Fantasy Island Resort??

[divebutt]

Hi all,

My LDS is running a trip down to FI in early April (price can't be beat) and I wanted to get some opinions/answers. Did a search for past info and got a pretty good idea... but...

Diving is not included in the package (to allow for flexibility for scheduling which trip you want). I understand the prices are 35/55/75 for a 1,2, or 3 tanks. Are these fixed or are there discounts based on bulk purchases? You know, 5 days of two tanks.....

Also, how is the dive staff during the dive? Guided and you must stick with the guide, or can you go off and do your own thing?

Anything to add?

Thanks

 

[pir8]

I stayed there several years ago. I did the dive package though. Worth it to me. The dive staff was professional back then. There were guided dives but after you showed them you were competent they would let you alone. Its still a good idea to not stray too far since they know where the SeaHorses are.

 

[NorthernShrinkage]

Your LDS should have been able to get a price list for you if not ask them. We are going back In Feb were there 2 years ago they have package pricing for diving example 16 2 tank dives , 3 dives per day , one week packages , 2 weeks etc . You name it there is an overall price for that package. sorry dont have a copy of the list with me. Nitrox is an additional 10 bucks a tank.

Excellent dive staff at FI we found the first dive they kept a close eye on us but once they are confident with your abilities you can pretty much do your own thing instead of following the DM around like a heard of cattle.

 

[Doc]

(price can't be beat) and I wanted to get some opinions/answers. ...Diving is not included in the package (to allow for flexibility for scheduling which trip you want). I understand the prices are 35/55/75 for a 1,2, or 3 tanks. Are these fixed or are there discounts based on bulk purchases? You know, 5 days of two tanks.....

This is voodoo economics. If you already are going, you are already going, so I'm not sure what you are heading towards... Here are some thoughts for other readers: If the price can't be beat, you're going to have to add on the number of dives you might want to do on any given day. It depends on what you want out of your vacation. I go to dive. I'll crack out 5 a day, in the place just across the channel from FIBR. It's included over there in the pachage for $950 for the week- the 5 and if I want- even more.

I checked the FIBR website, and although it was having technical problems showing the dollar amounts http://www.fantasyislandresort.com/us/index.html , I could see that they offered a package with unlimited diving called "Dive Fantasy". Either your dive shop is making odd decisions on your behalf, not offering the trip with/without all diving oncluded- or just trying to make the price look artificialy low. I'm going with the last possibility.

Dive shops insist on using the supplier who will give them that freebie 1 in 10. They have to have their trip leader paid for, they have to have their instructor there to do the additional certifications for fees so that it is profitable for them. Different dive shops have different standard for their break even points. Fanatsy Island is a resort that appears lose money on some deals but doesn't because of the tight budget they operate on internaly.

I did find http://www.globalnet.hn/fantasy/rates1.htm which (I think) shows the full price for one or the other kind of room with the "Dive Fantasy" package for $875. Three tanks off of a boat is not my concept of a Fantasy- especially the way they do it, one tank for each boat trip- kind of eats up the day. Their website offers a confusing array of rooms and packages- honestly I have seen very little difference in any of the rooms there... or even across the way at the other resort. I assume you're in the "cheap seats"... that's where I would be! A room is just for sleeping!

As far as quantity discounts, I would determne what the add-on price would be to get into the "Dive Fantasy" Package and make them a cash offer of that difference on the spot, maybe try taking a 30% discount and see if the dive ops manager flinches.

If you dove there like I dive across the channel at the other resort for $950 inclusive, you would be racking up an additional $125 to $150 per day in fees. How's that price being beat, so far?

Also, how is the dive staff during the dive? Guided and you must stick with the guide, or can you go off and do your own thing?

You can go off and do your own thing. You will come back from Roatan either: A) Raving about the Lobster, Mary's Place & the Shark Dive, or B) Complaining that the place is overfished and that you saw nothing.

If you pick a good DM, if you stay with him, if you bring a flashlight on every dive- you might well be amazed

Decide what quantity of diving you are going to do- go cut your best deal- looks like they want $25 (minimum) per dive out of you at this point- go secure at least that rate at a minimum- try to get the "Dive Fantasy" upgrade- if you think your diving desire will require that!

 

[CODMAN]

Just for a price reference to help you, we went in october and had a 6 days all inclusive (unlimited diving= 3 boats a days and unlimited shore) for 599$... we shopped around, and any LDS/ travel agent selling the same package at FI were wanting 200-300$ more than if we booked ourselves...:shakehead Also, if you reserve ahead of time (on booking) we got an unlimited Nitrox package for the week at 100$ per person.

OK, the food was bad...:shakehead We were too large a group on the boat (as Roatan man suggested), but after the checkout dive the DM let us do what we wanted as long as we let him know. We ended up following the group, but holding back to avoid the crouding effect.

As Roatan man said, there is innumerable fish species there! I identified (correctly I believe ) over 80 species... And that's not counting the small stuff I wasn't able to identify. There really is tons of fascinating small stuff! take the time to look at it!

Anyways, I hope this info helps you otu a bit!

 

[CUunderH2O]

divebutt,

If you're flying out of Toronto, you're travelling with Nolitours and flying on WestJet. Nolitours offers 2 or 3 tanks/day packages, which includes shore diving on those days. Check with your LDS that is organizing this trip, they will likely know. If not, call squbaholidays; they can set you up with the dive packages available.

