Anthony's Key Resort — Hotel in Roatán

I’m going to add to this post, even though I hate doing things like this.

Yesterday we were out with some friends in their small boat snorkeling off of the reef near AKR. When we were through snorkeling, we were idling through the AKR inlet. As we were approaching the mouth of the inlet, an AKR boat was speeding towards us. We attempted to move the boat we were in further to the left of the inlet because the boat was not slowing down. As the boat approached us within 6 feet of our bow, we knew we were in trouble. He was coming way too fast and creating way too big of a wake for our boat to handle. As the AKR dive boat, loaded with their dive customers, passed us they completely swamped our small boat. One of the females on board was thrown across the boat and injured and the boat began to fill with water. We were bailing ourselves out as they drove off and they didn’t even stop! Everything on board was washed away and our small motor was completely flooded. We weren’t sure what we were going to do but the current was carrying toward West End so we decided to begin to paddle. We came back to the spot where we had been snorkeling and there were four boats there. Three of them belonged to AKR and the other belonged to Jackson dive center in West End. All of them could see us paddling toward them. We decided not to approach an AKR boat because they were the ones who had done this to us. Instead we paddled up to the Jackson dive center boat and a crew was kind enough to tie up to us and said they would tow us back to West End. They told us it would only be a few minutes because they were waiting for divers to come up and we told him we were just thankful for the help. When their divers surfaced, one of the divers was the owner of Jackson dive Center, named Reno. Reno asked what was going on and his crew told him that we had been swamped by a boat from AKR and our boat was now disabled. Reno’s response? “ they shouldn’t be out here if their boat is not seaworthy.” He then told his crew to release the rope and leave us there, which they did. We weren’t quite sure what was going on and we assumed they were going to drop off their customers and then come back to help us. We were very wrong. It was getting close to dusk and we made the decision to not sit there and wait. We jumped in the water tied ropes around ourselves and began to swim and paddle the boat back to West End. When we arrived in West End, my husband and I drove down to Jackson dive Center and sitting on the porch like they hadn’t just left people out in the Caribbean Sea was Reno and his crew. My husband approached him and asked if he remembered us. Reno said no but both of his crew member said yes. My husband explained to Reno what he had done and what had happened to us and Reno acted like he had no idea what my husband was talking about. Both members of his crew continued to agree with my husband and tell him that they knew we were broken down and that they knew we needed help. Reno still denied even knowing what happened even though he was the one who had made the decision to leave us on the sea. We left there frustrated and decided not to make a big scene because he was holding a child, but we were beyond shocked that a dive center owner would do something like this and then deny that he had left people in serious danger out at sea. I can’t imagine what the customers on his dive boat were thinking. My husband and I then drove to AKR and told them what they had done. They played dumb as well and told us that we would have to come back the next day to talk to a manager which my husband is headed to do right now.

Luckily everyone on board our boat was either Ex military or heavily water trained or this could have turned out very differently. Leaving stranded boaters in the water is illegal in most countries, but I don’t know if it is here, but...

My family visited Anthony’s Key Resort (AKR) on Roatan Honduras Jan 11-18, 2020. The short review is that AKR exceeded my very high expectations and I have, and will continue to, recommend this resort to anyone who will listen. AKR is simply amazing. The longer review lets me take the time to gush about some of the finer points.

We landed in Coxen Hole on Saturday afternoon on a flight from Miami. Entry through customs was slow but non-eventful. After customs was finished, we were greeted by an AKR employee who took our luggage and had us wait till the busses were ready. Again, just a short wait. The ride to the resort took about 40 minutes on a small bus, then it was up the stairs to check in. The check in process was very smooth with a short explanation of the resort amenities, this was helped along by the rum punch. We did rush the check in along to beat the other 40 people that came in on our flight. Arrival and check in were completed in an efficient fashion with acceptable speed, good experience with few bells and whistles.

We set off toward our bungalow, we actually booked two side by side that shared a porch. One bungalow for the wife and I, and another for two 18-year-old children. We took the shuttle boat to the key where our bungalow was located, beautiful. There was never a wait to get to or from the key, the shuttle captains were friendly, the view was outstanding. As a small part of the vacation, the shuttle rides were a surprise bonus.

