Anthony's Key Resort

[rmarrash]

RoatanMan,

Thank you for your comments.

My wife and I had the goal this year of getting scuba cert'd and did so about a month ago (and decided to take the AOW class last weekend as well). Living in the Pacific Northwest, it was a somewhat challenging learning experience for us (52f water, 7MM full wetsuits, 3ft Vis, gear weighing more than my wife...).

So, deciding where to go on our first "dive vacation" was an exhausting search. I spent at least 30 hours online researching where to go. We finally decided on AKR because it seemed to get good reviews. We will be going their Sept 27-Oct4th (right before they shutdown for 2 weeks) and we are both really excited about it (mostly being able to see more then 5-10ft and being in water a little warmer than 52f )

Interestingly during my searches I noticed AKR was (at least at one point) up for sale for $54m and wondered if that was related to the loss of the brother that helped run the resort.

I just hope practicing bouncy control is easier there

Is the island Shark dive something newby divers should be staying away from? I have watched the Vimeo videos of it and it looks great (in addition to the Dolphin encounter at AKR)

Thanks
Russell

 

[georoc01]

Yes, Bouancy is easier without the extra challenge of a dry suit, etc.

I just got back last night. We did the dolphin dive and the shark dive. We were very impressive with the shark dive. Whether its appropriate for a new diver really depends on your air consumption and confidence. Its at 70 feet. If I had done it a year ago, my air consumption would have shortened the dive. We also saw the same thing on the dolphin dive. Given that the dolphins didn't show up during our dive till the last 10 minutes, some people missed them entirely as they were low on air. And that dive was at 50 feet. For a newer divers, I would recommend the encounter or the snorkel.

One of the tequilla trivia questions on Friday night was the number of stairs from the dock to the front desk. The answer was 52.

We had a great time at AKR, a full report is coming.

 

[rmarrash]

Thanks Georoc01.

My air consumption during our deep dive part of our AOW (95ft for maybe 10min and then a slow ascent up from there) was pretty bad as far as I was concerned. the dive lasted a total of 28min and I came up with 900PSI (wife had 1300PSI) using a steel80 starting at 3400PSI. I am sure the coldness of the water and it being our first deep dive ever played into it but still, I noticed how much I "sucked" on that dive. I guess I will have to see how my air consumption looks the first few days we are there.

Russell

 

[Bay Island Diver]

Will, you and I have been down this exercise in mathematics several times, but no- it comes out to anything more than 2 times per day if you factor in such things as the time and effort spent preparing or acquiring meals, schlepping back and forth to dive ops

As a CPA costing things is pretty close to my heart. The first thing I focus on is what you CAN put a price on. Once the pricing calculation has been done there is another factor to consider. The emotional one that you mention here:

• 
  Is a 100 yard walk to the hotel too much bother
  Is walking 200 yards to eat in a fantastic and different restaurant every night to much bother etc etc.

Please don't confuse the issue of costing with things like that, they are relevant in the overall decision making process, but not the costing calculation.

So when focusing on $$costs 2-3 dives a day often, not always, works out cheaper a la carte. Having said that with the amazing 2 for 1 offers at AKR this low season AKR is great value at the moment, I don't want to cloud that issue.

 

[Papa_Bear]

I have done literally hundreds of dives in Roatan and have recorded many on video. Here is such a video just finished after a week there. Two Tanked Productions HD & SD Underwater Productions and video services

I like Bay Islands Beach Resort, for its homeyness and being 100 yards from spooky Channel. I have done hundreds of dives in the channel being one of the members of the Survey Team in 2002. I would say if the conditions are good the shark dive is a must, just don't be intimidated by the depth or the distance from shore! You will love it. You can see video's of that dive as well on our site. You will have a great time! Be sure to do Herbie's if possible, it is one of the best, we got a Great Hammerhead last week there!