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 IDC, News from Utila, Honduras and Central America!
Congratulations to our new PADI Instructors after the June Instructor exams, the best start ever!!!!
....To our new PADI Instructors, to starting Summer 2009 on the best note ever and to the beginning of an amazing lifestyle!!! This photo was taken with our candidates from Utila Dive Centre and staff, at their celebratory dinner at Utilas finest restaurant 'La Piccola' celebrating their completion of the exams with Utila Dive Centre's dedicated personalised scuba instruction. Our PADI Course Director Angel Navarro with IDC Staff Instructors Ed Butler excelled in preparing our candidates who came from afar as the UK, USA, Canada, Israel, Spain, 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 Honduras, Mexico, 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 Internship and 'Beautiful Oceans' Science Instructor ratings before embarking on jobs within the region. To date 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 2009 mean something and become a PADI Instructor with our IDC held on Utila, Honduras
All our 1st Quarter 2009 Instructor courses ended in success with all candidates qualifying as PADI Instructors. Our June PADI Instructor course has just started, and if you are a PADI Divemaster (or equivalent) then you can enroll in our next scheduled PADI Instructor course for 2009, the July IDC will run from the 8th to 19th, with the exams on the 21st/22nd and then our August IDC 12th to 23rd, with exams on the 25th/26th. 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 Summer. 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!'.
New for 2009
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.
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!
4th Year running and leading the way!!!
....Pictured to the left, Utila Dive Centers 'Director of Professional Training' Andy Phillips receiving an award for 'Excellence' and achieving the Platinum status for a PADI Course Director, from PADI's VP James Morgan and Training Director Johnny Wetzstein. Andy was one of a few select Course Directors from the Americas, to receive the award at the October 2008 DEMA show in Las Vegas, and it is the 4th consecutive year that he has received the Platinum status from PADI. 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.
UDC had a great time at the UK dive show on the weekend of Nov 1st/2nd and it was great to see new faces interested in our professional programs, and reacquaint with old friends.
Double Awards from PADI worldwide for UDC at DEMA dive show
....It's now official, the management team at Utila dive center have been awarded in exceeding excellence for their activities both in, and out of the water. At the October 2007 DEMA dive show in Orlando, UDC owner and manager, Ricardo Gonzalez collected 2 awards from PADI Worldwide, in recognition of the support that Utila Dive Center provides for the local dive community on Utila, the Bay Islands, and in Honduras, with a second award to the UDC Instructor Development team, for their Instructor training efforts and to raising the 'bar' in their PADI 'GoPro' programs. It's no secret amongst divers that UDC provides the best in-water experiences, training and education programs, with marine conversation efforts previously awarded by project Aware, and this photo above shows the awards given at the DEMA dive show, and reinforces UDC's commitment to giving their divers the best time, both in and out of the Ocean!
See our brand new schedule for PADI Instructor Development Course in 2009, we now have more options and dates for you with 12 scheduled PADI Instructor Examinations in the best part of Central America and the Caribbean!
The Summer of 2008 saw two of the busiest weeks for visitors to Utila recorded. The week long Utila Carnival entertained islanders and tourists alike with nightly parties, beauty pageants, beach games and a street parade. One week after the Carnival closed the 12th annual SunJam rave on the beautiful desert island of Watercaye attracted over 1000 visitors for 24 hours of summer loving fun, music and dancing. DJ's from Central America and the USA entertained revellers till the early hours of the morning, and already we are looking forward to summer 2009. See SunJamUtila for more photos.
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 recieve 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.
In the Summer of August 2008 a pod of Orca whales were spotted off the North coast of Utila by our dive boats. There were approximately 15 Orcas seen heading in a Northerly direction and is an annual event during the month of August but they paused around one of Utila Dive Centre's dive boats as seen here to the right. If you ever get bored of dealing with traffic and commuting, then here's proof that Utila and a professional dive career is the way forward, our dive vessel the Octopussy and her passengers had a once in a lifetime encounter with these beautiful creatures......
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 'Dive into Earth day' 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.
