Call us on regular phone In the USA (broadband) 305 420 5959 From the USA to Honduras 011 504 4253326 (cell phone) 011 504 33732521 In the UK (broadband) 0203 3719488 From the UK to Honduras 00 504 425 3326 (mobile phone) 00 504 33732521
PADI Divemaster, Instructor course and IDC, News from Utila, Honduras and Central America!
GoPro Utila-PADI Divemaster, Scuba Instructor course and PADI IDC courses with a difference!
Another 100% pass rate....Congratulations to our new PADI Scuba Instructors after our February PADI IDC and Instructor exams, and to excelling Utila Dive Centre!!!!
Congratulations to our new PADI Instructors, to starting 2010 on the best note ever and to the beginning of an amazing lifestyle!!!
These photos taken with our candidates from Utila Dive Centre and all our Staff, show our candidates in 2010 celebrating their success at the completion of the exams with our dedicated personalised scuba instruction. Our PADI Course Directors Andy Phillips and Angel Navarro, with IDC Staff Instructors Suzy Phipps, Frank Gutierrez and Dick Walker, excelled in preparing our candidates who came from afar as the UK, Australia, Canada, Ireland, Guatemala, Ecuador, Chile, and locally Honduras, and seeing them through one of the best chapters in their dive careers. Our candidates are now preparing to work in the local dive industry throughout Utila, Roatan, Mexico, Costa Rica and elsewhere in Central America and the Caribbean this month with a job placement service and many will be going on to complete their 'Master Scuba Diver Trainer' scuba Internships and 'Beautiful Oceans' Science Instructor ratings before embarking on jobs within the region. To date in 2010 and also in 2009 more Instructor candidates have chosen UDC as the Premier PADI Career Development Center in Central America to take their Instructor training, more than any other facility in Central America from Mexico to Columbia, based on our great reputation, word of mouth, our training programs, comprehensive curriculum with guaranteed success at the exams and in the dive industry. If you'd like to learn more about a professional dive career please contact PADI Course Director Andy Phillips on for more information. We don't just certify you as an Instructor at Utila Dive Centre, but we give you real world training, lifetime support, the broadest range of con-ed options and make it a lot of fun!
Make your 2010 mean something and become a PADI Scuba Diving Instructor with our IDC held on Utila, Honduras
All our Instructor courses in 2009 and 2010 to date, ended in success with all candidates qualifying as PADI Instructors. Our February IDC just ended with a 100% pass and if you are a PADI Divemaster (or equivalent) then you can enroll in our next scheduled (and first) PADI Instructor course for 2010, the April 2010 IDC will run from the 7th (10th for e-learners) to 18th, with the exams on the 20th/21st and then our next IDC will run from May 5th (8th for e-learners) to 16th with exams 18th/19th. New for 2010, we also have an online version of the IDC available for certified Divemasters who are restricted on time and want to start the Instructor course with e-learning, and can then arrive 3 days later on the Saturday after our classroom start date. There's never been a better time to become a PADI Instructor with a booming dive industry through Central America and the Caribbean, from Mexico to Panama, with a demand for PADI Scuba Instructors this upcoming fall and start to 2010 Caribbean season. Make your year mean something and join us for the most exciting and dynamic PADI IDC in Central America, arrive early for free diving and preparation program, please contact us on for more information and read on to find out what makes our program and staff the most chosen and awarded in Central America, 'Often Imitated, but never surpassed!'.
Read on Christmas festivities and the New Year events with our new blog by UDC Instructor Sam Wilson!
It's been a fun packed Christmas and New Year period at Utila Dive Centre, read what our staff and divers have been up to with our new blog link.
Looking ahead to 2010 - Our team and the Whale sharks are waiting for you!!!
