A strange turn of events.

Despite many years of travelling it can still take a considerable amount of effort to make that initial contact with fellow travellers. However, a simple ‘hello’ can be the start of some wonderful new friendships.

It was during breakfast that one of the two girls at the next table to me asked what I thought of the coffee. Pretty ordinary, I replied. The coffee debate continued; the girl went on to explain that she was the owner of a small restaurant in the USA and was in Honduras looking for a good coffee supplier. I mentioned my volunteer work in Colombia and very quickly we were deep in conversation. It soon transpired that all three of us were looking to get the hell out of Utila town as quickly as possible.

The coffee girl (Ashlee) said that she and her friend (Rachel) were due to catch a boat to one of the Cay’s where they were planning to do some diving. She asked if I would like to join them. Two hours later we were on board a small wooden boat heading towards a tiny island jam packed with little houses.

Jewel Cay and Pigeon Cay are located just off the southwest corner of Utila island, about 20 minutes by boat. The two islands are pleasantly small. In fact, one of their greatest draws is their tiny size and the total lack of motorised vehicles. There is only a single path, connected by a small concrete bridge, that runs from one end of Jewel Cay all the way across to the far end of Pigeon Cay. As expected, with a single path no more than 420 meters long, finding your way around doesn’t take long – you can walk the whole length of the place in about 6 minutes.

The hotel where we stayed is owned by a family who are Seventh Day Adventist’s and a such don’t do business on a Saturday – from dawn until dusk. All we could do, once we arrived on the Cay, was enjoy some snorkelling – in the crystal clear waters of the Carribean Sea – and laze about in hammocks.

On Sunday the three of us enjoyed a couple of reintroduction dives, which were both relaxed and quite simply amazing. We were the only people in the group. Had we stayed on the mainland we would have been on a boat with at least 11 other divers. The visibility was excellent and the water incredibly warm.

On Monday we visited the northern part of Utila where the diving was superb. Lots of Trumpet fish, Angel fish, Baracuda, Eagle Ray’s, Parrot fish, Moray Eel’s, Trigger fish, and a couple of turtles.

On Tuesday, following one more night on the mainland, the three of us caught the early morning ferry back to the main land. Ashlee and Rachel were heading in a different direction to me so yet again it was time to say ‘adios’ to some wonderful new friends.

Next stage: Lago de Yojoa & D&D Brewery.

        

  
  
 

About Richard Griffith

My first independent travel experience was a trip to Israel, in 1997, it was here that I caught the 'travel' bug! In 2001 I took an 8-month sabbatical and traveled around South East Asia. Since then I have managed to visit most of Eastern Europe along with India, Bangladesh, and a few other destinations in between. I love travel and I love meeting new people.
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