Honduras has long been just off the mainstream tourist radar, but for divers it's firmly within sight, due largely to low-cost, easy access to the world's second-largest barrier reef. And when it comes to diving in Honduras, there's Anthony's Key, and then there's the rest of the resorts. As expected from a world-class dive resort, Anthony Key's position on the northwestern coast of Roatán—the largest of the country's three Bay Islands—affords guests easy access to 35 dive

Honduras has long been just off the mainstream tourist radar, but for divers it's firmly within sight, due largely to low-cost, easy access to the world's second-largest barrier reef. And when it comes to diving in Honduras, there's Anthony's Key, and then there's the rest of the resorts. As expected from a world-class dive resort, Anthony Key's position on the northwestern coast of Roatán—the largest of the country's three Bay Islands—affords guests easy access to 35 dive sites, including several shore dives off the resort beach and nearby Sandy Bay. But this resort is about so much more than mere access.

First, the good stuff. The diving itself—the reason you thought of Honduras in the first place—lives up to its reputation, with water temperatures in the 80s for most of the year, gentle currents, and a vibrant marine ecosystem supporting staggering coral formations like Mary's Place, where coral has taken over a deep canyon that's now just wide enough to fin your way through.

And the dive masters at Anthony's Key are the ones you want to take you to these pristine sites. The resort's been operating for over 40 years—and the experience shows. The ten top-notch dive boats head out three times daily, departing and returning with Swiss efficiency, and the dive masters know the sites better than any on the island. Yet you never feel overburdened by schedules, rushed, or over-governed by the dive masters; the resort maintains an island-time vibe that's so essential to the experience.

Forty-six wooden cabanas ring the shoreline of the eponymous key (or island), which is accessible by a quick jaunt in the lodge motorboat. Each bungalow on the key boasts screened-in porches, ceiling fans, and hot showers, while the 27 superior rooms also have hardwood floors, floor-to-ceiling glass windows, and air-conditioning. An additional ten cabanas sit on the main island on a hillside, nestled between tropical forest and the breezy Caribbean, with screened windows, hot showers, and ceiling fans. The four superior hillside bungalows also come with air-conditioning and floor-to-ceiling glass windows.

On-site facilities include a covered and open-air dining room, the Frangipani Bar (try the Monkey La-La rum drinks), a swimming pool with poolside dining, and WiFi access throughout the property (for a fee). Anthony's Key also has a full-service dive shop, an on-site recompression chamber, and offers the full array of dive training and PADI certification courses. They also boast children-specific outings, as well as on- and off-site activities for divers and non-divers alike. As with most dive resorts, the multi-day all-inclusive packages include daily dives, as well as all meals; extra dives (shore, night, etc.) and other activities can be arranged for an additional fee.

Anthony's Key is also famous for one other very big reason: dolphins, or more specifically its relationship with the Roatán Institute for Marine Science. There are a wide variety of ways to interact with the institute's on-site dolphin population, from snorkeling with 12 of the mammals or in an open-ocean dive with two or three of the playful animals to becoming a trainer for a day or enrolling in the two-day Dolphin Specialty Course. These programs are open to anyone visiting the island—but guests at Anthony's Key get priority access.