Resort Report: Anthony's Key Resort

Anthony's Key is one of the Caribbean's premier dive resorts and a long-time favorite on the Island of Roatan. From dive site access to infrastructure, amenities, professionalism and safety, there are many reasons why this landmark property deserves a place near the top of your must-do list of destinations

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. There, he 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 this fledgling destination 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 is now well known as a world-class diving and snorkeling destination. Ditto for Anthony's Key, which has continued to expand and evolve. 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 from the original rooms to encompass 60-plus bungalows, suites and multi-quest lofts. Some sit on the shores of a private island while others perch on an adjacent hillside or are conveniently located near the docks. The setting is reminiscent of an island village, with footpaths running through the landscaped grounds. Each stand-alone island-style bungalow is finished with rich Honduran hardwood floors and furnishings and open to waterfront or hillside decks where hammocks and views await.

 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  property-wide WiFi service is available.

Recent upgrades to the resort include the opening of a new waterfront activities center, which includes large outdoor gathering spaces, a coffee bar, a reception center and the Ankor Seafood Grill, which serves up fresh, local ingredients with a spectacular ocean view. In 2024 Anthony's Key complete a new collection of  Key Premium Suites. These exclusive waterfront bungalows feature enlarged floor plans and are designed for couples seeking privacy and elegance with  unobstructed views of the Caribbean Sea.

A Commitment To Conservation

As part of an ongoing commitment to sustainability and green operating principles, Anthony's Key has installed the largest privately owned solar installation in the Western Caribbean. This system powers the resort during daylight hours, saving more than 600 metric tons of CO2 annually. Single-use plastic items plastic bags, bottles, coffee stirrers, and straws are not purchased by or sold at the resort. In addition to a range of water-conservation initiatives, the resort operates a proprietary water recapture system with a Bio-Microbics plant that cleans and recycles waste water for irrigation uses.

Anthony’s Key and Roatan Institute For Marine Science operate a coral restoration program that gives new life to corals that have broken or fragmented naturally due to storm and wave activity. Fragments are grown and maintained in a nursery environment, then transplanted back to the reef to help enhance coral cover and biodiversity. Resort guests are invited to participate in this program.

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 who 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 is the 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

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.