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Dive Log and Guest Comments

 

Dive Log
Dive news by the LBR Crew
We will post news as we receive it

 July 7-14

Boat: Show Time and Another Time
Captain: Wagner and Kerry
Divemaster: Gaeton & Vivian and Adam & Gaeton

The week started off on the right foot Sunday morning for our new group of 18 divers. Wagner guided the boat to Big Rock where a large adult Hawksbill Turtle greeted the group. I need to find a way to get these turtles to drag the "Welcome to Utila!" sign as they swim past. The turtle was feeding and didn't seemed bother by the divers as it sat there looking back, taking a bite into the sponge, and chewing while we all watched or took photos. After the surface interval we had out divers onto Pretty Bush. Pretty Bush never disappoints and certainly has a well deserved name. The early afternoon sun combining with calm seas gave great color to the abundance of soft corals. The divers also appreciated a visit from a very large Dog Snapper and Yellowfin Grouper. The divers concluded their final dive of opening day at Silver Gardens, where a huge school of Creole Wrasse overtook the group. The wrasse were in a hurry, likely on their way to the community spawning grounds for the late afternoon spawning run.

To begin the second day of the week Wager dropped his divers at West End. A site that is known for producing moray eels didn't disappoint by providing us with a Green Moray and a Spotted Moray. Coming back around the Utila Cayes Wagner piloted Showtime to Stingray Point. This site has always been a favorite of the dive staff thanks to diversity of the reef. The divers enjoyed playing with the abundance of Razorfish which populate the sand flat. After a filling lunch the divers were taken to Eagle Ray Alley. Like clockwork, an Eagle Ray slowly cruised past to the excitement of everyone. Monday means night diving at Laguna Beach. Black Coral Wall West provided the eerie backdrop as the Divemasters located lobsters, nocturnal shrimp, and Cardinalfish.

Tuesday morning began with a pleasant ride out to Turtle Harbor and The Great Wall. The dramatic scenery was only broken by a visit of a large and small Hawksbill turtle moving nearly in unison. Just as the adrenaline of this visit was wearing off the group was buzzed by an Eagle Ray. Not a bad start to the day! Moving back to the south side the Showtime moored at Jack Neil Beach where the DM's immediately went on the hunt for seahorses. Several were located plus a bonus pipefish! It would be hard to top the morning dives but the staff was up for the challenge at Ted's Wreck. The wreck held its usual bounty of a huge Channel Clinging Crab and Green Moray, plus a nice harem of Jawfish were spotted just off the bow of the sunken ship.

Moving into the second half of the week the divers were taken to The Maze. The series of miniature sea mounds and pinnacles create an underwater playground before moving out over the wall and enjoying the seemingly bottomless depths of Turtle Harbor. Large Yellowfin groupers and a special visit by a Rainbow Parrotfish were a highlight of the dive for our divers. Ragged Caye provided the dive location for dive number two of the day. Fringing the edge of Spotted Bay, Ragged Caye is frequented by Eagle Rays, and today was no different. When the divers weren't focusing on the rockwork looking for eels and Scorpionfish they were entertained by yet more Eagle Rays and a Queen Triggerfish. The third dive of the day was completed at the Labrynth. The plethora of swim-throughs and over hangs always creates an adventurous dive while several Decorator Crabs were located in the soft corals out on the southern wall.

Spotted Bay provided the first underwater excursion for Thursday.

Divemaster G located and speared a Lionfish, which was shortly thereafter fed to a hungry, free-swimming Green Moray. Divers always love seeing this. For the past several weeks there have been a pair of juvenile Drumfish near the exit point of the dive. It has been fun watching them grow up! After off-gassing, Jack Neil Point served as the next dive site. An abundance of soft corals on the top of the reef and black coral at depth provides the backdrop to a dive with a wide range of animals, but all our divers agreed the huge Porcupine Pufferfish was the largest they've ever seen. It isn't too often that we find large Tarpon out on the dives, but it seems one has settled in at Ron's Wreck, our third dive of Thursday. It would have been the focus of the dive if not for the squadron of squid which appeared just in time to say good-bye at the end of the dive. The Thursday evening night dive commenced at Silver Gardens. A large Barracuda was on the prowl and stayed near the group for nearly the entire dive.

