Roatan, Honduras- Fantasy Island 8-09

[DevilDiver]

There are no problems on the islands, I would fly direct to Roatan if possible and not the mainland. The only thing I noticed different was a couple of soldiers at the airport but other than that you would never know. There is a lack of Americans and Europeans vacationing there at the moment due to the news coverage witch was nice as far as the amount of divers per boat but has to be hard on the dive op's. There were allot of vacationing nationals (due to specials being run for locals) so the resort was full but none were divers.

[DevilDiver]

"So, you want to get another beer?"
"No, I think I will stick with the rum and coke."
"Cool."
"Yea."

[Jack Hammer]

There were soldiers at the airport when I was there last year too. I believe it's normal. Glad you had a good time. Did you make it out to Mary's Place?

[TRACI]

You must have really enjoyed Roatan to make a trip back so soon.

[DevilDiver]

Yea.......

Here is a shot from above after you come up. Could not get anything worth a crap from inside, it had got too stirred up from divers that could not keep off the bottom.

At the first section you enter around 80ft and swim through, when you get to the cut off you can procede forward and come out around 120ft or take the left and come out at the top of the reef around 50ft.

[DevilDiver]

Originally Posted by TRACI

You must have really enjoyed Roatan to make a trip back so soon.

Got a hella deal as a return and $370pp RT out of Houston on Taca.

[DevilDiver]

Economy accommodations- For the bare bones traveler.

[unclepooty]

Great pics, as always DD. Thanks!

[DevilDiver]

Trip Report- Fantasy Island Roatan, Honduras 08/01/09-08/08/09

Roatan is still a divers destination, recent political issues have not effected the daily routine that I could tell. Fantasy Island is about a 20 min ride from the airport and is an island off of the main island with a single bridge with a gaurd shack keeping the island priviate.

The resort has new owners as of the first of the year and they have put some much needed money into it. There is more work needed but things are on their way in the right direction. Rooms are simple with bed, bath, small table and refrigerator for the pitchers of fresh water for drinking. Most rooms are beach view with the exception of building H witch is on a hilltop (4 flights of stairs) but right behind the dive shop.

The food needs improvement, not that they do not have the supplies but the Chef that has been hired does not seem motivated or possibly talented. It's not bad but it could definitely be better....Breakfast and lunch are the high points.

Now for the important stuff...... Diving!

Fantasy Island is really all about diving and you can do allot of it. The dive shop has a good clean compressor and they use it. The fill room is neat and orderly and they keep plenty of tanks available. They have equipment for rent if needed that look used but in good condition, a small camera and accessory shop if you need batteries or clips but selection is limited. They offer specialties and classes if you want to add another PADI card to your collection as well.

The shop runs three boat dive a day, and unlimited shore diving. The boats need a little work but they had 4 new engines delivered while we were there and plan on refitting each boat. From the boat the entries are off the back and there are two ladders for exits.

You are assigned to a boat at the first of the week and stay with the same boat and DM and captain for your stay. Some returning divers request the same boat and crew from prior trips, seems that they do not have allot of turnover with employees.

You have lockers at the shop to store your gear so you do not have to carry anything back to your room unless you want to. The locker room is locked every night after 8pm so if you do a late night dive you will have to store your gear overnight.

Shore dives are done off a gazebo at the end of a short pier that a small skiff will take you to and pick you up. The shore dive is a great dive with a plane wreck and a ship (The Prince Albert) just short swim from shore. You can also swim out to Newman's Wall or the Coco View Wall (Coco View is right across the lagoon from Fantasy Island. These are some of the best dives sites and are great day or night and you can even put an extra tank on the boat and do a drop off on the way back in off one of the walls and swim back to the resort.

The boat diving is typical Caribbean diving with the usual species and corals. Not so much for large fish but there are a few around, good possibility for Eagle Rays and maybe a Nurse Shark or two. Good assortments of reef fish and healthy corals for the most part. There was some damage from a recent earthquake that left some cracks and knocked over sponges and damaged the outer wall at the Ankas Place site where you can see where the coral broke loose and fell to the depths. There is an abundance of Black Coral and plenty of big healthy sponges and Sea Fans.

It was common to see schools of Chub and Spade Fish with a few large Snapper as well that seem to like to swim along with you on a few dives. I saw no Turtles but there were some spotted on other boats, we did see five octopus on one night dive and a Caribbean Spanish Dancer.

Fantasy Island is a great destination but do not expect luxury. This is more of the budget resort on the island but if you like to keep it simple and do allot of diving (easy to do 4-5 or more) and not break the bank it is worth checking out.

Sites visited on this trip include:
Mary's Place, Mr. Bud (Tugboat), Ankas Place, Iron Shores, Newman's Wall, Coco View Wall, Prince Albert, Missing Link, Gold Chain Reef, John's Spot, Valley of the Kings, Connie's Dream, Carib Point, Inside Outside, Pirates Point and French Key Cut.

[johnyringo]

We stayed there a few years ago. Did they ever get that pool working? I've never figured that out myself (though I'm sure someone will explain), with the beach and the clear waters of the Carrib. being closer to some of the rooms than the pool, who needs a pool?. ...Salva Vida,those damn little monkeys and dive 'till you can't dive anymore. loved that place!