FWIW, I travelled to Roatan with my buddy last April, same package, booked through squbaholidays.com. Great trip. Don't forget to sign up for the off-site shark dive as soon as you get there; it books up fast. It's 85 USD, but well worth it.

You'll be on the same boat with the same people for the week. Assuming your trip is with a group, you'll likely all be on the same boat, or have your own boat. As soon as the DM realized we were experienced divers, he let us do what we wanted, so no issues with that. He did bang on his tank when he found interesting stuff, but my buddy and I are good critter-spotters, so we found a lot of the critters on our own.

I found the food to be what I expected: 3-star hotel food. Not much variety, but very edible, though not gourmet by any means. The seafood night was the highlight. The rooms were as expected, as well. 3-star, basic, but clean rooms. But I went there for the diving, not the room!

 

[diver69]

CU under H2O is right, the package out of Toronto is with Nolitours and they have a small section that tells you the cost of diving and advise you to call Squbaholidays to book the diving (separate from Nolitours, I guess). I can only remember the cost of 2 boats dives per day for 5 days is $240 (USD, I think). And on the days you dive, you get unlimited shore dives.

My concern is what Roatanman said, "Three tanks off of a boat is not my concept of a Fantasy- especially the way they do it, one tank for each boat trip- kind of eats up the day." Do they really take you out on the boat for one dive and return after every dive? That WILL take up a lot of time (then again, if the dive sites are REALLY near, it may not be a problem.

I am planning to go there mid Feb with the wife who is newly certified, and I have about 200 dives in various locations. DOes anyone know if the dive guides there are good enough to leave my wife to me or will he be supervising her with close scrutiny. Wife is still not comfortable and gets nervous under close supervision (me excepted).

 

[fabasard]

Yeah, the dive sites are like 10 minutes away, or thereabouts, NICE location. If you explain about your wife I am sure you will get the "Lassie Fair: treatment. They are great people, careful of the food on the buffet though, something I ate, and no other part of our group (I'm the adventurous one) gave me food poisoning for about 3 days, even kept me out of diving for 2 of them. Buy your drinks in town, 3 dollars a 12 ounce is robbery no matter how you look at it. Cab ride to town is FAIRLY cheap, buy your neccecities there and do it in one trip, tell the cabbie to wait, else your walking back, and those roads SUCK!

 

[Doc]

My concern is what Roatanman said, "Three tanks off of a boat is not my concept of a Fantasy- especially the way they do it, one tank for each boat trip- kind of eats up the day." Do they really take you out on the boat for one dive and return after every dive?

No. Like everyone else on the internet, I just make stuff up.

Just joking. This is a very common dive process that you will see in places that cater to European divers (with spill over to South American). Although FIBR markets heavily to the USA, their main income is from Italy and South America, the folks that pay full boat because... that's what they're used to.

This diver typicaly wants 2 dives a day and looks at their time as a vacation with some diving. When you book a liveaboard in the Red Sea or Indo-South Pacific, it is highly recommended that you look at their base clientelle. The North American penchant for dive-dive-dive is simply not supported by their schedules.

That WILL take up a lot of time (then again, if the dive sites are REALLY near, it may not be a problem.

Once again, it depends on what you want. My "crowd" would feel shorted if they weren't getting 4 and 5 dives each day. They are wet, stinky and covered in rubber. You and your bride might enjoy a little sunbathing- so it depends on what you need/want/desire.

The proximity of dive sites (ergo: travel time) is really not the issue. You can make a lot more two tank boat dives with a lot less fuss than you can make 1 tank outings. It is just simply more efficient one way versus the other. Efficiency of 2 tanks per boat does give way to a luxurious, easy paced vacation. There are plusses and minusses to either!

I am planning to go there mid Feb with the wife who is newly certified, and I have about 200 dives in various locations. DOes anyone know if the dive guides there are good enough to leave my wife to me or will he be supervising her with close scrutiny. Wife is still not comfortable and gets nervous under close supervision (me excepted).

No dive op should be depended upon to chaperone or assist any diver. make no such assumption. Hire a DM if you want that level of attention.

If you do not want attention from any divemaster (even a tour leader type), one must dive and look like they don't need it, not being a threat to themselves or others. Either that, or they must tell the DM that they wish no assistance. Otherwise, a DM might try to lend assistance.

 

[Sirto]

Hi all,

My LDS is running a trip down to FI in early April (price can't be beat)

If you can go there in Sept/Oct they offer a very cheap package deal. roughly $579/pp with 3 boat dives/day, unlimites shore diving, room and meals.

Hi all,
Diving is not included in the package (to allow for flexibility for scheduling which trip you want). I understand the prices are 35/55/75 for a 1,2, or 3 tanks. Are these fixed or are there discounts based on bulk purchases? You know, 5 days of two tanks.....
Thanks

I would think that their normal (almost) all-include rate would be a better deal for you. check that out on their website.

Also, how is the dive staff during the dive? Guided and you must stick with the guide, or can you go off and do your own thing?

The DMs generally will let you do your own thing but it's good to stay close enough t them that you will see the critters that they spot.

Anything to add?

Thanks

The dive sites are typically 5 -15 minutes with a few a bit further so returning to the dock is not a big deal. You do the SI on the rides in/out and on land as opposed to sitting on the boat. When they go out the the furthest sites they do them as a two tank dive.

FI has a nice beach for lounging (take lots of bug spray high in DEET!!! I found the rooms to be spacious, clean and reasonably appointed (mini fridge, TV, dresser), and the food pretty good.