Going to Fantasy Island - Roatan Dec 28 to Jan 4

[sft109]

Thanks again. I got the email from them finally. So I have it in writing for 250 per person for the dive package. If we do 6 dives that's 180 at 30 each but hats only 3 days of diving at 2 dives a day so I think it makes sense to do the package for 250 and we get 3 dives a day for 6 days, 1 night dive and unlimited shore diving. I'll probably rent the equipment for the week too at 150 so 400 (plus tax) for the whole thing. So hotel + dive and equipment is roughly 1050 with tax.

Looking forward to the sun, warm weather and diving.

 

[mbs]

When I was there a few years ago my first stage crapped out and I used one of their regs... The bad news was it was giving me a hernia trying to breath below 60 feet. The good news is there's no need to go deep, all the good stuff is shallow!! Great diving there, enjoy!

 

[DandyDon]

I know that vacation divers use rental gear all of the time, but - it's just difficult for me to offer suggestions. Eh, check your Reg & BC out closely, don't just use it to see if it works. Check all the fittings, settings, everything you can find to check.

Hold hands with your GF if you have to, but stay together. Practice OOA drills on the first dive, as well as oral inflating your BC and simulated weight dropping. In the worst cases scenarios, when caca hits the fan, you have to be proficient at those three. Too many Accident threads involve divers who forgot to drop weights when they had problems on the surface, and too many death reports include weights intact.

I presume both of you have at least the mid level DAN dive insurance? You don't need it in Canada, but you do when you leave. Got a safety sausage, storm whistle, and dive light each - to carry on every dive?

Have a good trip. ilot:

 

[CODMAN]

I got lempira from the ATM machine in the lobby of Roatan airport, direct off my debit card.

As far as rental goes... You know what you want and feel comfortable with dealing with. R-man is right, those are the main things that can happen... They don,t seem major... Untill they bring on complications... A BCD inflator that is stuck isn,t a big deal, if you deal with it correctly... If you don't, you end up emergency ascending and risking a decompression incident... It can all be dealt with! That's what your training was for! Now do you want do deal with it? I don't...

I have to be honnest. I never tried FIBR rental gear, so I am only judging from appearance. But the gear looked like it was from the 80s... And judging by how the shop deals with it's tanks (o-rings) and Nitrox mixing shakehead. I wouldn't trust the rental gear. It might be fine... But for me, saving a few $$ isn't worth the risk...

The diving is totally different from T&C. Forget big animals... Think small cool stuff. And it is Very small... and Very cool....

Have a good trip!

 

[sft109]

Thanks for the tips. I'm probably going to rent the gear here and take it with us. I found a store with reasonable pricing. The person said they had been to Roatan and stayed at Fantasy and the gear was ok run of the mill stuff except the fins and masks were pretty poor, really basic snorkeling type stuff but after reading all the posts here, it's not worth saving the $30 or so bucks difference knowing I'd be getting better and newer equipment here.

As for safety and dive insurance, we will most definitely be paying attention to safety and know the drills w/regards to weights, etc. We don't have dive insurance and we never did get it but I think it would be a good idea this time since we are going to be diving a lot and just to be safe. It seems the medium (master plan) is $35 each plus $60 to sign up as cohabitants so $65 each. It's worth the peace of mind so I will give them a call, hopefully they are open because we fly out Monday at 6.20am! I should be OK to sign up online too.

EDIT: Got the dive insurance online. Now just need to rent the gear here and we are good to go! Looking forward to it!

 

[DandyDon]

Thanks for the tips. I'm probably going to rent the gear here and take it with us. I found a store with reasonable pricing. The person said they had been to Roatan and stayed at Fantasy and the gear was ok run of the mill stuff except the fins and masks were pretty poor, really basic snorkeling type stuff but after reading all the posts here, it's not worth saving the $30 or so bucks difference knowing I'd be getting better and newer equipment here.

It really is. Yeah, you also have to pay for an extra bag or two each way, but worth that too.

As for safety and dive insurance, we will most definitely be paying attention to safety and know the drills w/regards to weights, etc. We don't have dive insurance and we never did get it but I think it would be a good idea this time since we are going to be diving a lot and just to be safe. It seems the medium (master plan) is $35 each plus $60 to sign up as cohabitants so $65 each. It's worth the peace of mind so I will give them a call, hopefully they are open because we fly out Monday at 6.20am! I should be OK to sign up online too.

EDIT: Got the dive insurance online. Now just need to rent the gear here and we are good to go! Looking forward to it!

Good. I have seen 6 divers leave by ambulance - two of whom would not have survived without DAN insurance. Hope you never use it, but do have it anytime you leave Canada. Not that expensive, but can't afford to dive without it - even tho you were lucky enough before.

Have a great one...!

 

[sft109]

Got the gear, allrigt quality except the boots are pretty worn down but they didn't have anything else my size. Checked to make sure eveything was working. I just bought a 2mm shorty for about 80 bucks instead of paying 50 for some beat down 3mm full size rental. Eveytime I've done the Carib in a 3mm full size but never been cold and I read water should be high 70s to low 80s (usually we've had mid to high 70s the places we've been to) so I figured a 2mm shorty will be fine. I guess I'll find out soon

 

[DandyDon]

If you had time, you could buy some booties for $10-20, but oh well. I have used Wal-mart beach shoes as dive booties; almost anything will work. I prefer a long skin or jumpsuit for full protection, but I bet you do fine in the shorty - as long as you don't get scrapped on something. One word of caution (altho probly not needed): If you do get a skin injury in the sea, and it looks worse the next morning - call DAN ASAP, as those are rarely serious, but possible. That said, have a wonderful trip...!

 

[CajunDiva]

Correction, it was 12% not 18%.

Diversteve, are you sure that wasn't tax? I know the tax rate is pretty high, but was not aware other establishments charged a credit card usage fee...that's ridiculous :shocked2:

 

[CajunDiva]

One word of caution (altho probly not needed): If you do get a skin injury in the sea, and it looks worse the next morning - call DAN ASAP, as those are rarely serious, but possible.

Or just pour some vinegar on it when you get back to the dive shop...wonderful way to kill the bacteria. They keep it on hand at the Fantasy Island dive shop for just such occasions