October 2007
Its been a while, but read the latest UDC Newsletter. Get the newest edition of our October newsletter and read the latest and greatest and most professional, friendly, eco-orientated and innovative dive team in Central America. In our October 2007 edition we have our news from the island, coverage of the summer SunJam, reports of big sightings and more!!
Ahora En Español.
Please download a printable PDF copy of UDC's Newsletter.
-----------------------------------------------
Winners of PADI's 2006 '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 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 candidates and interns, as a way to improve their own education and understanding of ecological matters on a local and global level and locally focuses on the meso-american reef system that runs from Mexico to Honduras.
-----------------------------------------------
Utila Dive Centre: "Outstanding contribution to the Diving Industry"
Las Vegas , Dema show 2005, UDC was congratulated and informed by PADI Regional Managers that UDC principles were to present themselves at an informal breakfast with PADI president Drew Richarson and other members of the industry. UDC's owner Benoit Bellenoue and Ricardo Gonzalez received another award (the second in two years) for "OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE DIVING INDUSTRY".
The award is a recognition to all our staff for the quality, effort and personal input that goes into training new or experienced divers, beginner to instructor level, at Utila Dive Centre, and dedication to the dive industry. And us, at UDC we would like to thank you all for your support, all of you .
-----------------------------------------------
Our next IDC of 2007 starts from September 5th to the 16th with Instructor Exams on the 19th/20th.
Make your year mean something and become a PADI Instructor with our IDC held on Utila, Honduras. If you are a PADI Divemaster (or equivalent) then you can enroll in our next IDC (and last of 2007) that will run from November 7th to the 17th with the exams immediately afterwards on the 19th/20th, then our first IDC of 2008 will start in January from the 10th to the 20th with the exams on the 22nd/23rd. 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 to work the upcoming 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 gopro@utiladivecenter.com for more information and read on to find out what makes our program and staff the most chosen and awarded in Central America.
PADI award Utila Dive Centre Course Director Andy Phillips with 'Platinum' award and 2 'Certificates of Excellence'.
In April 2007 PADI Course Director and Utila Dive Centre's 'Director of Professional Training' Andy Phillips received the highest award a PADI Course Director can receive for the 2nd year running, 'Platinum' recognition for Instructor training beyond the IDC level, in 2006. There are only 90 PADI Course Directors in the world who have 'Platinum' status and the fact that Andy qualfied so early in the year is a recognition of his dedication and experience in training Instructors beyond the ordinary training programs offered by most IDC facilities. In the same month Andy also received 2 'Certificates of Excellence' from PADI Vice President James Morgan, in reflection of his commitment to quality training programs offered in 2004 and 2005. Here's to Utila Dive Centre, Utila and all the staff who help raise the standard of training and assist in finding job placements throughout Central America and the Caribbean.
PADI and DSAT Tec Deep/Trimix and IANTD Rebreather Courses on demand.
DSAT Tec Deep and Tec Trimix Instructor courses scheduled to run on demand, please contact DSAT Trimix Instructor Guillermo Pierano for more information gotec@utiladivecenter.com
The following Instructor Development Course (IDC) is scheduled to begin in May 2007.
See the Pro Schedule for our annual listings.
The Mango Inn is filling up for the Spring/Summer season, reserve accommodations today!
-----------------------------------------------
Check out the latest
on UDC's IDCs...
We'd like to extend our congratulations and best wishes to all our 2006 IDC candidates in their future careers as PADI Instructors after successful completion of their Instructor Examinations. Our 100% success rate at the PADI Instructor Examinations continues and all examiners from PADI Head Quarters in California, were absolutely delighted at the performance, attitude and enthusiasm of the Instructors that we have trained at Utila Dive Centre.
So far this year we have seen a huge increase in the number of divers, visitors and dive students visiting Utila and other dive resorts in Central America have reported a similar trend. The majority of our Instructor's recently certified have now found employment in the region through our placement service that has secured our Instructors employment in Utila, Roatan, Costa Rica, Panama and the Caymans. We also look forward to welcoming 3 of our recent IDC candidates into new Instructor positions in our dive operation at Utila Dive Centre.
PADI Course Directors Andy Phillips, Neil Ross and the Utila Dive Centre have been training PADI Instructors since 2001 and in the last few years have won 9 'Certificates of Excellence' and 3 'Awards for Outstanding Contribution to Instructor Development' from PADI. They have conducted over 40 Instructor Development Courses to date and have trained over 400 'Open Water Scuba Instructors' in addition to 'Master Scuba Diver Trainers', 'IDC Staff Instructors' and DSAT Technical Diving Instructors. They pride themselves on their outstanding quality of training and are continuously revising, evolving and improving their service and training to raise the standard of dive Instructor they train. Whilst their programs, philosophies and courses are often imitated by other facilities, they are never surpassed.
Utila, Bay Islands of Honduras, represents amazing value for living and dive training in the Caribbean, and has world class quality diversity of micro marine life and a variety of dive sites, from Pinnacles and Seamounts to Sheer walls and fringing reef systems with a sunken Cargo ship wreck outside the island bay. Over 7000 divers are certified on this island each year from Open Water to Divemaster so what better place for you to get a head start to your dive career. If you would like to be part of this amazing dive lifestyle and join the ranks by becoming a PADI Instructor through their programs then contact gopro@utiladivecenter.com for more information and personal assistance and attention.
Arch Archibald debriefing one of our successful IDC candidates.
-----------------------------------------------
Utila Dive Center is now a National Geographic Dive Center!
This means that PADI recognizes Utila Dive Center as a progressive dive operation that offers the best customer service, education, equipment selection and dive experiences. UDC's commitment to advancing a premium-level of adventure and environmental awareness in our education programs is exciting and commendable. We are cultivating a group of people who understand the importance and the impact they have on the ocean realm and what they can do to preserve it for future generations. In essence, we are creating ambassadors for the underwater world.
-----------------------------------------------
Utila Princess: new price, new schedule, starting December 26th:
The MV Utila Princess is sailing again to laceiba. After being out of service for maintenace and upgrades, the ship is now back in business! The owner, Dr Bruce agreed with the Utila community to reduce the price to $21 per person one way ticket, $42 round trip, more than 15% decrease to help Utila recover from low season and encourage all travelers in Central America to visit our fantastic island. The Princess is leaving daily the Muelle de Cabotage (Laceiba) at 4.00pm to arrive in Utila at 5.15pm. The service provided by the MV Utila Princess is safe (US coastguard's regulation), fast, only 1 h and 15 min to cross the 22 miles between Laceiba and Utila, and fun (be on the top deck to enjoy the sunset and watch dolphins).
Top
|
