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Dive Review of Fantasy Island in
Honduras/Roatan

Fantasy Island: "Run Down Resort w/Employee Attitude Problems, but OK Dive Operation", Apr, 2016,

by Dennis A McCrea, WA, US (Sr. Reviewer Sr. Reviewer 7 reports with 6 Helpful votes). Report 8896.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 2 stars Food 2 stars
Service and Attitude 1 stars Environmental Sensitivity 2 stars
Dive Operation 4 stars Shore Diving 3 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 2 stars
Beginners 4 stars
Advanced 1 stars
Comments We originally researched several resorts on Roatan, but decided on Fantasy Island after we talked to a "specialist" at Maduro Dive Vacations. He explained the resort was offering a "great deal" because it had just been renovated and they had been closed for awhile.

This is the first time I've ever been really disappointed! I would call this resort "TIME TO CLOSE AND START OVER"

We were 2 couples traveling, and had reserved 2 oceanfront rooms with King Beds. After checking in at the front desk, we went to our rooms and the other couple opened the door and ... there was already someone else's stuff in the room. Back to the front desk, they assured us the room was empty, so we had to insist they follow us to the room and look for themselves. After they did confirm "with their own eyes" they offered another room, but it only had a Queen bed. Finally an hour after check in we both were able to get clean rooms with King Beds as promised.

Keeps going downhill from here. After we did an afternoon shore dive and came back to the rooms to take a shower. Another "glitch" no hot water - 85 degrees and not even warm! Went to the front desk and told the person it needed to be checked.

The next day after 3 boat dives and wanting a warm afternoon shower, no hot/warm water. That evening we asked again, a different person at the front desk said they would have it fixed by morning. Groundhog Day - Day 3 still no hot water, so I asked to speak to a manager, and another "new front desk person" told me she was a manager and would look into it. Groundhog Day - Day 4 still no hot water. I then went to the front desk and insisted on speaking to either the resort manager or owner and was told she would be available in an hour. Came back in an hour and met someone new, and she said she hadn't been told there was a problem. She walked with me back to the 300 building (10 units) and said maybe it was just our room. I told her the other 5 occupied rooms had the same problem. She knocked on another room door and asked them if they had hot water and was told no. She insisted on coming into our room and turning on sink and shower and after 5 minutes decided I was correct in no difference between cold and hot positions. She told me she would get someone to fix it by the next day. FINALLY - Morning of day 5 we had hot water.

Rooms are clean, but need some cosmetic repairs. Missing grout, cracked tiles, and ceiling fan had 2 blades one color and 3 another color. Water pressure in shower made the detachable shower head a necessity. Had to hold it next to your arms, legs, and on your head to get wet.

There is a big turnover in staff - speaking to several dining servers and front desk, it seems most people have only worked there for a week or two. The lady that runs the bar had a care less attitude, and seemed inconvenienced when we asked for limes with our drinks "because she had to slice them".

Dining staff was hit and miss, but there was a great server named Henry. Dressed nicely and great manners. He should be training the other servers.

Dive operation was the only saving grace. Big boats with lots of shade. Nitrox available $10 per tank or $140 for the week. Chris and Mario are safety conscious dive guides and Trevor is a very knowledgeable Boat Captain. Couldn't ask for better dive crew. Dives are limited to 45 minutes, but they would let you stretch it to an hour. Most of the time I returned with 1300 to 1500 psi.

Dive shop has a lockable gear storage area, and they just installed a new Compressor system.

Diving was OK, but not anything to go wow about. Lion fish and broken coral on almost every dive, and a lot of the shallow reef has an abundance of algae.

Great diving for beginners, but if you're looking for advanced diving or a lot of fish and coral formations, save your money and go somewhere else.
Websites Fantasy Island   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience Over 1000 dives
Where else diving Caymans, Bahamas, Dominica, Belize, Bonaire, Cozumel, Hawaii, Philippines, California, Florida, Washington
Closest Airport Getting There Direct from Miami or Houston

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, dry Seas calm, currents
Water Temp 80-82°F / 27-28°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 40-80 Ft/ 12-24 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile ?
Enforced diving restrictions [Unspecified]
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles 1 or 2 Whales None
Corals 3 stars Tropical Fish 2 stars
Small Critters 1 stars Large Fish 1 stars
Large Pelagics 1 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter 1 stars Boat Facilities 3 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 1 stars Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments Camera bucket on the boat, and the Captain and guides help get gear in and out of the water if needed.
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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