Questions about Fantasy Island

[nagel]

Wow! RoatanMan, great information. Thanks for taking the time to assemble.

A couple more.....

I know temp is very relative to each individual. But, what is the norm for exposure suits? In Bonaire, I typically dive a .5 mil suit all week. Others get into a 3 or 5 mil by the end of the week. Are water temps fairly the same as Bonaire?

What about electricity....120v 60cycle? Any issues with possible burning up a laptop?

Is Wifi available? Cost?

Cell phone? Is there cell phone coverage or can you buy a phone card? (I know I'm on vacation and why do I need a phone....I have a 80 year old mother who may need to get in touch with me)

Snagel

 

[CODMAN]

Steve, the week I was there (October) there was hardly any current. Despite this, the DM called a few drift dives where rather than mooring, the boat followed us and picked us up after ascending. In all honnesty... I felt little to no current and we could have easily swam back to the boat.

I don't know if it's like this year round, but it probably doesn't vary that much...

Hope this helps!

How is the current? Are the boat dives usually drift dives?

 

[DandyDon]

I know temp is very relative to each individual. But, what is the norm for exposure suits? In Bonaire, I typically dive a .5 mil suit all week. Others get into a 3 or 5 mil by the end of the week. Are water temps fairly the same as Bonaire?

What about electricity....120v 60cycle? Any issues with possible burning up a laptop?

Is Wifi available? Cost?

Cell phone? Is there cell phone coverage or can you buy a phone card? (I know I'm on vacation and why do I need a phone....I have a 80 year old mother who may need to get in touch with me)

Snagel

My dive computer logged water temps from 79 to 89 in February, if we can believe that. I was fine in a 1 mil shorty over 1 mil long all but the day of the norther. Take more than you expect to use.

How do you burn up a laptop? Doesn't the inline transformer take care of that? Ok, I lost one in a thunderstorm once. WiFi is free in the lobby area but very slow.

I don't know about Cell phones but I checked my voice mail every day with Skype and called my daughter once. I'm on the $2.99/month US & Canada plan so the calls home were free. If you don't do a monthly plan, you'll pay about 2c a minute. I forgot my headset, and it's rude to use speakers in public areas, but my laptop has a built-in mic and I used the airline headset to hear. Just removed the 2 prong adapter and the remaining 1 prong fit & worked well.

 

[CajunDiva]

Wow! RoatanMan, great information. Thanks for taking the time to assemble.

A couple more.....

I know temp is very relative to each individual. But, what is the norm for exposure suits? In Bonaire, I typically dive a .5 mil suit all week. Others get into a 3 or 5 mil by the end of the week. Are water temps fairly the same as Bonaire?

What about electricity....120v 60cycle? Any issues with possible burning up a laptop?

Is Wifi available? Cost?

Cell phone? Is there cell phone coverage or can you buy a phone card? (I know I'm on vacation and why do I need a phone....I have a 80 year old mother who may need to get in touch with me)

Snagel

You are correct...temp is very relative. If it helps, the water temperature last October was 84 degrees. What that means FOR ME is a dive skin for exposure protection only. If I get chilly towards the end of the week, I have a 3 mil shorty I can throw on top. I would suggest that your .5 mil would be perfect for 84 degree water. Maybe you can find out right before you leave what the current water temp is.

Electricity is the same as here in the states. You don't need any converters and your laptop has built-in surge protection through the plug-in I'm sure. (Most do that I know of)

WiFi is free in the lobby. It is pretty slow, but good enough to use Skype to call home and check in. That's what we always do. If your cell phone has international coverage you should be fine...there are cell towers on Roatan and lots of the islanders use cell phones. We have never used a cell phone on the island...way behind the times! You can give your mom the number to Fantasy Island in case of an emergency. I can sure relate to parent issues right now...

 

[SteveC]

On the guided boat dives, can people who want to take pictures, hang back, or do they want the group to stay together?

 

[DandyDon]

On the guided boat dives, can people who want to take pictures, hang back, or do they want the group to stay together?

I often stuck with the DM so I could shoot what he pointed out, but other times - nah, they didn't seem to mind me doing whatever I wanted.

 

[CajunDiva]

On the guided boat dives, can people who want to take pictures, hang back, or do they want the group to stay together?

I have never felt restricted in any way diving with the group. My only problem is that I get so caught up in photographing something that I get left behind and lose the group That's where hubby/dive buddy comes in. He keeps an eye on the group and gives me a nudge when I need to move on. But if you don't want to follow the group, just talk to the divemaster BEFORE starting the dive and let him know your plans.

 

[CODMAN]

But if you don't want to follow the group, just talk to the divemaster BEFORE starting the dive and let him know your plans.

Exactly! If you want to do your thing, and/or don,t want to be surrounded by THE GROUP, just let him know you intend to hang back with your buddy. But in all honnesty, unless you are a very good critter spotter, you will be missing out on many Photo oppertunities if you don't follow the DM. Finding sea horses, pipefish, frogfish and the sorts isn't as easy as it sounds...

 

[SteveC]

Are the divers responsible for getting there gear on the boat? I'm assuming that the tanks will be loaded for us. And can you leave your stuff on the boat in between dives if your coming back for the next dive?

 

[DandyDon]

Are the divers responsible for getting there gear on the boat? I'm assuming that the tanks will be loaded for us. And can you leave your stuff on the boat in between dives if your coming back for the next dive?

Yep.

If you're on Nitrox and using their analyzer, you have to line up with your tank to analyze, then most carry their own tank aboard. If your group has an analyzer, then they can load Nitrox tanks before you arrive. Take one if you can.