Several months ago there was a political dispute within Honduras that has made the international media and shown unfounded unrest within the country. Although Honduras still remained safe to visit, there were travel advisories placed against the larger cities but the Bay Islands have always been safe to visit. Recently this word of caution was lifted, and now the US, Canadian and European 'Foreign Travel Advisories' have deemed the mainland of Honduras, in addition to the Bay Islands, safe to visit and travel and removed any warnings from their websites. In spite of negative portrayal in the media our team and divers have had a great year in 2009 and we look forward to welcoming all visitors to Utila and to a great start in 2010. We have great diving conditions at the moment, the sun is shining, courses are starting on a daily basis and reaching paradise is worth the journey. So what more are you waiting for, come and join us for great diving, the Whale sharks, a great atmosphere and fun times!!!
New for 2010 Online learning option in the IDC
For candidates who are already certified as PADI Divemaster prior to arriving on Utila for your IDC there have been changes to the curriculum, that from January 2010, now allow you to;
1) Study and pre-assess your dive theory online.
2) Study 9 of the course presentations online which can be used to save time from the course and start 3 days later than our ‘Live delivery’ IDC with the start date on the Saturday. The course will then end one week later on the Sunday (with EFR Instructor course) and then a day’s fun diving on Monday prior to the IE on the Tuesday/Wednesday, allowing you to leave on the Thursday am flights. This takes just 13 days for the complete Instructor course, EFR Instructor and 2 day PADI Exams, and even less if you arrive on Utila already certified as a PADI Assistant Instructor.
There is an additional charge for this each of these options, that deliver convenience and value enhancement to the IDC, and this is paid to PADI. Please read here to learn more about our PADI Instructor course.
PADI Platinum Course Director award - 5th consecutive year!!!
Congratulations to Utila Dive Centres Director of Professional Training for receiving the coveted Platinum award from PADI Vice President James Morgan at the November 2009 DEMA show in Orlando, USA. Andy is only one of 50 CD's worldwide recognised by PADI to receive the award and 2009 is his 5th consecutive year to receive the award, which is an unmatched record in the region. The award is another endorsement to the experience of Utila Dive Centers staff and their commitment to professional dive training, PADI Instructor courses and their candidates. Utila Dive Centre and Andy were also honoured to be invited to talk about what has made them such a successful dive operation, in front of over 1000 PADI professionals, resorts and retailers at the DEMA seminar 'Believe', and is also a sign of peer endorsement that shows the quality of our staff and programs.
What a beauty! October Whale shark sighting
This magnificent Whale shark was photographed by our divers, and PADI Instructor Samantha Hansen, on the North side of Utila, on October 13th 2009 at the Maze dive site. It was estimated to be 40-45ft/12-13mt long and female. In 2008 there were recorded sightings of Whale sharks every month on Utila, and we're fortunate to have the best opportunity to sight them in Honduras, as they frequent the walls of the North side of the island.
Sports Diver praises Utila Dive Centre for taking Conservation lead
Check out this article by clicking on this link September Sport Diver article on eco resorts and read what Sport Diver say about UDC in their September issue!!!! Utila Dive Centre, leading with action!
Utila Dive Centre-Clean's up environment for international Project Aware event
On the 19th September all our divers and staff gave up their time and helped to clean up part of Utila's shoreline and beach areas, pictured here to the left are one of our subgroups of divers on Utila's North shore. In total we collected several truck loads of trash and celebrated the event with a dive center BBQ at the end of the day. The BBQ was also a double celebration as we had several Divemaster trainees graduate from their Divemaster course that same day
Online Coral Reef Ecology Training
Book a Beautiful Oceans Coral Reef Guardian or Science Instructor course with our PADI Divemaster or Instructor training and receive immediate online access to the Beautiful Oceans e-academy. This allows you to make the most productive and constructive use of your time prior to arriving at Utila Dive Centre and you'll get online access to the Beautiful Oceans state-of-the-art online course material, videos, quizzes and exams. You'll rapidly improve your knowledge of the Caribbean coral reef ecosystem, its architecture and and the food web, and arrive on the island of Utila, Honduras, with an intimate knowledge and scientific understanding of the environment where you'll soon be working as a dive professional.
