefs, the top of the reef at around 5m dropping down to between 30 & 40m. And of course during the surface intervals the whale shark search is on!
Prices quoted include: Ocean front accommodation, air conditioning & fans in all rooms, refrigerator in each room, welcome cocktail & resort orientation, breakfast, lunch buffet & full service 3 course dinner, drinking water, iced tea, hot tea/coffee, unlimited snorkelling & internet access. Divers benefit from unlimited shore diving, 3 boat dives daily inclusive of 2 night dives, tanks, belts & weights and a buoyancy control workshop to help protect our reefs. Diving & snorkelling equipment & wetsuits etc. for rent.
Our Dive School: Our dive school can be found in the center of Utila town with the best scuba diving prices in the world. However, cheap prices do not mean reduced quality or service, and we pride ourselves on the quality of our equipment, the enthusiasm of our staff and the professionalism of the services we provide. We offer PADI Scuba Diving Courses, PADI Specialty Courses, DSAT Technical Courses, PADI Instructor Development Courses, and plenty of opportunities for fun dives for the certified diver. Please contact us for course details & prices.
how to find us
By air: The main airlines that fly to Honduras are Continental Airlines, American Airlines, TACA and Delta Airlines. If you are from Europe you will probably have to spend a night in the USA at either Miami or Houston. You need to fly to San Pedro Sula (Honduran mainland) or Roatan (the next island) and we can arrange internal flights at no extra cost by commercial or private plane.By boat: Ferries go from La Ceiba to Utila. We can help you arrange this.
travellers' tales
The highlight was seeing Whale Sharks even though it was very brief encounter. (more)
how this holiday makes a difference
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We believe that it is our responsibility to put back into the oceans as much as we can. We run our Whale Shark Research project in conjunction with 23 other countries through a non profit organisation called www.Ecocean.com. We fly in a specialist to conduct the project during one month every year. All profits are put back into Whale Shark research, and evening talks are organised for interested guests.
We are committed to utilizing the best technologies and methodologies available while maintaining complete transparency and maximum safety, both for researchers and for the whale sharks, in data collection. Our objective is to make our project's results available for local conservation efforts and to ensure their validity through peer review and publication.  We are one of the founders of UDSEC (Utila Dive Safety and Environmental Commission) and fund everything from tourist police to reef protection & laying dive buoys. We are also heavily involved with coral regeneration, conch and Long spine Urchin project and protection of Grouper spawning grounds. We also work closely with also work closely with 'reef' organising for members to come to Utila to conduct fish counts. This is all done in conjunction with a Marine Biologist that we have employed, who has already been rewarded with grants from Project Aware for his work. We aim to show all divers not only the beauty of the undersea world but also how fragile it is and what everyone can do to help. In the Resort, we only serve sustainable fish in our restaurant and provide guests with one bottle of water for personal use that can be refilled 24 hours a day from a main filling station in an attempt to cut down on plastic used. At all other times we supply water for guests (on the boats, in their rooms, and at meals). For divers, we offer a free buoyancy clinic to help reduce accidental reef damage, and during our Whale Shark season we limit our guests to a maximum of 12 people so we can cut down on any disruption to Whale Shark feeding. We have 'encounter guidelines' on the island that also help with this and plenty of educational resources (books, DVDs etc.) for guests to learn about the species they have seen and any issues affecting their survival. We also encourage the local people to find employment outside of historical (and unsustainable) areas such as fishing, and since we have been on the island we have seen a move into tourism. |
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