Travel

For ferries from England, you only have one operator, The Steam Packet Company (http://www.steam-packet.com/).  To find out the price of the crossings you have to go through the booking system as they don’t publish a table of fares.  Be careful when making a booking because ferries sail from Heysham and Liverpool and the booking system will show both, so make sure you are looking at the correct ports.

Ferry crossings from Liverpool tend to be faster, but they are Seacats and so more vulnerable to the weather.  The route from Heysham uses the Ben-My-Chree that will sail whatever the weather.  If your crossing is cancelled due to the weather, the Steam Packet Company will rebook you onto the earliest available crossing.  If you have seen a forecast and want to move your crossing, you can call them on 01624 661661.

The Steam Packet Company regard diving cylinders as dangerous goods and require them to be emptied prior to travel.

Charter of Endeavour includes complimentary cylinder hire, so if you want to travel across as a foot passenger, you can leave the lead and cylinders behind.  Large bags are checked in on the ferry, so you don’t have to worry about them during the crossing.  We can meet you from the ferry and bring you down to your accommodation (with your bags!).

If you intend to fly to the Island, Flybe operate services from Luton, Gatwick, Manchester and Birmingham.  If you make a booking and ring Customer Services within 24 hours, you can book an extra bag of sports kit which is much cheaper than excess baggage charges.  There are other airlines running other routes and you can find links to them at the airport website http://www.iom-airport.com/enquiries/destinations.xml.

Accommodation

The most convenient places to stay are Port St Mary or Port Erin.  Port St Mary is a small village but does boast several places to eat (Harbour Lights, The Pavilion, Rasoi, Horizons and The Station) as well as the Good Luck Chinese takeaway and a Fish and Chip shop.  There are currently two pubs, the Albert and the Bay View.  Most locals and visitors drink in the Albert.  There is a Co-op, post office, newsagent, pharmacy and hardware store.  There is no cashpoint, but the Co-Op does Cashback.

Port Erin is about a 10 minute car ride or a 20 minute walk away.  It is a larger town and has a supermarket (Shoprite), bank, gift shops and the like.  There are also a number of places to eat and drink.

New for 2009
Self catering flat at the Discover Diving in Port St Mary. 
A cheap alternative to hotels and guest houses, and we don’t mind divers staying over!  Flat comprises lounge/kitchen, shower room, one room with bunks + a single bed, one double room, one room with 5 single beds.  Two additional beds are available so maximum occupancy is 12 persons.  Hire rate for the flat is £15 per person per night or £150 per night (so the 11th and 12th person stay for free).  The flat is upstairs from the Dive Centre, so your kit can either be left on the boat or downstairs in the warm kit room to dry off.  It is an easy 10 minute stroll to the boat in Port St Mary Harbour.  The pick up truck will take cylinders and other heavy items down to the boat for you each morning and bring them back at the end of the day.

Other Accommodation options
The Balmoral Hotel in Port Erin is diver friendly.  They can be contacted via their website http://www.balmoralporterin.co.uk/.

The Falcon’s Nest in Port Erin has a good bar and restaurant http://www.falconsnesthotel.co.uk/  . They also have lots of rooms and so no problem accommodating you. 

The Isle of Man Government Tourist website has lots of information or you can call them on 01624 832101.   

There are no campsites within 10 miles of Port St Mary, so if you are intending to camp you will need to have your own transport and be prepared for about half an hour drive at the start and end of each day.