Diving at Anthony's Key Resort

[mchiapetto]

I have been (unsuccessfully) trying to search on this topic. Can anyone share with me what the diving process is like at AKR?
Things like how many people do they typically have on a boat?
Ratio of Dive Master to divers?
Does everyone go as a group?
Does everyone have to come up together or do they allow you to dive what your computer allows?
Do they use steel or aluminum tanks?
Is there a best/worst place to sit on the boat?
What kind of depths do they typically do?
How long are the typical dives?

 

[Papa_Bear]

We dive with the resort next door and have been on there boats a number of times for the Dolphin Dive! They make you do your skills close to their facilities the first time on the boat.... Then they have very large Pro 42's and 48's built for them jet boats with three Cat's! Very big and nice! Not very crowded because they have a large number of them! Dives are what you ask for 40 to 80ft depending on the site and your skills! One DM for 6 divers or so! You can see the type of diving at our web site:Two Tanked Productions HD & SD Underwater Productions and video services

also look for the Roatan 2005 video if you have the time. This shows many of the same dives you will do!

 

[Doc]

I have been (unsuccessfully) trying to search on this topic. Can anyone share with me what the diving process is like at AKR?
Things like how many people do they typically have on a boat?
Ratio of Dive Master to divers?
Does everyone go as a group?
Does everyone have to come up together or do they allow you to dive what your computer allows?
Do they use steel or aluminum tanks?
Is there a best/worst place to sit on the boat?
What kind of depths do they typically do?
How long are the typical dives?

They do boats at 8:30, 10:30 and 2:30, one tank at a time.

I've been out with them and we did two tank trips, but that was a special East end (all day) trip.

The small boats are set up to carry maximum thirty tanks.

Aluminum 80's are all but universal in the Caribbean for land based.

The wrecks are at 115 ft., obviously there are shallower dives.

As a group, come up together? Stick with a good DM, the only way to see anything cool.

A few people come to SB to ask about AKR, you can't find many who post a report about the diving per-se.

Me? I got no videos.

dated, but still pretty accurate.....

Scuba Diving - The Magazine in which Divers see colorful ads

http://www.scubamatrix.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-74364.html

Some images of the boats....

 

[Joe Seven]

Can anyone share with me what the diving process is like at AKR?
There are 3 scheduled boat dives a day (4 if you include the 6:30pm night dive on tuesdays and thursdays). The boats leave at approx. 8:30am, 10:30am, and 2:30pm, and are 1 tankers. You can do shore diving too, but I didn't partake so I'm not familiar with the process.

Things like how many people do they typically have on a boat?
Typically I would say 8 on average. You'll have up to 12-14 on special dives (ie shark dive). You are assigned a boat when you arrive at AKR, and spend the week on it. I think this works well, as you get familiar and comfortable with your DM and fellow divers.

Ratio of Dive Master to divers?
Usually 1 DM and one Captain per boat.

Does everyone go as a group?
Boats go to their own dive sites. You can request places to go, and the DM/Captains will usually accommodate that. Most of the boats will do the El Aquila and Odyssey wrecks and Mary's Place during the week.

Does everyone have to come up together or do they allow you to dive what your computer allows?
It probably depends on your DM, but I think they will establish a bottom time and expect people to stick to it. Our group would come up at different times, everyone surfaced within a 5 minute window, and the DM was usually the last one up.

Do they use steel or aluminum tanks?
I believe they were aluminum.

Is there a best/worst place to sit on the boat?
I like to move around, but usually had my tanks/bcd set up near the 'dry table', so I could access my bag easily.

What kind of depths do they typically do?
Average was about 75 feet. We got down to 110+ for the El Aquila wreck.

How long are the typical dives?
Average was about 40 minutes. Depends on where you go and how deep you are.

Keep in mind this was my personal experience. I'm sure yours will vary slightly depending on who your DM and Captain are. I had Frank and he was awesome. AKR is a special place. I was just there from April 24 - April 31, 2008. My girlfriend and I has an exceptional time, and I hope to go back sometime. I'll have to write a proper review soon, but here are some pics in the meantime...