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Whilst studying online, our staff will be able to guide you through the materials and grade your assignments. Upon arrival you will immediately complete your Science Instructor Examination, and then we'll then take you out to our amazing coral reefs so you can apply in-water what you learned during the course, apply techniques of guided educational dives and immediately enhance your enjoyment of coral reefs. There's no better way to start your training and education, and no need to count down the days till you join us, just contact us to see how you can get the best start to your dive education and training in the Caribbean, today!
See our brand new schedule for PADI Instructor course
in 2010, we now have more options and dates for you with PADI IDC 2010 schedule
now 12 scheduled PADI Instructor Examinations in the best part of Central America and the Caribbean!
Winners of PADI's 2009 'Environmental Achievement Award.............Congratulations to Utila Dive Center's team of PADI Divemaster, Instructor and support staff for receiving this award from PADI for their environmental and conservation efforts in 2008 and also previously in 2007 and 2006. Only a handful of dive resorts and centers worldwide receive this award and is a reflection of all the hard work, investment and dedication that UDC staff have shown through their environmental clean-up's, research activities, educational programs and setting up a new ecological facility at UDC. A special show of appreciation and thanks was delivered to the owners of the Utila Dive Center for their generous investment and commitment to setting up the only non-profit, NGO, in Utila that specialises in courses covering ecological areas, mangrove concerns and marine research, with the 'Utila Center for Marine Ecology' (UCME) headed by biologist Stephen Box. The UCME is open to all divers on Utila, especially Divemaster and Instructor (IDC) candidates and interns, as a way to improve their own education and understanding of ecological matters on a local level by studying the meso-american reef system that runs from Mexico, to Belize and into Honduras, and also on a global level.
Thank you to Utila Dive Center PADI Divemaster and Instructors and other support staff, who with volunteers, braved the Caribbean mid day heat, and cleaned up Pumpkin Hill beach on Utila, as part of international 'Project Aware' clean up's. All over the Central America region, from Mexico, to Costa Rica, and beyond, volunteers participated in clean-up projects to make a difference. Our photo here shows over 40 bags of trash collected on Utila.
The Utila Center for Marine Ecology (UCME) now has it's own dedicated
premises on Utila, mow scientists and researchers have their own facility to gather information, store
data, and educate visitors to Utila about the delicate marine
environment and behavioural habits of creatures like the 'rough tooth'
dolphin and the majestic Whale shark. The UCME is now operational and will be offering the following programs;
Whale shark and Dolphin research.
Studies on Fauna and Flora in the local area.
Accommodating undergraduate and graduate students on field research and thesis projects.
Please contact us for more news on how to get involved with this
exciting project and check out the UCME's own dedicated website on www.utilaecology.org.
Calling all Divemaster and Instructor candidates: Check out our new Dolphin Survey specialty, written by our team of environmentalists, approved by PADI and used by the University of Missouri's 'Marine Mammal Cognitive & Psychology Behavioral department'. This 2 day program, along with our Whaleshark awareness specialty, from PADI's Project Aware, is available to all our professionals in training.
Both of these images, taken on Utila, show the beautiful creatures that we study and you become involved with on our research surveys and projects. This training is unique to Utila Dive Centre and we'd love for you to join us in our surveys and research and help make the environment around Utila, a better place for divers today and in the future, contact us for more details.
Hi my name's Andy and I’m the resident PADI Course Director and ‘Director of
Professional and Technical Training’ for the Utila Dive Centre. I just
wanted give you an insight into my personal and diving background so
you know more about myself, the Instructor Development Course (PADI IDC) and other professional or technical courses
that I offer through the Utila Dive Centre located on Utila,
Bay Islands, Honduras, Central America. Utila is located off the
North coast of Honduras, Central America, in the Western Caribbean and is famous for
the Whale shark and for dive training from PADI Open Water to Instructor Development Courses and Technical diver training.
