Resort Report: Anthony's Key Resort

Anthony's Key is one of the Caribbean's premier dive resorts and there's plenty of reasons why you should put this resort on your must-go list.

It's no accident that Anthony's Key Resort sits on one of the choicest shorelines in the Bay Islands of Honduras. That's one of the advantages of getting there first. When Paul Adams came to Roatan in the mid-1960s to establish a scuba diving outpost, he found a sleepy island with just a handful of small fishing villages, and no roads to speak of. Adams secured a prime piece of beachfront property that included a small private island and built an 18-unit resort overlooking the pristine coral reefs of the island's northern coast. As word got out, adventurous dive travelers made their way to Anthony's Key and were rewarded with unique access to some of the finest dive sites in the Caribbean.

Fast forward five decades and the island of Roatan are now well known as a world-class diving and snorkeling destination. Ditto for Anthony's Key, this expanded and evolved as its popularity grew. Divers still consider the property to be the island's prime choice for access to the reefs, but the resort also attracts a more diverse clientele that includes instructor trainees, snorkelers, water sports enthusiasts and vacationers seeking a mixed bag of active adventures and relaxation.

Anthony's Key's guest accommodations have grown to include 61 rustic bungalows, some set on the shores of the private island others perched on the adjacent hillside on Roatan itself. The setting is reminiscent of an island village, with footpaths running through the landscaped grounds. Each stand-alone island-style cottages is finished with rich Honduran hardwood floors and furnishings and open to waterfront or hillside decks where hammocks and views await.

There are two primary categories of accommodation at Anthony's Key. Standard bungalows feature large louvered windows that allow trade winds to provide the cooling. Superior Bungalows are air-conditioned, weather-sealed and fitted with large view windows. All accommodations on the private island are reached by taxi boat, which runs on call. The bungalows are free of televisions and phones. For those who just can disconnect from the world,  phone service is available through the front desk, satellite television is streamed in the Frangipani Bar and the Pool Bar, and there is property-wide WiFi service.

The resort's restaurant and bar are set among coconut palms on a hillside overlooking the ocean. Down at water’s edge are the photo, gift, and dive center, and also on the grounds are the Roatan Museum and Roatan Institute of Marine Sciences, where guest can participate in a range of educational programs and marine life encounters. On the resort's second private island, Bailey’s Key, trained naturalist host dolphin encounters, and lead tours that showcase the island’s indigenous plants and animals.

Anthony's Key is home to one of the premier recreational diving and snorkeling venues in the Caribbean. It is a PADI 5-Star Instructor Development Dive Resort, offering everything from discover scuba programs to professional development courses. The center includes a retail facility and stocks an extensive array of well-maintained dive gear in rental inventory. The resort's fleet includes four Pro 48' and seven Pro 42' Custom Dive Boats and a dedicated 51' snorkel boat. Divers are provided with dockside equipment storage, fresh-water showers and rinse tanks.

Also on the waterfront are an on-site hyperbaric chamber and clinic, and Photo Roatan, which is one of the most complete photo shops in the Western Caribbean. The photo center provides equipment rentals and technical support and stocks memory cards and batteries for sale. The staff includes video pros, which are available to document individual or group dives and dolphin encounters.

Daily boat diving trips give access to more than 35 sites along the island's north coast and west end, with travel times typically between five minutes and a half hour. Weekly shark dives take participants to the island's south coast, where they can interact with groups of a dozen or more Caribbean reef sharks. These dives are described as a more relaxed encounter, as opposed to the frenzied activity that takes place at shark feeds in other regions. Another popular marine life encounter offered by Anthony's Key is an opportunity to dive or snorkel with dolphins at the resort's Bailey's Key location, and in the open ocean. For a more extensive experience, guests can sign up for the Dolphin Trainer for a Day or the Dolphin Specialty Course, and each summer, there is a family-oriented, six-day Dolphin Scuba Camp. Shore diving is always available with the property's lagoon and on the Front Porch Reef. The sheltered conditions of these relatively shallow sites are ideal for divers of all ages and skill levels, and in addition to a variety of coral cover and marine life, there is a small plane wreck to explore. The reef is also a favorite venue for night dives.

Diving and snorkeling activities remain a key focus at Anthony's Key but are certainly not the only reason to visit. Guests have the use of kayaks and stand-up paddleboards to explore the lagoon or make a trip to the beach at Bailey's Key. The staff can also arrange a day trip to Maya Key, which is a private island that features two secluded beaches, plus a freshwater pool set among palm trees. The on-site Ixora Spa offers a range of treatments, and there is a wide range of activities to enjoy on Roatan and with excursions to the mainland of Honduras. The roster includes adventures such as Zipline canopy tours, whitewater rafting, horseback rides, and visits to a wildlife refuge, along with more relaxing pursuits such as shopping excursions, golf outings, and tours to Mayan ruins, coffee plantations and local hot springs.

We can help customize a package that fit your needs that include all meals, airport transfers and more. By booking through us, divers can lock in special buy-one, get-one-free rate, based on double occupancy. To learn more about this offer, give us a call at 800-330-6611or send a note to sales@caradonna.com.