New Year's on Dunbar Rock!

      Guanaja, Honduras

      BP
      Blue Planet Scuba
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      144 reviews
      Dec 31, 2022 - Jan 7, 2023
      Group size: 20 - 20
      New Year's on Dunbar Rock!
      Guanaja, Honduras

      Blue Planet Scuba
      • Email address verified
      • Facebook verified
      • Twitter verified
      144 reviews

      Dec 31, 2022 - Jan 7, 2023
      Group size: 20 - 20

      About this trip

      Celebrate New Year's with your dive buddies...in a villa...on a private island! Join Blue Planet as we say goodbye to 2022 and ring in the new year at Dunbar Rock in Honduras. Dive beautiful sites around Guanaja then kick back and relax by the pool, enjoying 360 degree views of Sandy Bay and the surrounding cays. This is one new year's you won't forget!


      The Villa on Dunbar Rock is one of the Caribbean’s most unique All-Inclusive dive resorts. The famous pirate, Blackbeard, once used this beautiful historical landmark as a mooring site. Local legend has it that there is buried treasure on the island. When the original owner was constructing the villas, he discovered a hidden cave on the island. He found many pieces of pre-Colombian pottery. Sadly, no treasure was ever found. However, he started construction on what would soon become a new jewel in the Caribbean.


      Once a private villa, the Villa on Dunbar Rock rises from the white sand beach and PADI dive center up 4 levels to areas that include 9 Ocean Front Rooms and 2 Suites, all with private patios or balconies. The 15,000 square foot property has multiple terraces for lounging, an infinity pool and pool bar, cardio/massage room, and Great Room with its comfortable living/dining area. 


      Guanaja

      Dive sites ring the island, meaning finding a location to scuba dive in the lee of the wind is nearly always possible. In addition to the sites surrounding Guanaja, the innumerable cays that encircle the island form an ideal habitat for reef creatures and virtually every known crustacean. From tiny black-spotted nudibranchs to cave-dwelling Caribbean lobster, the reef system is ideal for macro and wide-angle photography. There are also more than 300 identified fish species in Bay Island waters. Scuba divers frequently see Angelfish, Hamlets, Butterflyfish, Creole Wrasse, Grouper, Jackfish, Moray eels, Octopus, Parrotfish, Nurse sharks, and more.


      The Diving

      The on-site PADI 5 Star Dive Center operates two custom dive boats: the 45’ Freedom and 40’ Endeavor each have the capacity for up to 20 divers. The boats have wide platforms for giant stride entries and sturdy ladders for exiting the water. They are provisioned with drinking water, fruit for snacking, freshwater showers, towels, camera rinse tanks, dry storage, shaded areas, and all required safety equipment. 


      Boat rides vary from 20 – 30 minutes for dives along the south to up to 45 minutes for dives along the northern coast. Boats generally depart at 8:30 am for the morning 2-tank dive, returning for lunch with the afternoon boat leaving a reasonable time after lunch has concluded. If we are diving the north shore of Guanaja, we will stay out for a three-tank dive and lunch will be prepared during a break between the second and third dive. 


      Travel

      Plan to fly into Roatan, Honduras by Saturday, December 31st. From there, you can either take the ferry to Guanaja or an inter-island flight. Once on Guanaja, the staff from Dunbar Rock will meet us and take us to the island. For more details, visit the Dunbar Rock Travel Planning webpage. We will depart Dunbar Rock on Saturday, January 7th at which point you can fly home or spend more time in the Bay Islands.

      Cancellation Policy

      Upon cancellation of a reservation for any reason, the refund of the deposit and payments made or due will be contingent upon Blue Planet reselling the participant's reservation. Any refund may also be subject to a cancellation fee of $250 and payment of any non-refundable fees imposed by the tour company, dive operator or any other contractor associated with the trip. 


      Dive accident insurance is required for all divers on this trip. We strongly recommend travel insurance to protect your vacation investment. Contact us if you need more information. 

