Night Dives
Just before sunset, Anthony's Key Resort dive fleet departs for twice weekly boat night dives (Tuesday and Thursday - 2 night dives are scheduled to accommodate mid-week check-ins). Night dives are typically moored dives. The reef takes on a new look as the nocturnal creatures become more active, and guests are often treated to views of octopus, unfolding basket stars, spiny lobster and more.
Flashlights, video lights and strobes are available for rent through the photo shop to enhance your night vision.
Non-guest Night Diving Rates (Based on availability only)
One tank night dive $40
The Fleet
Anthony's Key Resort modern fleet of seven custom Pro 42 dive boats and three custom Pro 48s whisks divers to 35 varied sites located just 5 to 30 minutes away. Unrivaled in the Caribbean region, the AKR fleet was designed for comfort and safety, with convenience an added bonus.
With 44 customized tank racks and a walk-through transom, the Pro 42 can accommodate up to 20 divers and two crew. The Pro 42, with a deep-V in the front, is a fast, sea-worthy, and versatile boat with the ability to tackle rough seas and at the same time reach remote shallow reefs. Each boat is equipped with dry storage, a fresh water rinse tank for cameras, a cooler with drinking water, and a covered area.
The Pro 48 can comfortably accommodate 30 divers and two crew. The 48 has sixty-four customized tank racks, a walk-through transom and opening steps to the bow. An additional 100 square feet on the fly bridge and added dry storage compartments, create plenty of space to gear up and walk around the boat. Each boat is also equipped with a fresh water rinse tank for cameras, a cooler with drinking water, bathroom and covered area. The Dive Pro 48 has a long range for off-shore diving locations and is used for optional excursions to Cayos Cochinos and Barbaretta.
Our 51-foot flat-top snorkel boat can accommodate up to 30 snorkels. It is equipped with dry storage, a fresh water rinse tank for cameras, air tank storage, and a cooler with drinking water, bathroom, and covered area.
The Dive Operation
Anthony Key Resort is a PADI Gold Palm 5-Star Instructor Development Center and has been a pioneer in the diving industry for more than 30 years. It is ranked as one of the top dive resorts in the world and boasts the following amenities:
- Modern fleet of three Custom Pro 48 and seven Pro 42 dive boats
- On-sight recompression chamber and staff physician
- Full-service photo shop
- Dive equipment rentals
- PADI continuing Educational Program that offers resort courses through IDC training
- Air-conditioned classroom facility
- Convenient dockside equipment storage, fresh-water showers and rinse tanks
- Extensive shore diving in lagoon or Front Porch reef
- Dolphin dive and snorkel opportunities through Roatan Institute for Marine Sciences
- Excursions to remote dive and snorkel destinations
Upon arrival, guests will be assigned a boat for the length of stay, each staffed with a dive master and captain. This ensures divers see a variety of dive sites throughout the week without repetition, and enables our staff to get to know each diver's respective needs and abilities to better serve them. A briefing on diving procedures, how to sign-up for dives on the dive board and a required warm-up dive and equipment checkwill be given prior to your first dive.
Shore Diving
Monday - Saturday: 3:00 pm - 9:00 pm
If three boat dives daily and two scheduled weekly night boat dives don't quench your dive thirst, Anthony Key Resort backyard lagoon and bay will. Particularly convenient for guests staying on our private islet, the dive shack on Anthony's Key is staffed and equipped with air tanks for easy beach access to "Front Porch" reef, a vital area of the reef ecosystem often overlooked by recreational divers. Among the varied seascape, divers may observe eel, grouper, and octopus as they descend to depths of 40 feet or more, as well as schools of blue tangs, parrotfish, angelfish and damselfish, sea fans, star coral and brain coral. In addition, a small plane wreck in the lagoon at 30 feet is an excellent training tool for students and novice divers.
