Anthony's Key Resort
Anthony's Key Resort has been sending divers into Roatan's reef since 1968, and its reputation in the dive world is earned. The dive shop runs courses from Discover Scuba to Instructor and is a PADI Career Development Center, the reef is minutes away by boat, and the week-long dive package (three boat dives a day, two night dives, shore diving during shop hours) is designed for people who plan whole trips around their logbook. Across the lagoon, the Roatan Institute for Marine Sciences runs the dolphin programme at Bailey's Key, which gives the resort a marine-education side that most beach hotels with a dolphin tour sign cannot match. The underwater world is genuinely the point here.
Things to Know
- Alcohol not included
Traveler Insights
Pros
- +Long-running PADI operation that is also a PADI Career Development Center, with courses from Discover Scuba through Instructor taught on-site, and Mesoamerican Barrier Reef sites minutes away by boat
- +The 6-Day Dive package is built for people who came to dive: three single-tank boat dives a day for six days, two boat night dives a week and shore diving during shop hours
- +Bailey's Key dolphin programme with the Roatan Institute for Marine Sciences puts you with Atlantic bottlenose dolphins in a natural seawater setting, with a Dolphin Camp for kids
- +Hardwood bungalows with hammock decks on the water, from shared-deck Key Superiors to the king-bed Key Premium Suites for couples, all reached by the resort's island taxi boat
- +Three a la carte meals a day at the waterfront Ankor Seafood Grill (lobster, snapper, the chef's prime rib) are in the resort package, with Coast Coffee pouring Honduran coffee from 6am
- +Island Fiesta night on the key, with Garifuna dancers, a live local band, a limbo contest and hermit crab races, plus a beach day at Maya Key, both included on 7-night stays
- +Sunset drinks at the hilltop Frangipani Bar & Lounge, and an AKR Pool Bar you can order from without leaving the water
- +Kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, the freshwater pool, Wi-Fi and round-trip airport transfers are in the package, and a new air-conditioned fitness centre sits beside the pool
Cons
- −Mosquitoes and sand fleas are a serious issue here, worst near the water at dawn and dusk; DEET and light long sleeves are essential
- −Drinks are not included: the package covers three meals and a welcome cocktail, and every bar is pay-as-you-go, with a 19% hotel tax on top of quoted rates
- −The property is split between a hillside and a key reached by water taxi, and the Hill Superior bungalows are about 60 steps up from the dock, so it is hard going for guests with limited mobility
- −Some guests have reported gastrointestinal illness during their stay, so pack the usual stomach remedies
- −Built around diving, so non-diving companions can run out of things to do by day three unless they book the horseback ride, canopy tour or island tours
- −The resort goes quiet after dinner; West End's bars and restaurants are a taxi ride away and there are no TVs or telephones in the rooms
- −Waterfront work is not finished: as of 2026 the old guest locker room is being renovated and a new dive shop building is still planned
Above water, the resort has had a quiet rebuild along its waterfront. Every bungalow category now lists air conditioning alongside a ceiling fan, mini fridge, safe and coffee maker, and the choice is about position: Hill Superiors in clusters of four on the hillside, Key Superior, Key Deluxe and Key Premium bungalows on the water, and dorm-style Dockside Lofts for groups. Meals are three a la carte sittings a day at Ankor Seafood Grill, with the Ankor Bar beside it, sunset cocktails up at the refreshed Frangipani Bar & Lounge, a pool bar in the 30-by-60-foot freshwater pool and Coast Coffee in the lobby. Newer additions include an air-conditioned fitness centre by the pool, Dockside Snacks for grab-and-go food between dives (paid separately) and more dive lockers on the dock, with the old locker room being renovated and a new dive shop still to come as of 2026. Alcohol is not in the package beyond a welcome cocktail. Bug protection is not optional: pack DEET and light long sleeves for dawn and dusk near the water.
Anthony's Key works best for divers who want a land base with easy reef access, solo travelers who bond fast with other divers, and adventure couples where at least one partner is passionate about the water. Families get the kids' Dolphin Camp and free stays for children five and under, though there is no traditional kids club. It is not the place for a spa-and-nightlife weekend; for that, West Bay and West End are a taxi ride away. 2026 resort-package rates run from $174 to $375 per person per night depending on bungalow and season, before the 19% hotel tax, with diving and snorkeling sold as add-ons. Beyond the water there is horseback riding along Sandy Bay's beach, zip-lining at Gumbalimba Park and island tours that finish with free time in West End.
Common Questions
Do I need to be a certified diver to enjoy this resort?
How serious is the bug problem?
Is the dolphin experience worth it?
What should I know about the bungalows before booking?
What does the resort package include, and what costs extra?
How far is the resort from West End and is there transportation?
Restaurants (1)
| Type | Restaurants |
|---|---|
| Seafood | Ankor Seafood Grill |
From the resort's own dining pages. Only restaurants the resort lists are shown. All are covered by the all-inclusive rate, per the resort.
What's nearby
West Bay Beach10 min drive · 5.7 mi
West End5 min drive · 2.5 mi
Half Moon Bay5 min drive · 2.4 mi
Coxen Hole9 min drive · 4.6 mi
12 min drive · 5.9 mi
More things to do (14)
- Carambola Botanical Gardens · nature4 min walk · 0.2 mi
- Sandy Bay · town4 min drive · 1.1 mi
- Roatán Butterfly Garden · wildlife4 min drive · 2.2 mi
- Glass-bottom boat and snorkel trip on the West End reef · excursion5 min drive · 2.5 mi
- Blue Harbor Tropical Arboretum · nature9 min drive · 4.2 mi
- Mayan Eden · adventure park9 min drive · 4.4 mi
- Mahogany Bay cruise terminal · marina20 min drive · 9.0 mi
- Daniel Johnson's Monkey and Sloth Hangout · wildlife20 min drive · 12 mi
- Arch's Iguana and Marine Park · wildlife25 min drive · 13 mi
- Black Pearl Golf Course · golf25 min drive · 12 mi
- Punta Gorda Garifuna village · town40 min drive · 20 mi
- Oak Ridge · town40 min drive · 22 mi
- Oak Ridge mangrove water-taxi tour · excursion40 min drive · 22 mi
- Camp Bay Beach · beach50 min drive · 26 mi
Amenities
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Style & Rooms
Atmosphere
Room upgrades
Google Reviews★ 4.7 · 1,804 reviews
“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...”