      What’s included

      • 7 nights accommodation
        In an ocean front room with 1 or 2 beds
      • Meals & beverages
        3 Gourmet meals daily plus happy hour snacks; Standard bar package
      • Airport Transfers
        Boat transfers to/from Guanaja airport
      • Up to 17 boat dives
        5 days x 3-tank dives and 1 day x 2-tank dives (Friday)
      • Unlimited shore dives
        On the shallow house reef
      • $75 resort credit
        Can be used toward gear rental, massage services or gift shop purchases.
      • 19% Tax
        On package price

      What’s not included

      • Flights
        International or domestic flights
      • Unlimited Nitrox
        $120 USD paid in advance
      • Scuba equipment
        Tanks and weights are included. Other items are available to rent.
      • Environment Fund
        $10 USD on site
      • Premium Bar Package
        $150 USD paid in advance
      • Tips for the crew

      Available Packages

      Ocean Front Queen #3-4 -double occupancy

      Each room has 2 queen beds and ensuite bathroom. Rooms #3 and #4 are located on the 4th floor, overlooking the Villa’s infinity pool. These two rooms have smaller bathrooms, but make up for it by having an expansive patio area with lounge chairs and hammocks. Guests staying in these rooms have unobstructed views of the Caribbean Sea.  

      $2,375
      Deposit: $500
      Ocean Front Queen #5-8 -double occupancy

      Each room has 2 queen beds and ensuite bathroom. Rooms #5 – #8 are located across the courtyard from the Great Room. Room #5 and #7 are on the 3rd floor and 4th floors respectively, with balconies offering views of sunsets and Bonacca Town facing west and the lush mountainous slopes of mainland Guanaja facing north. Room #6 and #8 are also located on the 3rd floor and 4th floors respectively, offering views of the sunrise facing east and the rugged shoreline of mainland Guanaja facing north and east. 

      $2,375
      Deposit: $500
      Ocean Front King A, B, C -double occup.

      (Best for couples or 2 people who don't mind sharing a king bed!) A room with 1 king bed and ensuite bathroom.  The King rooms are a bit smaller than the Queen rooms but otherwise include all of the same amenities, key of which is they all have direct oceanfront views from their balconies. Room A is located on the Villas “main level” (3rd floor) and is the closest room to the Great Room. Room B is one floor up directly above Room A. Both rooms face west, offering views of the sunset and of nearby Bonacca Town. The third Ocean Front King Room C is on the opposite side of the property. Located on the 4th floor, above the bar, this east-facing unit is one of the first rooms to welcome to morning sunshine. 

      $2,375
      Deposit: $500
      Penthouse Suite -double occupancy

      (2 queen beds!) The Penthouse is a one-of-a-kind apartment with a private, totally glassed-in sitting area, with stunning vistas in all directions. You would be hard-pressed to find a room anywhere with views like this! The separate bedroom includes 2 queen beds and additional seating and a large bath area. 

      $2,975
      Deposit: $500

      Available options



      Itinerary

      Saturday
      Arrive in Guanaja and transfer to Dunbar Rock

      Fly into Roatan and then take the ferry or a local flight to Guanaja. Once there the Dunbar Rock staff will meet us and take us to the villa. Settle in and celebrate the end of 2022 and the beginning of a new year!

      Your Organizer


      BP
      Blue Planet Scuba
      144 reviews
      Blue Planet is a different kind of scuba diving organization — aimed at providing the best education and experiences to divers in the Washington, DC area and beyond, while harnessing the excitement and adventure of scuba diving to help protect our fragile oceans.

