Space Oddity
Sep
11
2009

I’ve dreamed about doing this one for a long time: a no-moon, no-lights dive on Lighthouse Reef. Roatan has amazing bioluminescence, and on truly dark evenings they can be as brilliant and numerous as the stars in a clear night sky. Tonight, I finally get my chance to do it. We begin after sunset. As we descend down to the reef, I am amazed by how much I can still see in the waning light. Parrotfish nestle in to their holes and wrap themselves in mucus cocoons. Soldierfish and squirrelfish dart out from their alcoves. The reef is bathed in this eerie blue light that reminds me of hues I’ve only seen from Karl Stanley’s submarine. We careen through some » read more «

Utila Dive Site Map
Sep
10
2009

Click here to explore a map of the Utila’s dive sites! Now you can explore the dive sites around Utila too! During my last vacation to Roatan’s sister island, I took the time to document the island’s dive sites in the TIREngine database. The result? A beautiful, Google Maps-powered interactive map. Zoom in on high resolution satellite imagery of the dive sites surrounding Utila. Click on any site to learn more information, or use the drop-down box above the pull up a full dive site description. Thanks to Alton’s Dive Center in Utila for helping me name and locate the dive sites! To other Utila dive shops and instructors: am I missing some dive sites? Do you have more information » read more «

Danger: Invading Lionfish
Sep
10
2009

They’re here!!! Lionfish, the beautiful and venomous fish from the South Pacific, have appeared on Roatan. This invasive species has spread at unprecedented rates across the Caribbean and Eastern Atlantic over the last few years. The Roatan Marine Park is asking for everyone’s help in reporting, capturing, and killing lionfish around Roatan. If you have seen a lionfish on one of Roatan’s dive sites, please submit a lionfish report directly to the Roatan Marine Park.

My Divelog #1963-1964
Sep
4
2009

Dive No.: 1963 Dive Site: Black Hills, Utila Max Depth: 108ft Total Time: 58mins Profile: 8mins@110ft, 10mins @ 80ft, 15mins@50ft, 15mins @40ft, 7mins @ 35ft, 3mins @ 15ft Air: 2900psi – 1200psi Mix: air Tank: 12L/80cu Comments: My first dive on Utila! Black Hills is a lovely sea mound adorned in brilliant sponges and massive soft corals. Following a spiral profile typical of most pinnacle dives, I spotted a free-swimming green moray eel, schools of horse eye jacks and atlantic spadefish, a dozen flamingo tongues, a pea (juvenile smooth trunkfish), two large lettuce sea slugs, and three hawskbill turtles. Definitely one of the best dives in the Bay Islands! Dive Site: Aquarium, Utila Max Depth: 40ft Total Time: 60mins Profile: » read more «