Explore South Side of Utila

Utila, renowned for its exceptional diving opportunities, captivates divers with its vibrant underwater landscapes, especially along the south side of the island. This area is easily accessible from the harbor and offers sheltered waters, providing calm and enjoyable diving experiences. The south side is home to popular dive sites like Aquarium, Little Bight, Black Coral Wall, and the intriguing Airport Caves. These sites offer diverse marine environments, from colorful coral reefs teeming with life to dramatic walls that plunge into the depths, making every dive an adventure. One cannot miss the renowned Black Hills, a slightly longer boat ride away, yet worth every minute due to its rich biodiversity. Divers can expect to encounter a myriad of marine life, including vibrant schools of fish, majestic eagle rays, and the occasional glimpse of a passing whale shark. The varied dive styles available, from shore dives to boat excursions, cater to divers of all levels, ensuring a fulfilling experience. With its unique blend of accessible sites and abundant marine life, the south side of Utila stands out as a premier dive destination in the region.

Upcoming Events

Diver Level Programs / Courses

TANK’D PRO DIVE CENTER UTILA

Navigation

14 Nov 2025 + 339 more

In this specialty program, you will gain the advanced skills and knowledge you need to safely and confidently navigate underwater. You will learn how to use a compass and natural navigation techniques, estimate distance, how to leave and return to a designated point, plus basic navigation patterns. You will also be taught how to combine navigation techniques to enhance your diving experience. All of which hones your underwater observation skills, improves your dive safety and helps you to get the most out of every dive. Upon completion, you will earn the SSI Navigation Specialty certification.

Diver Level Programs / Courses

TANK’D PRO DIVE CENTER UTILA

Diver Stress & Rescue

14 Nov 2025 + 145 more

The SSI Diver Stress and Rescue specialty program teaches you the skills you need to protect yourself and other divers. You will learn how to identify stress, how to prevent accidents and be taught practical techniques to conduct rescues and provide emergency care. With a combination of pool and open water practice sessions, you will become well prepared and confident at handling emergency and rescue situations. Upon completion, you will earn the SSI Diver Stress and Rescue Specialty certification.

Instructor Evaluation

SSI Service Center Central America

Instructor Evaluation - IE

16 Nov 2025

Start today - You need to be a Divemaster or equivalent to join SSI´s 3-Step Instructor Training Approach. The training process starts with joining the Assistant Instructor / Instructor Training Course combination accompanied with Digital Learning. After successful completion of the Instructor Training Course (ITC) you will enroll in an Instructor Evaluation (IE) to qualify as an SSI Open Water Instructor. This 10 day training program entitles you to teach various key SSI programs independently like Scuba Diver, Open Water Diver, Enriched Air Nitrox, Diver Stress & Rescue and Dive Guide.

For those who want to take more time to learn and to gain valuable teaching experience between the training programs the 3 parts can also be taken as single steps - Assistant Instructor, Instructor Training Course (ITC) and Instructor Evaluation (IE) one after the other at own pace and with a flexible schedule.

Top Dive Sites Map

★★★★☆ Stingray Point

Head out across the sand to the wall on the other side. Follow it for about 15 minutes and at 18 meters you’ll find a large crack in the rock. It’s about 1.5-2.0 meters wide and about 100 meters long. Perfect turnaround point for your dive.

1,768
Logs
1,040
Divers
21.0 m
⌀ Depth
19.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Moon Hole

Moon Hole is a large sandy patch surrounded by coral. This is an excellent site for Buoyancy or Open Water training dives. From Moon Hole, you can cross the coral to Ron’s Wreck.

4,262
Logs
2,116
Divers
15.0 m
⌀ Depth
18.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Black Hills

Seamound found off the southeast corner of Utila. The top of the mound is at about 10 meters and can drop to 40+ meters depending on which side you are on. Currents can be strong on both the surface and underwater.

1,282
Logs
814
Divers
25.0 m
⌀ Depth
22.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Ted's Point

A south side dive site offering a sandy bottom at about 60ft. The east slopping wall has depths to over 100 ft. The western side is shallower at 60ft.

2,396
Logs
1,187
Divers
21.0 m
⌀ Depth
21.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Scubapro

★★★★☆ Diamond Cay

This site shares it’s name with the small cay protruding out of the water nearby. Drift dive off a narrow coral formation between two sand channels that are wide sand patches to the west (30ft/10m), and end at the top of the reef wall towards the east.

117
Logs
98
Divers
22.0 m
⌀ Depth
18.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares

★★★★☆ Big Rock

A very popular site with both divers and students, A large sandy patch running from 15ft all the way to 130ft. A beautiful wall dive for all with lots to see.

