One of the premier vacation resorts on Roatán and, for that matter, in all of Honduras, Anthony’s Key Resort (AKR, tel. 504/445-3003, U.S. tel. 800/227-3483, www.anthonyskey.com, US$973–1,832 pp for one-week dive packages) manages 56 cabins on both the small and serene Anthony’s Key and on a tree-covered hillside on the mainland of Roatán. “Leisure” packages are room-only and run US$683–1,460 per person for a week, or US$108–230 per person per night. There’s fantastic swimming and snorkeling on all sides and a small sunbathing beach as well as a new pool and poolside bar on the cay. Dive shop facilities are top-notch, with several large boats, new equipment, and everything needed for a variety of PADI courses. The resort is renowned for its dolphin encounter and educational programs at The Institute for Marine Sciences. AKR has its own underwater photo/video shop, offering dive light rentals, film and batteries for sale, underwater videos, and pictures from the dolphin encounter and dolphin dives.

A few minutes down the road, but just steps away via the beach, is the Blue Bahia Resort (tel. 504/445-3385, www.bluebahiaresort.com, US$115–215 depending on room size, and a 50 percent discount Sept.–Nov.), with nine lovely rooms set around an infinity-edged pool that looks out toward the water. Each has a sitting area and porch with deck chairs, and several have full kitchens as well, although given the quality of the resort’s restaurant, the only meal you may find yourself making is breakfast (when the resort restaurant is closed). The beach is not bad, but doesn’t compare to West Bay or some of the others; the hotel is best suited to those who have come to Roatán to dive.

The Octopus Dive School (tel. 504/9737-9120, www.roatan-octopusdiveschool.com) is on-site, offering the standard PADI Open Water course for US$325, specialty courses such as Nitrox (US$220), and half-day introductions to scuba for adults (US$60) and children (US$75, ages eight and up). Fun dives are US$25–35).

Located at Gibson Bight, the Inn of Last Resort (tel. 504/445-4113, U.S. tel. 888/319-3255, www.innoflastresort.com) offers week-long dive packages for US$806–1,270 per person per week and has rates available for shorter stays and non-divers as well. The resort is located on a small lagoon that opens out to the ocean, and its dive boats and equipment were all new in early 2009.