ROATAN, BAY ISLANDS, HONDURAS
FANTASY ISLAND BEACH RESORT
April 2 - 9, 2005
| Join Terri and Ross Whiteside in discovering the magic of Roatan at Fantasy Island Beach Resort. Roatan is one of the Bay Islands located in the west Caribbean 40 miles north of mainland Honduras. Mild currents make this a great location for photographers, beginning & intermediate divers while spectacular crevices, swim-throughs and breathtaking walls with abundant marine life and pristine coral makes this a great adventure for advanced divers as well. |
| Roatan is noted for its pristine aquamarine waters, lush tropical foliage, hilly terrain staging unparalleled vistas, and a reef system offering protection to its sandy shores. One of the very last "undiscovered" islands of the Caribbean, Roatan is the largest of the eight islands collectively known as Las Islas de la Bahia or the Bay Islands. These islands rest on the Bonacca Ridge, the result of an enormous crack which runs along the ocean floor, about 40 miles northeast of the north coast of Honduras. Lava came up through the crack, which later buckled and formed the Bonacca Ridge. Roatan is 40 miles in length and less than 4 miles wide at its widest point. The beautiful Caribbean island of Roatan offers some of the world’s best diving. The island is surrounded by the world’s second largest coral reef. The Lempira is the official currency, however, the US dollar is widely accepted and English and Spanish are widely spoken. |
| Roatan offers the ultimate getaway. Surrounded by warm Caribbean waters, this island is as picturesque as it is unspoiled. While Roatan’s median temperature is 80 degrees Fahrenheit, its waters are equally warm. Almost-constant trade winds cool the island year-round. The island’s indigenous exotic trees and plants are kept healthy by ample annual rainfall. |
| There is a wide range of dive sites, including wall, reef and wreck. There is excellent diving in the shallow waters with approximately 96% of all species of Caribbean marine life, ranging from flecks of fluorescent organisms to the grandeur of the whale shark, the largest undersea inhabitant in the world, having been observed in the waters neighboring Roatan. Underwater terrain exploration is a spectrum of reefs grooved by angled chutes dropping to the sand. Tunnels, ledges and volcanic mazes extend far into the coral walls forming caverns and cathedrals. Underwater cliffs are draped with a kaleidoscope of hard corals and sponges. Visibility ranges from 65 to 110 feet. Open water currents along the plunging depths of the walls equate to clear visibility. Divers are treated to a dizzying array of reef and pelagic fishes, and because a drop-off is always close, deep water species like dolphins, sharks, manta and eagle rays are prevalent. The majority of dives are made conveniently from boat moors from a few yards to 140 yards offshore. Luckily some of the best reefs on Roatan are a few fin kicks from the shore. Put on the mask, fins, and snorkel and in a matter of seconds you're in an underwater fantasy. |
| Fantasy Island provides an unmatched combination of convenience, value and quality for both diving and food. A 2 ½ hour direct flight from Houston will bring you to this all-inclusive resort which features short boat dives to excellent dive sites. Mary’s Place has been rated one of the ten best dives in the world! With free, unlimited 24 hour shore diving to two walls, the wreck of the Prince Albert ship and a plane wreck, it is easy to get in over 20 dives during the week. Price includes 3 boat dives per day with one free night boat dive during the week. Three gourmet meals are served in one of Roatan’s top restaurants with a staff eager to please you. All you can eat meals are served buffet style for diver’s convenience. Additional adventures such as shark encounters, dolphin dives, dolphin snorkel dives and canopy tour with zip lines can be scheduled on the island for an additional fee. |
| All rooms have air conditioning, TV, phone, refrigerator with a private patio or balcony (most overlooking the beach). Twenty four hour security is provided on the island. There is free use of canoes and ocean kayaks. |
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| We will be leaving Houston Intercontinental on Saturday, April 2nd @ 2:45 p.m. arriving in Roatan @ 5:45 p.m. (Roatan is in the Eastern Standard Time zone). Our return flight will be on Saturday, April 9th, leaving Roatan @ 10:30 a.m. arriving back in Houston @ 1:25 p.m. |
| For more information contact Trip Leader Terri Whiteside at 713.856.8459. |