The Haliburton, the most popular wreck dive of Utila, started off the final day of diving for the group. A huge Green Moray acted as the Ambassador of the shipwreck, welcoming us to the former cargo hold of the ship. A school of Blue Chromis encircled our divers on the safety stop. The final dive of the trip was conducted at Little Bight. The large sand patch provided several Yellow Stingrays and Flounders to enjoy.

 

June 23-30

Boat: Show Time
Captain: Wagner
Dive Masters: Henry and Gaetano
Water temp: 88 F

We started our week diving at Big Rock, a typical Caribbean beach on the South West side of the island, where we had fun playing with Crinoid Shrimp. The second dive was at Black Coral Wall, where we enjoyed the five types of black corals that live on the reef and a Decorated Neck Crab. The afternoon dive was at Airport Lounge, where Henry showed us a Scrawled Filefish.

Monday was probably the best day we could imagine… The first dive was at West End; a very nice dive site, but the best part was on the surface… yes, the big boys, two amazing Whalesharks were not too far from the boat! Henry gave us the Whaleshark briefing while we were getting ready and Wagner was preparing the approach. We swam with the amazing creatures for a while. The atmosphere on the boat couldn’t get any better… or could it?? It did, after the Whalesharks, we got to jump in and swim with a pod of dolphins!!! More than 50 Spinners were playing with us and with the boat!!! To finish the day, we did the afternoon and the night dive at Labrynth, playing in the swim throughs and with a big barracuda and a couple of turtles.

Tuesday was not a bad day either. We went to the North side, to Duppy Waters, and enjoyed diving its incredible wall. We saw a huge barred sponge and a big grouper. The second dive was at Sting Ray Point where an Eagle Ray swam with us and where Henry found a Seahorse. The afternoon dive was at Pretty Bush, where Gaetano showed us a Pipe Fish and a Spotted Moray.

Wednesday was the day of Morays. First, at Jacks Bight, in the swim through, second at Black Hills, the underwater Seamount, and lastly during the afternoon dive at Eagle Ray Alley, with a Spotted Moray.

Thursday was the day for Turtles and for Eagle Rays. We started diving at Spotted Bay, where Gaetano called us to see a big Eagle Ray swimming away from us. At the end of the dive, just beyond the boat, a beautiful Hawksbill Turtle was eating. The second dive was at Jack Neil’s Point, on the West side, where another Eagle Ray and another turtle were waiting for us. The afternoon dive was at Ted’s Point, where we saw another Eagle Ray! For the night dive we went to Black Coral Wall; this time we enjoyed seeing and hearing a Toad fish.

We finished the week at the Haliburton, a wreck sank to 100 feet that’s covered in beautiful colorful coral. Our last dive was at Little Bight, where we saw Spiny Oysters and a huge Puffer fish.

Thank you very much for this beautiful week!!!
LBR Crew

June 16-23
Water Temp: 88º F
Boat: Show Time

Crew: Capt. Wagner and DMs Adam and Chris We started our diving week the best way we could, with a beautiful Seahorse and a Southern Sting Ray at Little Bit and then finished the day watching a Green Moray at Eagle Ray Alley.

On Monday we enjoyed a tipical Caribbean day diving in Sting Ray Point and at Jack Niel Cove, watching a pipe fish, a jelly and 5 sea horses!!!! The night dive was at Sticky Outy One where we saw a big lobster.

Tuesday was a wonderful day. We started diving on the North side of the island, at Iron Bound, where Chris and a few more divers saw a Hammer Head!!!!!!! For the second dive we went to Black Hills, the underwater Seamount situated on the South East side of Utila, where we saw a big school of Jesh. The afternoon dive was at Airport Reef, a shalow reef with some caves and swim throughs full of life.

We thought that the week could not be better, but it could. On Wednesday we started diving in Paraiso where a big Nurse shark was waiting for us and, when we finished the dive, Wagner told us that a group of dolphins were close. We were able to swim with more than 20 dolphins!!! After that, we went to play in the swim throughs at Labyrinth. In the afternoon we went to Ted’s Point with the small wreck and saw 3 sting rays. It was definitely an unforgettable day.

On Thursday morning Chris and Adam decided to go back to the north side, this time to Jack’s Bight, where we saw a Scorpion fish and a Swimming eel. The afternoon dive and the night dive were at Black Coral Wall, where we enjoyed the five different black corals we have on the island.

For finishing off the week, we had a really nice surprise... We went diving on the Utila Aggressor II, the liveaboard that’s owned by the owner of the resort!!!! We spent the morning on the amazing boat, sailing around the island and drift diving in The Maze with a baby Reef shark, and at Jack Neils Beach with the Seahorses.