Our bungalows were nicely appointed and very roomy. The A/C was cold and the linens were fresh, better than many hotels. All of the basics were accounted for, safe, coffee maker, mini fridge, and shampoo/soap/skin lotion. One departure from the norm was the lack of a TV, I loved not having the constant distraction. We were delighted with the accommodations…Then we saw the sunset through the wall of windows, amazing! Our bungalows were a perfect place to relax after a day of diving.

Right outside of our doors was the fantastic porch built on stilts over the water. There was a shallow grass flat around the porch that drew in rays, angel fish, scorpion fish, tangs, lobster, and eels to mention a few. We spent hours watching the sea life swim and crawl around the porch. When we were too tired to watch the fishes, we could relax in the two hammocks, there is nothing better than a hammock after a busy day. The bungalows and porch were absolutely fantastic.

Now let’s talk about the main event, the diving. OMG! The reefs are spectacular, there are fish everywhere, coral, sponges, eels, everything in vibrant color. The reefs took our breath away on the first dive and on the last dive. We saw so much, two ship wrecks, fish of every sort, a shark dive, coral swim thrus, reef walls, reef tops, and on and on. Many of the dive sites were within 5 minutes of the resort, the longest ride out was 20 minutes. We could see the resort from most dive sites, less time traveling there equals more time diving. One suggestion, get nitrox certified you will feel better after diving so much. We were Nitrox certified before the trip, but the resort offers Nitrox classes also.

The dive master, Nikko, and captain, Luis, made sure we were safe and saw as much as possible every day. They were true professionals that looked after our needs and were very friendly. I hope to dive with them again the next time we visit AKR…we will be going back.

This review is getting long so I will quit here, but there was so much more. The food, restaurant staff (Thanks Hill, Perry, & Felipe), the trip to Maya Key, the island BBQ, the crab races, the photo shop, classes, fish ID, buoyancy class, taxi ride to sloth sanctuary, and more. You cannot go wrong with...

A Magical Dive Vacation – Unforgettable Staff, Epic Dives & First-Class Hospitality ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

From the moment we landed in Roatán, Anthony’s Key Resort made us feel like family. Gregory and Brian were waiting at the airport with big smiles and even bigger personalities—one cracking jokes while the other handled the luggage like a pro. That set the tone for an incredible week.

The diving? Absolutely world-class. Crystal-clear water, vibrant reef life, and dive pros who made every trip out feel smooth, safe, and exciting. Marvin is hands down the best dive master we’ve ever had—calm, skilled, and always upbeat. And William? Best boat captain ever. Every ride with him was a total vibe. He ran each trip with precision, brought amazing energy, and greeted us with the kind of smile that just sets the tone for the whole dive.

A huge thank you to Kevin, the dive organizer, who went above and beyond behind the scenes. He made sure we had our favorite dive master and boat captain every day, and kept our entire group together on the same boat. It made the whole experience feel smooth, personal, and honestly just more fun. You could tell he genuinely cared that we were having an amazing time—and we did.

We also had the pleasure of short boat rides with Steven, Conner, and Kevin—each one fantastic in their own right. They made every day on the water feel seamless and fun.

A special shoutout to the compressor room team—even though we never met them, we’re 100% impressed. Every single Nitrox tank we analyzed was spot-on. The mix was dialed in perfectly every time. We know how much hard work and attention to detail that takes behind the scenes, and it didn’t go unnoticed.

Unfortunately, Joline wasn’t able to dive this trip due to sinus issues. Dr. Raphael checked her out and made sure she had what she needed. What meant even more to us, though, was how many staff members asked how she was doing. They remembered her, made comments about missing her on the dives, and genuinely cared. That personal touch left a lasting impression on both of us.

Outside the water, the resort continued to shine. Perry, the head waiter, led a rockstar crew—Sonny, Kenny, Larry, Eric, Saul, Ebanks, Wesley, and Marcos—each one delivering fantastic service with heart. Brandon (restaurant) made our meals feel personal, and Danisha made sure our mornings started with the best coffee on the island. Timmy, the bartender, served up great drinks with even better conversation.

Our trip was made even easier thanks to Yolanda, who handled our booking and made everything seamless from start to finish.

Anthony’s Key Resort isn’t just a dive resort—it’s something special. The staff knew our names, our routines, and made every moment feel personal. It’s rare to find a place where every team member—from the boat to the bar to behind the scenes—takes pride in creating such an unforgettable experience.

We left feeling cared for, connected, and already counting the days until we return.

With gratitude, Aaron & Joline...