Anthony's Key Resort
Family-friendly resort in Sandy Bay. Harbour View, Family Resort.
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Traveler Insights(624 discussions)
Anthony's Key Resort has been sending divers into Roatan's reef for over 50 years, and its reputation in the dive community is earned. The PADI operation here is the kind that serious underwater photographers and repeat Caribbean divers plan entire trips around - experienced boat captains, divemasters who actually know the sites, and enough daily boat dive slots that you rarely feel rushed or crowded on the reef. The property sits in Sandy Bay with direct access to some of the best wall diving in the Western Caribbean, and the Roatan Institute for Marine Sciences dolphin program gives the resort a scientific credibility that distinguishes it from every beach resort with a 'dolphin tour' sign. This is a place where the underwater world is genuinely the point.
Above water, the hardwood bungalows with hammock decks and ocean views create the kind of atmosphere that photographs well and sleeps even better, assuming you're not in one of the fan-cooled units during a hot stretch. The Wednesday fiesta and Sunset Deck happy hour give the social calendar some structure, and horseback riding plus water sports fill the daylight hours for non-divers. The food is honest island fare - strong at breakfast, serviceable at lunch, and limited at dinner by a rotating set menu that divers returning from three dives appreciate more than couples looking for a romantic evening restaurant. Bug protection is not a preference here, it's a necessity - pack DEET and light long sleeves for dawn and dusk near the water.
Anthony's Key works best for liveaboard-style divers who want a land base with reef access, solo travelers who bond fast with other divers, and adventure couples where at least one partner is passionate about diving. It's not the right fit for families expecting Club Med-style kids programming or couples wanting luxury spa weekends. Compared to nearby dive resorts like Fantasy Island, Anthony's Key wins on character, dive operation quality, and the dolphin program. For nightlife and modern amenities, you'll want to look at the Coco View Road properties or the West Bay hotels. The rate includes lodging and diving packages that make the math work well for serious divers.
Pros
- +World-class PADI dive operation with experienced divemasters, multiple daily boat dives, and certification courses from Open Water through Instructor Development all available on-site
- +Roatan's reef system sits immediately off the resort - dive sites like Mary's Place and the West End Wall are accessible in 15 minutes or less by boat, eliminating long surface intervals
- +Bailey's Key dolphin experience across the lagoon gives guests rare close contact with resident dolphins through the Roatan Institute for Marine Sciences, a program with genuine scientific credibility
- +Hardwood bungalows with hammocks strung on private decks and ocean-view balconies create a treehouse-in-the-tropics atmosphere that chain hotels cannot replicate
- +Wednesday Island Fiesta with live music, crab races, and barbecue dinners is a genuine community highlight, not a staged performance - it draws local energy
- +Horseback riding along the shoreline and through the hillside gives non-divers an activity that matches the sense of adventure the resort is built around
- +The Sunset Deck happy hour delivers exactly what the name promises - elevated sunset views with cocktails and a genuine social moment each evening
- +Complimentary kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and snorkeling gear mean non-certified travelers have meaningful water activity options from day one
Cons
- −Mosquitoes and sand fleas are a serious, documented issue at this property - DEET spray is not optional, it's essential, and the bugs are worst near the water at dusk
- −Bungalow air-conditioning is not standard across all units - some older accommodations on the hillside rely on ceiling fans, which becomes a problem in the humid summer months
- −Some guests have reported gastrointestinal illness during their stay, and while management is reportedly aware, there's no formal notification process for new arrivals
- −Food quality gets mixed reviews - breakfast is reliably good but the set daily dinner menu can feel limiting by mid-week for guests not diving all day long
- −The property is spread across a hillside and a small key connected by water shuttle, which means getting around requires planning and isn't ideal for guests with mobility limitations
- −West End nightlife is an 8-minute drive away, but the resort itself goes quiet after dinner - guests who want a lively social scene after 10pm will feel stranded
- −The resort caters almost exclusively to divers, and non-diving companions often report running out of things to do by day three if they don't plan ahead
- −Internet connection is limited and the remote location means weak cell signal in most room areas - plan to genuinely disconnect or prepare for frustration
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“We had a fantastic time here on our dolphin encounter. Would definitely recommend and return when we are there again. We did have an issue downloading our pics after we got home. Apparently my emails to them were ending up in their spam folder. As so...”
“If you have the chance to book a dolphin excursion here, do it! While we didn't stay at the beautiful resort, we booked the Dolphin Swim and Snorkel excursion through our NCL cruise. We had Trainer Jason and the dolphin Sandy, and both were fantasti...”
“From the moment we arrived in Roatan, our experience at Anthony’s Key Resort was nothing short of exceptional. Brayan greeted us at the airport with a warm smile and genuine hospitality. He was incredibly kind, attentive, and welcoming, and he took w...”