The LBR crew enjoyed the nice atmosphere and the amazing dives we had last week!!! Thank you very much.

LBR Crew

 

June 9 - 16
Crew: Capt. Wagner and Adam and Chris as DM On Sunday we started our week diving at a beautiful Caribbean beach, Jack Neils Beach, where we saw 4 Seahorses!!! The second dive was at Pretty Bush which is known for its beautiful shallow reef, and we found the home of a Spotted Drum. For finishing off our first amazing day underwater, we went to Black Coral Wall, where we found a Moray and two Eagle Rays.

On Monday the weather changed and the wind appeared. We were still able to make it over to the North side for the morning dives though. The first dive was at Spotted Bay where we enjoyed the wall between the two different levels of the reef, and saw a really big lion fish. After a nice surface interval, we saw a couple of Seahorses and a mutant Decorator crab. In the afternoon the wind was blowing harder, so we decide to go to Silver Gardens. Even with the iffy weather, we still enjoyed a great dive with the highlight being a Pipe Fish.

On Tuesday, the weather improved a little bit, so we decided to go to Turtle Harbour again on the North side, to Duppy Water with its long sand tongue that goes from 15 to 100 feet. The second dive was at Paraiso, a nice buoy situated in a small beach with a beautiful live reef close to the cays, where we found a Nurse Shark! The afternoon and night dive were in Sticky Outty, where we saw an Octopus and a Lobster.

On Wednesday we continued our dive week at Jacks Bight with an incredible swimming Eel and at Black Hills, the always amazing underwater Seamount located in the deep blue. We finish the day playing in the swim thrus of Labyrinth.

Thursday was a full day. We started at Fishbowl and then Josephines with a Green Moray and a big Eagle Ray. In the afternoon we went to Little Bight where we found two Octopi. For finishing off the day, all our divers decided to do the drop off dive on the house reef, and they told us they had a great time.

We finished off the week at Blue House and Big Rock where we enjoyed seeing a few more Seahorses and a Sailfin Blenny.

Thanks for such a great week!!!
LBR Crew

 

April 21-28, 2012
Water Temp: 82 F.
Boat: Show Time
Crew: Capt. Wagner , and DM Adam

Turtle nesting season has started!! We are seeing more and more Hawksbill Turtles arriving to Utila every day.

On Sunday after our checkout dive we headed over to Sting Ray Point, where Adam found a Seahorse and an amazing Octopus. On Monday we saw a huge Sting Ray at Pretty Bush. On Tuesday we saw the first Hawksbill Turtle and a huge Green Moray Eel hunting at Jack's Bight. During the afternoon dive we saw a Spotted Eagle Ray and huge Barracuda at Airport Caves. Then on Wednesday we saw our second Turtle in the haunted and amazing dive site Duppy Waters. On the second morning dive we saw 5 Spotted Eagle rays at West End. On Thursday during the afternoon dive, Adam spot an incredible Star Gazer! Friday we saw 2 Turtles in Paradiso and 2 Seahorses, one black and one red, at Big Rock.

-LBR Crew

April 14-21, 2012

Water Temp: 80 F
Boat/ Crew: Showtime (Capt. Wagner and DM Andrea), Another Time (Capt.
Kerry and DM Joe)

This week we had the pleasure of having with us a famous and talented underwater photographer from Sport Diver Magazine.

We had an incredible week of diving. We started off the week on Sunday at Jack Neal Beach where we saw a huge Sting Ray followed by a Spotted Eagle Ray at Silver Gardens. This week we saw a lot of Smooth Trunkfish, more than usual, at almost every dive site, and some were even displaying signs of mating behavior. On Monday we went to Sticky Outy and saw a big red Seahorse, a Green Moray Eel and Moon Jellies. The guests loved the site so much, we came back for a night dive and saw a Scorpionfish and a ton of Cryptic Teardrop Crabs on the Barrel Sponges.