Congratulations to 'Director of Professional Training' Andy Phillips on advancing his education and training and recently qualifying as a 'Beautiful Oceans' Science Instructor Trainer. Andy has been working intensely over the last few months to learn more about marine science and coral reef ecology in order to better educate our divers and Instructors so they in turn can make a difference for the benefit of coral reef eco systems, whilst at the same time making themselves more employable and better qualified to succeed in the dive industry. Beautiful Oceans is an ecotourism organization dedicated to the education, conservation and preservation of coral reef eco systems and produces a range of science and educational programs for divers, snorkellers and professionals. There are only a handful of Beautiful Oceans Science Instructor Trainers and Science Centers in the Caribbean so find out how we can really provide you with the best education and experince, diving will never be the same again!!! Scroll down and click on 'read more' for further info.....
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.
Congratulations to 'Director of Professional Training' Andy Phillips on advancing his education and training and recently qualifying as a 'Beautiful Oceans' Science Instructor Trainer. Andy has been working intensely over the last few months to learn more about marine science and coral reef ecology in order to better educate our divers and Instructors so they in turn can make a difference for the benefit of coral reef eco systems, whilst at the same time making themselves more employable and better qualified to succeed in the dive industry. Beautiful Oceans is an ecotourism organization dedicated to the education, conservation and preservation of coral reef eco systems and produces a range of science and educational programs for divers, snorkellers and professionals. There are only a handful of Beautiful Oceans Science Instructor Trainers and Science Centers in the Caribbean so find out how we can really provide you with the best education and experince, diving will never be the same again!!!
The three guiding principles of Beautiful Oceans’ courses:
1) Science made simple—Beautiful Oceans’ science courses are complete and independent educational packages designed specially for people with no previous scientific training, and include both theoretical and applied components. Beautiful Oceans’ course material has been painstakingly assembled from the latest scientific information their team of highly trained marine biologists.
2) Applied learning—Each Beautiful Oceans course is designed, written and continuously updated with the recreational SCUBA diver and snorkeler in mind. The knowledge and experience you gain after successful completion of a Beautiful Oceans science course will provide a whole new appreciation for coral reefs. You will see things you have never seen before, discover and understand behaviours that you never knew existed and gain great insight into the processes that shape the living reef and the lives of coral reef organisms.
3) Fun!—The Beautiful Oceans experience is fun. Each course was created by their team of highly trained marine biologists, who are avid divers and snorkelers like you. Our courses are written in a refreshing, easy-to-understand style that will no doubt awaken your desire to take to the water.
Find out how you can become a Beautiful Oceans Science Diver and/or Instructor by contacting us today.
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 'Dive into Earth day' 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 Summer of 2008 saw two of the busiest weeks for visitors to Utila recorded. The week long Utila Carnival entertained islanders and tourists alike with nightly parties, beauty pageants, beach games and a street parade.
One week after the Carnival closed the 12th annual SunJam rave on the beautiful desert island of Watercaye attracted over 1000 visitors for 24 hours of summer loving fun, music and dancing. DJ's from Central America and the USA entertained revellers till the early hours of the morning, and already we are looking forward to summer 2009. See 
In the Summer of August 2008 a pod of Orca whales were spotted off the North coast of Utila by our dive boats. There were approximately 15 Orcas seen heading in a Northerly direction and is an annual event during the month of August but they paused around one of Utila Dive Centre's dive boats as seen here to the right. If you ever get bored of dealing with traffic and commuting, 
then here's proof that Utila and a professional dive career is the way forward, our dive vessel the Octopussy and her passengers had a once in a lifetime encounter with these beautiful creatures......
Congratulations to 'Director of Professional Training' Andy Phillips on advancing his education and training and recently qualifying as a 'Beautiful Oceans' Science Instructor Trainer. Andy has been working intensely over the last few months to learn more about marine science and coral reef ecology in order to better educate our divers and Instructors so they in turn can make a difference for the benefit of coral reef eco systems, whilst at the same time making themselves more employable and better qualified to succeed in the dive industry. Beautiful Oceans is an ecotourism organization dedicated to the education, conservation and preservation of coral reef eco systems and produces a range of science and educational programs for divers, snorkellers and professionals. There are only a handful of Beautiful Oceans Science Instructor Trainers and Science Centers in the Caribbean so find out how we can really provide you with the best education and experince, diving will never be the same again!!! Scroll down and click on 'read more' for further info.....
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.
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 'Dive into Earth day' 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..