      Reviews

      Another great trip with Blue Planet. Everything was seamlessly planned ahead of time, from setting up accommodations to arranging things with the dive shop (shout out to Eco Dive!) to communication about all the details. Anthony was a fantastic trip leader. He thought of everything (finding places for the group to meet for meals, making reservations, arranging taxis, talking to the dive shop about schedules etc. He took care of all the small bumps associated with travel and just made everything smooth and comfortable. Plus, he’s just fun :) The diving in Grenada was beautiful and the island was lovely and welcoming. Five stars for sure! Can’t wait for my next trip.
      By Virginia L for Scuba and Freediving in Grenada on Apr 15, 2024
      The weather in Cozumel was lovely. The scuba instructor, Andrea Williams, was exceptional. The resort was tailored more to local families and tourists who appreciate that level of comfort.
      By Adrienne W for March Certification Weekend in Cozumel on Apr 05, 2024
      Thank you, Adrienne! We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed the trip. We hope to see you on another dive adventure soon!
      By Blue Planet Scuba on Apr 13, 2024
      BP
      Heather & Jonas were excellent trip leaders making sure everyone was well taken care of. The Galapagos Aggressor had a super crew and the diving was challenging and stunning! We saw hammerheads, penguins, seals, sea lions & dolphins! I really appreciated the personal touches like our matching jackets and a cake for my birthday. I would highly recommend this trip.
      By Catherine W for Explore the Galapagos on Mar 02, 2024
      Thanks, Catherine! What better way to celebrate your birthday?!? We're so glad you enjoyed the trip and let us share experiencing this special destination with you. Looking forward to the next one!
      By Blue Planet Scuba on Apr 13, 2024
      BP
      This review is belated, I know... ...But that only means I took **serious*** consideration into reviewing my experience with Blue Planet DC, and ranking them very highly. Its been almost a year since I was OW Certified with Blue Planet in Cozumel - my training during that trip was thorough enough to provide me with a solid foundation to continue scuba diving afterwards many, many times. The trip itinerary, accommodations, and overall pacing of the scuba lessons were incredibly well organized. The instructors were patient and attentive - at various times I was provided specific one-on-one, actionable feedback regarding things like my trim or my breathing rhythm impacting my buoyancy and what I could do to improve my technique. They made sure we knew our stuff before letting us loose into the ocean, and during our checkout dives they stayed closeby and kept a watchful eye on us, so I felt more at ease and safe. (Even with the drift moving us around!) My main priority for this trip was to learn how to scuba, but that said, there were opportunities at Cozumel to (after the day's lessons are done) be a tourist and explore the area. The resort itself is a very beautiful spot with relaxing, open air dining, lounge, and balcony areas as well as a fantastic view of the ocean horizon. I also really appreciated that lodging AND meals were included in this travel package - it saved me the trouble of having to figure that out on my own, which made a big difference by freeing up more time after each full day of lessons to just relax and chill. I know each trip is always different of course in terms of other group trip attendees you may end up with, so of course this can just be sheer dumb luck, but everyone else on this trip was chill. Even the more seasoned divers who were already certified and doing this for years were friendly and happy to drop useful advice or recount from their personal experiences how it was like them becoming certified the first time. The time I did this it was "drift diving" and of course that scared me a ton. But the PADI material that is mandatory to study goes over what drift diving is. When doing my checkout dive the drift didn't like, wash me away from the group dive route. You'll be under instructor supervision so people are keeping an eye on you, and the drift itself is mild - I didn't have to struggle against the current (if you've ever surfed, you'll see that this isn't at all like a riptide or undertow). If anything, managing your buoyancy will end up your primary concern or worry during the checkout dive. Hope this review helps anyone considering who to go with for getting certified on their first ever scuba trip! I'm very glad I went with Blue Planet.
      By M T for March Certification Weekend in Cozumel on Feb 19, 2024
      Thank you so much, M! We are so happy you joined us on the trip and started your dive adventures with us! We look forward to many more!
      By Blue Planet Scuba on Apr 13, 2024
      BP
      EM
      This was my first liveaboard! 🛥️ Anthony was a fantastic trip leader and teacher, as always! The Aquacat crew was fun, the food was delicious and the diving and excursions were great! I would definitely recommend this trip with Blue Planet, especially as a first liveaboard experience! I had a good time learning about sharks, too! 🦈
      By Elsbeth M for Ring in 2024 on a Liveaboard in the Bahamas! on Jan 15, 2024
      Thanks for joining on another amazing trip! Hopefully we will be on another fun trip in sharky waters soon.
      By Anthony White on Jan 17, 2024
      AW
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