Dive Review of
Bottom Time/Banyan Bay Resort in
Belize/Ambergrise Caye

Bonaire, St. Eustatius, Panama, Florida, Puerto Rico, Cozemul

Dive Conditions

[None]  

Overall Rating

This was our second trip to the Banyan Bay Resort, which is about one mile
south of San Pedro on Ambergrise Caye. Even though we loved our first trip,
the second one was even better. Banyan Bay has to be (our my opinion) the
best value as far as housing in the Carribean. Consider that 1 1,000 sq.
ft., two bedroom, two bath condo (pool view, which is all that really is
needed) goes for about $185 per night in the low season and around $240 per
night in the high season. Plenty or room for a medium size family, or two
couples. A fold-out couch in the living room could make it workable for
even three couples. The dive operation, Bottom Time, is located 50 yards
away at the adjacent pier, and is (once again) the best operation the I
used (either Eddy or Rudy). Personnel attention and great guides.. each one
different and emphasized whatever you requested, within the limits of
safety and logistics. My son and I were the only ones on the boat for a
week (pre-Hurricane Rita), but we received service that you would expect
with a full boat. 
This time, we decided to rent a golf cart (primary mode of transportation)
which really widened our post-diving actities in and around San Pedro. We
were able to get one for $135 per week, low season price. We were told to
call in advance in the high season, as the carts sell out during the winter
months. Once again, the best restaurants for us were Papi's Diner and
Caramba. Elvi's Kitchen was also excellent, but the serving's were small
and the prices seem to be going up. The overall San Pedro / Ambergrise Caye
is the best in the Caribbean, because of: friendly locals; remote (yet
close) location; beautiful reef that is only 500 yards off-shore (short
boat rides with  one hour stop in town); nurse sharks, turtles, sting rays;
many things to do for non-divers.
On a side-note, because we live in Beaumont, Texas, our lives were
threatened by Hurricane Rita (we came out OK). Because of this, we made
numerous calls to the mainland each day...over 200 total calls during the
week. However, even thougn we used "ATT Direct", the resort's
policy was/is to charge $2.50 per call. This made our phone bill during our
visit over $400! When the management of Banyan Bay realized that we were
hurricane "victims", they waived the charge for the phones.. once
again, a great operation. 

Questions?
Send an email to the author of this report

What others have to say about Undercurrent
And get immediate access to ALL 236 dive reviews of Belize
and all other dive destinations immediately!