On Tuesday we went to the famous Pinnacle on the North side of the island. As soon as we submerged we saw a Hawksbill Turtle! During the surface interval the captains took us out to the open ocean to search for Whalesharks and we found a juvenile of 15 ft long at Frank's Bank!!!  What an incredible creature!!! For the afternoon dive we went to Light House where we saw a rare segmented Pipefish with spines sticking out from each of the segments. We also saw a Toadfish and a Quillfin Blenny.
On Wednesday we went to Labyrinth and saw a weird tube worm that doesn't even appear in the books. Thursday was a great day!! We saw more than 100 dolphins, we even saw 2 of them mating, it was incredible!! Also we went to Raggedy Cay and saw5 Eagle Rays and a Porcupine fish. Then we went to Diamond Cay and saw another Porcupine fish. After the 2 morning dives, both of the boats went to the Utila Cays to have lunch at the famous Fish Burger Restaurant. For the afternoon we went to Big Rock and saw 2 Seahorses, 3 Sailfin Blennies and 3 Slender Filefish. We finished off the week on Friday at Jack's Bight where we saw a Nurse shark, it was a great way to end the week.

It was an amazing and memorable week, the guests really enjoyed the diving and seeing all the marine life the ocean has to offer. This is a reminder to all of us to take care more and more of the amazing coral reefs, if we want the next generation to see it.

-LBR Crew

January 29 - February 3 @ LBR:

Water Temp – 78F
Boat: Another Time
Crew: Captain Wagner & DM Adam

At the beginning of this week our guests let us know that as long as they saw a whale shark they would be happy.  Although we were unable to provide the sighting this week we are confident that everyone still left happy.  For most people the highlight of the week was when one of the divers almost sat on a stargazer - scaring it out of hiding.  The stargazer amazed us with its beauty and its ability to burrow in the sand in 1 second flat with just a swish of its body.  At Jack Neil Point we watched a swimming swimming crinoid - a very neat sight.  And apparently the magic number this week was three: 3 turtle spottings, 3 green moray eels at Eagle Ray Alley, 3 sea horses at Little Bight, 3 stingrays, 3 eagle rays...

January 22 - 27, 2012 @ LBR:
Water Temp – 78F
Boat: Another Time
Crew: Captain Wagner & DM Adam

The Whale Sharks are back! Wait. Stop. Let's not get ahead of ourselves - first things first. After our Sunday morning checkout dive we headed over the Labyrinth, a favorite dive site, where Adam found a Lettuce Sea Slug while weaving his way back through the swim -throughs and valleys that the site is named for. On Tuesday the group was graced by an Eagle Ray during the morning dive at West End, and we found our first sea horse of the week at Big Rock. During the afternoon dive at, as Adam so lovingly calls it, "sticy outy one" we saw parrot fish spawning. And then Tuesday, Tuesday was the day, the day we saw Dolphins on our way out to Raggedy Caye. And the day we saw a WHALE Shark. It was after our second dive on the North side and we were the only boat around and our captain, Wagner, spotted the boil. When we went over to check it out, sure enough there was a 25 foot whale shark. Other highlights of the week were: an octopus out playing during the night dive, 2 purple sea goddesses stuck together at Duppy Waters, a couple of stingrays and 2 more sea horses.
  

For dive reports from previous dates click here.

For dive reports from previous dates click here, part 2.

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Guest Comments

Click here for the latest review from Undercurrent
 

May, 2012
I just wanted to take a minute to pass on Iris’s & my sincere Thanks! to all at Laguna Beach Resort. We had a great time (even though no whale sharks) but still enjoyed all the diving, meals & relaxing time over our 10 day stay. This was our 3rd visit & reminded us that L.B.R. is still one of our favorite dive spots. Please pass on our Thanks to all the wonderful hard-working staff that made our trip memorable, & thank you for coordinating all the travel logistics to get us there & back (the Sosa connection WAS a close one but we made it!) We’ll be back!

Best Regards, John & Iris

 

August, 2011
 We spent a week in Roatan after our week in Utila, and while there were definable differences to both islands, we really enjoyed the underwaer life we saw in Utila. Adam is without a doubt the best dive guide we've ever had, and we learned so much from him about what we were diving to see. He called exactly where we'd find our first seahorse, and sure enough, it was there! The dive boats were clean, easy to enter/exit, and able to get us to and from dive sites quickly.

Every element to our trip was well-planned by the staff at Laguna Beach, which really allowed us to relax and enjoy the beauty of Utila. From great service in the main dining room from Felicia, to Wagner helping us look for Whale Sharks, all the staff at Laguna Beach were welcoming, friendly, and willing to do whatever was needed to make our trip unforgettable!

Thanks again for helping us with our travel logistics. We're happy the tropical storm season bypassed us during our time in the Bay Islands.

Erik & Janice Zoeller
Denver, CO