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Dive Review of Fantasy Island Resort in
Honduras/Roatan

Fantasy Island Resort, Mar, 2008,

by Ken Teleis, OH, USA ( 2 reports). Report 4052.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 3 stars Food 4 stars
Service and Attitude 3 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 3 stars Shore Diving 5 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ N/A
Beginners 5 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments This was my second visit to Roatan and first time staying on this side of the island. Sea conditions in the mornings were a little choppy but got more calm in the afternoon. Boat captain was very competent and greeted us when we arrived. DM was competent and gave a decent briefing but was not very good at locating seahorses. our group only saw three the whole week. Fresh fruit was provided on the boat in a cooler after every dive. Boats had oxygen and marine radios on board. Most dive sites were a very short boat ride away. The DM turned the group when the first member hit 1500 PSI but took a slow trip back to the boat and allowed you plenty of time in the water. A max depth was suggested but they did not chastise you if you exceeded that depth. Coral here is very colorful and varied. Fish life on this side of the island is mainly smaller fish.
The shore diving at Fantasy Island is very easy. You giant stride in from a gazebo and follow a cable over to the Prince Albert wreck. Excellent day dive and fantastic night dive. Shore diving is unlimited and if you want to dive before or after the dive shop opens you just take some extra tanks out to the gazebo and you're all set.
The food is plentiful and varied - buffet style - breakfast has eggs made to order daily, lobster twice during the week, plenty of fresh fruit and a variety of desserts. The wait staff in the restaurant was sometimes slow to clear off tables so we sometimes had to wait to find a clean table to sit down at. Water and some kind of juice are always available with dinner and sodas and/or alcohol can be ordered through your waiter.
The room was adequate and cleaned well daily. A pitcher of drinkable water was placed in the refrigerator daily and refills can be obtained at the bar if needed.
This resort also has a variety of animals wandering around. We saw peacocks, deer, and some kind of anteater. They even have a little zoo with deer, sheep, birds and a variety of other animals.
There is a recompression chamber on the premises but fortunately no one needed it while we were there.
The front desk staff was generally friendly but their english was a bit limited.
I didnt notice many bugs but mostly stayed inside in the evenings. I did wear some cactus juice insect repellant so that may have helped.
Nitrox is available either a la carte or on an unlimited (better value) basis. They keep a couple tanks lined up and you grab one, analyze it and sign the log.
Unlike some other resorts, the dive op here does not handle your gear. You have to bring your gear on and off the boat and change our your own tanks. The dive locker room is right near the boat dock so not very far to carry. Dry towels were provided for each dive. Gear could be safely left in the locker room which is locked up at night.
As others have posted, time in and out of the airport is a bit slow. Two large planes arrive within 1/2 hour of each other and customs moves the people pretty slow. The resort provides colored luggage tags which are recognized by the baggage handlers and my bags were grabbed up by them and ready to load onto the resort bus by the time I got through the passport control line (about an hour).
All in all, this resort seemed to be a great value and offered a variety of things to do including a nice beach. Perhaps the best asset here is the great shore diving - really only two resorts on Roatan that can offer that.
I'd return here any time.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 251-500 dives
Where else diving Maui, Florida Keys, North Carolina, Lake Erie, Niagara River, Ohio Quarries
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas choppy
Water Temp 79-81°F / 26-27°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 50-80 Ft/ 15-24 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions Max depth suggested but not enforced. 500 PSI recommended return to boat. DM turned the group around when first member hit 1500 PSI
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles 1 or 2 Whales None
Corals 4 stars Tropical Fish 4 stars
Small Critters 3 stars Large Fish 3 stars
Large Pelagics 1 stars

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

Subject Matter 4 stars Boat Facilities 3 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 4 stars Shore Facilities 3 stars
UW Photo Comments Boats had a separate rinse bucket for cameras. Crew handed in cameras once you got in the water.
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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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