Fantasea Tours – Sharing marine beauty, one tour at a time

They have been giving locals and visitors a unique view by sea of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) for just over a quarter of a century.

…And, the Fantasea Tours experience so wows visitors that many of them return every year for a taste of this slice of paradise.

It all began when Kim Halbich and her husband, Earl decided to start a power boat tour company.

“We started with a little 21 foot boat, and we grew to have five boats, the biggest being a power catamaran, which is 60 feet, and the smallest is now a 28-footer,” Kim reflects.

Fantasea Tours has grown to become a leading marine tours player, taking seafarers principally to the Grenadines, and along the leeward coast.

Clients have the choice of a Southern Grenadines tour, which takes in the Tobago Cays, Union Island and Mayreau; or Mustique and Bequia. While the tri-island tour remains the most sought after, Kim has also witnessed growth in the whale and dolphin watching tours within recent times.

She puts this down in part to a growing interest in nature, and a desire of persons to do what they can to help protect and preserve the environment.

Fantasea Tours now employs 10 full-time staff, as well as part-timers particularly during the high season, which runs from November to April.

A typical day on tour to the Southern Grenadines, for instance, will begin around 9 a.m., departing the base at Villa.

“The first part of their tour, they will snorkel with the turtles in Mayreau, have lunch on Union Island, then relax on Salt Whistle Bay on Mayreau – pass by Bequia and Canouan, so they get to see it – give them a little history.” They return to the starting point between 5.30 and 6 p.m.

That would put non-locals back $US150, which includes eats and drinks.

“Our clientele ranges from the super wealthy who have homes in Mustique and who charter a boat privately for themselves, to the regular guest who comes in and just wants to go on a day tour.” But the company also puts together tours for persons from different hotels, as well as returning nationals.

These days, Fantasea Tours has been receiving patronage from a growing number of locals. Whether they do a charter for a birthday party in the Southern Grenadines or simply cruise down the leeward coast, Kim thinks its “good to see a lot more Vincentians wanting to discover St Vincent and the Grenadines, because it’s absolutely beautiful.”

She acknowledges being honoured that in the Best of SVG 2017 Awards, the public chose Fantasea Tours as the company that provides the Best Marine Tours.

She thought that “nobody would think of us down in this little corner” and so is grateful “to those who were kind enough to put our name on the list.”

Fantasea Tours “prides itself on staff training, on knowledge of the islands and safety, and we’d like to think our edge is not only safety, but we get you there quickly and comfortably,” Kim adds.

Tour bookings can be made on-line or at the offices at Villa by calling telephone 457-4477, Monday through Saturday, between 9 a.m. and 4.30 p.m.