RoatanMan was right on.
Anyone can do the Dolphins at AKR and the shark dives are open to anyone. Most reports I hear are do the snorkel with the Dolphins. I have never done it but its what I hear.
The south side has, reportedly, less mosquitoes, I still get bit. I have a condo in French Harbor on the hillside and they eat me alive. It is the tropics and mosquitoes are a factor.
I prefer South Side and West End diving and have my favorites. I don't stay at the resorts and I rent a car. I have dove with FI, AKR, Subway, West End Divers and Tyll's. My worst dives were at AKR but it was more weather related than anything. One dive was a drift and we swam into the current the entire dive. It was no fun, that wasnt weather related it was poor planning on the DMs part. The reefs on the South Side seem healthier than the reefs around AKR. IMHO! The reefs around Sandy bay and Spooky Channel have a lot of dead areas and devastation.
I don't like FI, it feels 60ish and fake but thats my opinion, many love it. The steps at AKR that RoatanMan speaks of could be a bear to some if youre tired or have some knee trouble. Also, the mosquitoes are thick at AKR. I only stayed there one day with a friend that was at AKR and after two dives we headed to the mess hall, the climb was steep and it was raining like crazy. On the plus side, AKR is beautiful and the museum is very interesting but anyone can go to the museum and visit the facilities.
If you shop around you can get cheap rooms at various places in West End then pick and choose your dive operators. I like to drop off my gear at tylls and leave it. I call ahead, schedule a dive and the gear is ready when I arrive. Thats my kind of diving.
If youre really in for an adventure, ask around for Karl and do a deep sea sub trip. He will take you down to 2000 feet for 300 per person. His sub is located at the north end of West End in Half Moon Bay. You cant miss it.
If you dive on the west end, request a dive in Marys place, Fish Soup, and Parrott Tree. The wall right out of Parrot tree is about 160 feet and the reef at the top is huge elkhorn coral that goes right to the surface. Fish soup has three large green moreys that will follow you the entire dive and Marys place, off French Harbor, is well, its Marys Place. An awesome dive!