Abstract. - Utila is a small Caribbean island lying off the north coast of Honduras, Central America, which forms part of the Belize Barrier Reef, the second biggest barrier reef in the world. Project Utila was a marine biology expedition, which ran for four consecutive summers between 1995 and 1998 and was organized completely by undergraduate students from the UK and Honduras. The project was launched to begin monitoring the condition of the coral reefs surrounding Utila.

These reefs are, aesthetically, some of the most spectacular in the Caribbean. It is for this reason that the island has become an international diving destination attracting thousands of scuba divers every year. Utila is also one of the cheapest places to learn to dive in the world.

Project Utila aimed to monitor the effects of the increasing diving pressure on Utila's reefs. The study was designed as a continuous monitoring program comparing heavily dived and less dived sites around the island. Other work by the project included: the production of biotope maps to be used for educational and management purposes; studies of the abundance's of the over exploited fishery species, Queen Conch (Strombus gigas) and Spiny Lobster (Panulirus argus); and the mapping of a reef area affected by coral black band disease.

The project also carried out community based work. In 1995 an island clean up was organised, in support of International Clean Up the World Day. In 1996 and 1997 a number of school visits were arranged and lessons were conducted on aspects of marine ecology.

Peter Todd was the equipment officer and co-leader of the 1996 expedition and James Guest was the diving officer of the 1996 expedition and he organized and led the 1997 expedition. The speakers will use aerial, terrestrial and underwater photographs to describe the island, its coral reefs and the problems and joys of organizing a student marine biology expedition.