I haven't spent much time in Roatan so I can't really compare. Utila is a party zone for scuba kids, but there's also plenty to do if that's not your scene. I went there twice for freediving, so drinking was definitely off the table. There's great shore snorkeling, lots of good restaurants and chill bars. The whole place is very, very small; while the island is big only about 1/4 is developed, so if you ride your bike 20 minutes to Pumpkin Hill you've explored pretty much everywhere.
Don't go during the stormy season when the visibility and trash levels are very bad, I think between Nov-Feb.
Yeah overall it's a nice vibe. I've now been disappointed by so many dive towns around the world, I've decided not to dive anywhere except Utila from now on.
>pain in the ass to get to
No kidding; I'm too cheap to fly to Roatan so I just went to San Pedro, took a 3-hour bus, which never aligns with the boat schedule so I always have to spend a night in La Ceiba, asshole of the country.

>>2887004
i guess I didn't really answer your question. The dive shops host big social events every night of the week, plus there are resort hotels, for party kids who don't like to get wet, with much fancier venues. So you won't get bored. There's also a big "treehouse rave" in this weird outdoor museum, I think that's every month or couple months.
I liked the bar at Underwater Vision dive shop, that's where you can argue with Australians over a game of pool. there's also a dive bar north of the ferry terminal where locals play tourists for drinks at pool.