2,124
Logs
1,338
Divers
20.0 m
⌀ Depth
18.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares, Janez Kranjc

★★★★☆ Madelines

Approx. 20 minutes heading West of the Main Utila Harbor, you will find Madeline’s. This dive site is west of Jack Neil Beach site and is identified by the beautiful shallow white sand areas and a gently sloping sandy bottom.

109
Logs
79
Divers
17.0 m
⌀ Depth
18.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Scubapro, Stephen Frink

★★★★☆ Jack Neil Point

Approx. 15 minutes heading West of the Main Utila Harbor, you will find Jack Neil Point. This dive site is west of Little Bight Dive site and is identified from the surface by locating a small piece of landmass that slightly breaks the even coastline with dense brush and a noticeable wall drop off.

1,729
Logs
1,080
Divers
19.0 m
⌀ Depth
17.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares

★★★★☆ Jack Neil Bight

10 Minutes heading out West from the Main Utila Harbor you will find Jack Neil Bight. From the boat you will notice clear turquoise color water that embeds a sandy bottom. On either side of the sandy bottom you will find Hard Coral formations. A small Sandy Beach is adorned by Home Docks on the Coast.

782
Logs
537
Divers
17.0 m
⌀ Depth
17.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Aqualung

★★★★☆ Silver Gardens

Located 20mins from the main hub on the south side of the island, this site has 4 markers. The shallow is at 20ft with sandy patches and then drops to about 100ft.

1,672
Logs
1,035
Divers
19.0 m
⌀ Depth
19.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares, Janez Kranjc

★★★★☆ Black Coral Wall

Black Coral Wall is a gently sloping wall with occasional dramatic rock structure. Abundant Black Coral grows here and can be identified as the whispy bushes growing out the side of the rocky structures.

5,533
Logs
2,635
Divers
19.0 m
⌀ Depth
18.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Aqualung

★★★★☆ Labyrinth/Kenny’s Reef

It is an amazing site with a very nice Labyrinth-like passage in between coral walls that deserves to be mentioned but named correctly. Located off the island of Utila.

412
Logs
266
Divers
21.0 m
⌀ Depth
22.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares, Janez Kranjc

★★★★☆ Little Bight

A wide sand patch gradually slopes from the beach to well past 100 feet, creating a beautiful break in the reef that runs parallel to shore. Little Bight dive site is easy to reach and fun for all.

3,919
Logs
1,953
Divers
17.0 m
⌀ Depth
17.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares

★★★★☆ Sturges Bank

Within the main harbor of Utila is the Sturges Bank. In a huge area you will find formations that resemble small hills under the surface and are covered with coral. Since this place is protected within the harbor, it is frequently visited and has a total of 3 fixed mooring lines.

335
Logs
229
Divers
16.0 m
⌀ Depth
15.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Aqualung

★★★★☆ Pretty Bush

This reef starts at the shore line and reaches all the way to 15ft and then drops to 100ft. Broken walls and sand channels make for a beautiful site.

1,062
Logs
677
Divers
20.0 m
⌀ Depth
19.0 m
⌀ Visibility

Diving in South Side of Utila

The south side of Utila offers a diverse range of dive sites that are perfect for both shore and liveaboard diving. Among the notable spots is the Halliburton Wreck, an artificial reef teeming with marine life, providing an excellent opportunity for wreck diving enthusiasts. The site features large groupers and schools of fish, making it a must-see for those exploring Utila's underwater offerings.

Popular shore dives like Little Bight offer divers easy access to vibrant coral gardens and a chance to observe unique marine behaviors, such as the nocturnal hunting of octopuses during night dives. The balance between shore and liveaboard diving allows for flexibility and variety, catering to all levels of divers and ensuring a rich and memorable diving experience in this tropical paradise.

The best Months to dive in South Side of Utila

The South Side of Utila offers favorable diving conditions throughout the year, making it a popular destination for enthusiasts. Water temperatures remain fairly consistent, ranging from 27°C–29°C/81°F–84°F, providing comfortable conditions for divers. Visibility typically ranges from 18 to 30 meters, allowing for excellent underwater exploration.

While diving is possible year-round, the rainy season from October to December can bring increased wind and occasional storms, potentially affecting visibility and dive conditions. However, these weather factors are generally mild, and many divers continue to enjoy the underwater attractions during this period. Overall, Utila's South Side remains a reliable choice for divers seeking diverse marine life and vibrant coral reefs across all seasons.

Statistics

Historical data and trends

Dive Activity & Environmental Conditions

Centers Map

Achie’s Dive Center

Utila Main Road, 34101 Utila, HND

Captain Morgan’s Dive School Utila

SANDY BAY, 34201 UTILA - Bay Islands, HND

TANK’D PRO DIVE CENTER UTILA

The Odyssey Resort Utila, 34201 Utila - Bay Islands, HND