Wreck Diving
El Aquila
Type: 230 ft. double deck cargo vessel
Depth: 100 to 110 feet
Sunk in: 1997
Skill: Intermediate to advanced
Northwest shoreof Roatan, a two minute boat ride from Anthony Key Resort
"El Aquila" or "The Eagle" ran cargo between Puerto Cortes, Hondurasand SanAndresIsland. This freighter originally sank 8 years ago around the Utila Keys, Bay Islands, Honduras. It was recently salvaged and brought to Roatan by Anthony's Key Resort and sank for the BayIslandsdive highlight of the year. The ship is intact and is resting perfectly upright on a sandy bottom in approximately 100' of water. Rapid coral growth is expected.
Odyssey
Type: 300ft. multi-level ship
Depth: 112 feet
Max Depth: 120 feet
Min Depth: 40 feet
Sunk in: 2002
Skill: Wreck diver certification is recommended
North coast of Roatan, a 12-minute boat ride from Anthony's Key Resort
The sinking of the 300-foot Odyssey off the north coast of Roatan is being hailed by dive enthusiasts as one of the Caribbean's largest shipwrecks.
This wreck provides visitors to the island numerous dive opportunities to fully view the multi-level ship, which measures 85 feet from keel to mast and 300 feet from bow to stern.
From Anthony's Key Resort, a 12-minute boat ride east finds the Odyssey resting on a sandy flat. Divers may follow the top of the mast at 40 feet and descend to the top of the bow at 70 feet. Then explore the bulwarks or cargo hole level at 80 feet, the bow at 107 feet and the stern at 120 feet.
"The enormity of the Odyssey is overwhelming," says Samir Galindo, General Manager of Anthony's Key Resort. "There is ample opportunity to return again and again to the ship and still not see it all. Better still, up to three dive boats can dive the site at the same time without divers ever getting in each others path." In addition the ship's size allows divers of different levels to explore the wreck safely.
Optional Dives - Outer Island Excursion: Barbaretta
$2000 per group (1-18 people)
Lunch included
Barbaretta is a verdant island located at the eastern most tip of Roatan, with spectacular scenery, crystal clear waters and virgin coral reefs. The island is made up of a fairly large bay, several small mountains, and is surrounded by calm waters, white sand beaches and isolated keys.
Boarding one of our Pro 48s, you'll coast along the northeastern shoreof Roatanisland in comfort (approximately 1-1/2 hours). The trip consists of three dives: a drift dive at a site called "The Elbow", another on the beautiful "Morat Wall" and another dive off the secluded Pigeon Keys. Diving in Barbaretta is not only remote and pristine, but provides divers a good chance of seeing nurse sharks, black tips, green and hawksbill turtles, southern stingrays, and schools of jacks, groupers and wrasses. Snorkel will enjoy wading around the shallows of the Pigeons Keys.
This optional trip leaves the AKR dock at 7:30am, subject to water and weather restrictions. Lunch is served on the boat while anchored in one of Barbaretta´s many pristine bays, and returns at approximately 5:00pm.
Bookings:
Inquire with the Dive Shop for scheduled trips.
Recompression Chamber/Doctor's Office
8:00am - 5:00pm daily
on call 24 hours daily
While our commitment to safety is reflected in our excellent safety record, it is nice to know that medical facilities and a hyperbaric chamber are on site. Two medical doctors and an EMT staff the clinic. A nominal charge of $12/week or $2/day will serve as insurance while here for dive related injuries, minor medical cases, ear checks, etc. Medication is an additional charge. The nominal charge also serves as a donation to the clinic that provides medical service to the local community.
Jr. Open Water Certification
Cost: $375
Returning AKR campers who have completed their Jr. Scuba Diver requirements may elect to complete this program for a reduced fee of $150.
Designed for children ages 10 to 15 years old, the Jr. Open Water Diver course teaches the basic knowledge and skills needed to dive with a buddy, independent of supervision (see special requirements for 10- and 11-year olds). Certification requires approximately 31 hours of combined classroom, confined water and open water training. Upon completion, kids aged 10 and 11 may descend to no more than 40 feet accompanied by a parent, guardian or PADI professional. Children aged12 to 14 will be qualified to dive when accompanied by any open water certified adult. Parents must complete a liability release and medical statement prior to enrollment.
(prices subject to change without notice)