PADI Instructor course in Honduras with Utila Dive Centre
It's not just my love affair with Central America that has seen me
living in this region for over the last 9 years. One of the great
things I enjoy about training PADI Instructors in our IDC on Utila and
offering other courses through Utila Dive Centre is the atmosphere,
high standard and internship programs that we have designed in order to
get you off to the best start as a PADI Instructor on Utila, throughout
Central America or other scuba diving resort destinations around the
world. Whilst you can be assured you'll love your IDC and we will
get you to pass the IE we prefer not to use this as a benchmark of your
success, instead we will work with you as a PADI Instructor, beyond the
standard PADI IDC, to see that you have the most success you can enjoy
and get the most from this amazing lifestyle! If you talk to our IDC
candidates from a few years ago you'll find that many have enjoyed
success as dive Instructors, resort managers, liveaboard operators and
some are even Course Directors themselves, our IDC on Utila, Honduras,
Central America is world famous, even PADI Instructor Examiners have a
tough time to leave Utila after visiting just to assess our IDC, come
and find out why?!!!
Our IDC includes;
Free 2 day IDC Preparation program
Pool session and free try dive on rebreathers (subject to availability), no other staff on Utila are trained or qualified to offer this additional experience or insight into future technologies
Free Internet access
Free lunch buffets
Dive for free for life!!!!!
Additional work shops on Rescue techniques and technical diving
The most comprehensive range of Instructor level continuing education programs
Complimentary Prestige card that offers special rates for diving with our partners through Central America, Thailand and Australia-another unique benefit with our facility and network
The longest serving team on Utila, with the highest rated Course
Director in Central America 'Platinum status', no other Course Director
in Central America has achieved this rating as often
2 Course Directors involved on your program and a guaranteed group size of no more than 6 candidates
Tuition in English, Spanish, French, Dutch, German and Hebrew
Guaranteed pass at the IE or free IDC and IE
On site accommodation
Job placements, proven and successful
The only full service retail store on Utila with special discounts for our candidates
Additional study and support materials, free of charge, designed to aid your learning development
A lot of fun loving people in our facility and on your PADI Instructor course, click on 'read more' below to find out why..............
Congratulations to Utila Dive Centres Director of Professional Training for receiving the coveted Platinum award from PADI Vice President James Morgan at the November 2009 DEMA show in Orlando, USA. Andy is only one of 50 CD's worldwide recognised by PADI to receive the award and 2009 is his 5th consecutive year to receive the award, which is an unmatched record in the region. The award is another endorsement to the experience of Utila Dive Centers staff and their 
This magnificent Whale shark was photographed by our divers, and PADI Instructor Samantha Hansen, on the North side of Utila, on October 13th 2009 at the Maze dive site. It was estimated to be 40-45ft/12-13mt long and female. In 2008 there were recorded sightings of Whale sharks every month on Utila, and we're fortunate to have the best opportunity to sight them in Honduras, as they frequent the walls of the North side of the island.
All over the Central America region, from Mexico, to Costa Rica, and beyond, volunteers participated in clean-up projects to make a difference. Our photo here shows over 40 bags of trash collected on Utila.
The Utila Center for Marine Ecology (UCME) now has it's own dedicated
premises on Utila, mow scientists and researchers have their own facility to gather information, store
data, and educate visitors to Utila about the delicate marine
environment and behavioural habits of creatures like the 'rough tooth'
dolphin and the majestic Whale shark. The UCME is now operational and will be offering the following programs;
Calling all Divemaster and Instructor candidates: Check out our new Dolphin Survey specialty, written by our team of environmentalists, approved by PADI and used by the University of Missouri's 'Marine Mammal Cognitive & Psychology Behavioral department'. This 2 day program, along with our Whaleshark awareness specialty, from PADI's Project Aware, is available to all our professionals in training.
Hi my name's Andy and I’m the resident PADI Course Director and ‘Director of
Professional and Technical Training’ for the 
