Trip Report Roatan - Feb 2023- Anthony's Key Resort

[OMyMyOHellYes]

I can't speak to cruise excursions, but I imagine that the excursion experience would be similar.

For week long stays I think they will put everyone in a group together on a boat, regardless of experience/ability level. Then they say they try to group non-group divers on the same boat by an assessment of what you tell them re: experience. I don't know how diligent they are in that regard.

But for the group excursions, I would expect that everyone getting on the boat from a cruise would all be on the same boat without consideration of dive ability. I would think they probably expect everyone in the cruise excursion group to be at the experience level of the brand-new OW diver with total dive history consisting of the minimum 4 cert dives. Or somebody that's certified but has not been in the water for 10 years. They'd have to assume so since your first drop is the first time they get to see you in the water.

In my experience with them, they didn't really push the concept of a dive buddy - we just kind of made informal insta-buddy pairs. By myself? Find another person without or a pair that takes pity on you. Once we hit the water, there was no semblance of anything resembling "dive buddies". Well, except for maybe folks that were paired above water. For the most part it seemed a loosely cohesive group. Early on I just tried to stay close to the DM. Of course, they know the sites well and where critters hide and the dives were very leisurely affairs.

Do they pick up folks and bus them to AKR from the cruise terminal or do they launch from Maya Key right across from the cruise ship docks? Do you know already?

All of the boats AKR uses are 42-48 boats. Newtons, I think. Most of my experience has been around 10-12 divers on a boat (the smaller ones). I would expect they will pack up to max capacity for excursion trips. Their fleet summary is at:

Visit the AKR Dive Shop on Roatan Island | Anthony's Key Resort

Learn about the Roatan diving operations at Anthony’s Key Resort and why we are ranked as one of the world’s top dive resorts.

anthonyskey.com

 

[Wants2divemore]

Do they pick up folks and bus them to AKR from the cruise terminal or do they launch from Maya Key right across from the cruise ship docks? Do you know already?

The cruise excursions will typically meet on the dock right outside the cruise ship, then go as a group to whatever your excursion is. They haven't said if they're bussing to AKR or something different and likely won't until you get off the ship that day.

 

[Doc]

The cruise excursions will typically meet on the dock right outside the cruise ship, then go as a group to whatever your excursion is. They haven't said if they're bussing to AKR or something different and likely won't until you get off the ship that day.

This is because it’s entirely weather dependent.

You also pondered whether you’d have a different experience with AKR or a smaller day-dive op. @OMyMyOHellYes pointed out, all dive ops treat cruise ship divers the same as any first day visitor- with great suspicion and a watchful eye.

It will really be the same no matter who provides it. Nice thing about AKR is that they are big enough to decide and react to weather. That puts them in a class by themselves.

Any and every dive op will put as many divers on the boat filling it to capacity. IF that is your definition of a “cattle boat” (it is not mine), you will see that there are every size of boat that qualify. A “6 Pack” can get quite packed.

AKR is a legit world class option for a cruise ship diver.