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Dunbar Rock, Villa at Dunbar Rock, Dunbar Villa, Nautilus Dive Resort, , Honduras diving, Guanaja diving, Guanaja snorkeling, Honduras snorkeling, Honduras vacation, Bay Islands vacation, Bay Islands diving, Bay Islands snorkeling
The lofty 'n lovely VILLA on DUNBAR ROCK offers Guanaja Island's most distinctive vacation lodging.
All aerial photos © Copyright 1998-2019, Villa on Dunbar Rock + U.S. Dive Travel. All rights reserved.
For 2 years of TLC labor, VILLA on DUNBAR ROCK owners poured creative fire & architectural genius
into an upgrade, turning a $1.7 million home into a $10 million dream mansion - 8 luxury suites.
You'll enjoy 4-star service + amazing reefs at prices far lower than Cozumel or the Caymans.
Check out our new YouTube vid below for a tour of delightful rooms, reefs, boats & vistas.
After the DUNBAR ROCK video, we've posted exciting new GUANAJA DIVING photos.


Dunbar Rock, Villa at Dunbar Rock, Dunbar Villa, Nautilus Dive Resort, , Honduras diving, Guanaja diving, Guanaja snorkeling, Honduras snorkeling, Honduras vacation, Bay Islands diving, Bay Islands snorkeling
Another soul-stirring view of the VILLA on DUNBAR ROCK as it sits serenely in the heart of Sandy Bay
on l'il Guanaja Island in the Bay Islands of Honduras. VILLA on DUNBAR ROCK has been featured by
respected travel publications, ie. Frommer's Budget Travel & Gayot.com, also Trip Advisor & Undercurrent.
This vacation villa is unique in the Caribbean, a refreshing escape from commotion, crowds & cruise ships.


Dunbar Rock, Villa at Dunbar Rock, Dunbar Villa, Nautilus Dive Resort, , Honduras diving, Guanaja diving, Guanaja snorkeling, Honduras snorkeling, Honduras vacation, Bay Islands diving, Bay Islands snorkeling
VILLA on DUNBAR ROCK offers magnificent views + gracious service + carefree diving,
sunrise to sunset, on GUANAJA ISLAND.   This is the Bay Islands' last unspoiled gem.
At bottom center of photo, a cool new infinity pool was finished to a luster in summer '14.
The resort's new expansion project doubles its floor space to nearly 15,000 square feet!
Also new are a cardio gym, a comfy outdoor bar beside the pool & a dockside dive shop.


Dunbar Rock, Villa at Dunbar Rock, Dunbar Villa, Dunbar Villa, Honduras diving, Guanaja diving, Guanaja snorkeling, Honduras snorkeling, Honduras vacation
© Copyright 2019 John Hessburg, U.S. Dive Travel Network. All rights reserved.
Denis Midence (yes only one "n" !) is the highly respected manager & diving guide of DUNBAR VILLA.
A dive wizard in his young 40s, Denis has a couple thousand dive tanks logged on Guanaja. What's more,
he has gladdened the hearts of nearly that many clients since the late 1990s, when he started at Dunbar.
All who meet Denis grow to love him like a son, a brother, a friend for life. You should see the letters!


© Copyright 1995 - 2019 / U.S. Dive Travel Network.


HONDURAS BAY ISLANDS: GUANAJA
The Brilliant New VILLA on DUNBAR ROCK -- formerly DUNBAR ROCK RESORT.

It's hard to imagine that the spirited owners of this dream resort could improve their already iconic little isle -- but they have ! Wait 'til you see what they've been doing for the last couple years -- it's really something to behold...

VILLA on DUNBAR ROCK, our favorite getaway anywhere in the Caribbean, is poised to raise eyebrows of travel writers & discerning vacation clients around the world. This inspiring property, reminiscent of luxury island homes in the sunny Greek Aegean Sea, is now bigger & better than ever. The VILLA at DUNBAR ROCK is now made-to-order for large family reunions, corporate retreats, church groups & medical teams resting after work on the mainland. VILLA at DUNBAR ROCK also is ideal for dive clubs or dive shop groups seeking an escape from the commercial ho-hum of the Eastern Caribbean. Here's the gist ...

After years of hard work & creative design, the mansion on Dunbar Rock in Sandy Bay of Guanaja has evolved from 4 double-occupancy guest rooms to 8 brilliant ocean-side suites, most with private balconies & stunning views for miles along the thriving Guanaja Island reef + one additional guest room. What was once a $1.7 million home has blossomed into a magnificent $10 million luxury mansion, with 15,000 square feet of roaming room spread across 4 floors -- complete with rooftop bar, private helicopter pad, gorgeous infinity pool & indoor gym. All of these delightful amenities are perched atop a rock dome, in the middle of a warm shallow clear-water bay, just a quick minute from shore with free 'n easy skiff transfers all day long, whenever you want. All of this luxury comes with a happy hospitable staff that treats you like family -- yet we're rolling the price back to where it was near the beginning of the Recession. No fuss, no strings attached. This special promotion is to thank our many repeat clients for their loyalty, & to celebrate the delightful New VILLA at DUNBAR ROCK.

RESORT PRICES: There's normally a minimum group size of 4 adults & a maximum of 18 adult guests. (Some exceptions may be allowed during select off-peak seasons, on a case-by-case basis; please call for details). Please also phone us for current prices & summer specials, as prices have been revised by the new owners, & exciting specials may be announced any time... Please remember to add the required Honduran gov't sales tax + SAP-NJA puddle jumper air ticket (we offer group discounts) + nominal tariff per guest. Prices subject to possible change, as always in the Caribbean dive resort realm.

DUNBAR VILLA owners report that all final fine-tuning refurbs were finished, in style, by spring 2019 -- including a beautiful new infinity pool built right into DUNBAR ROCK's southern side + a new dive shop at water level on the Rock's northern flank + new dockside upgrades + golf cart pathways to take disabled folks up to the first guest-room level from the waterfront. This luxurious new complex can host diving or snorkeling groups as large as 18 clients (8 premium ocean-view bedrooms each with balcony, 2 guests & a private bathroom, plus one smaller view room downstairs) at DUNBAR ROCK. As a bonus feature, there are 27 lush garden acres you have free access to stroll & relax in any time you wish, on the main island just 90 seconds away by boat, with about 600 feet of private beach. Check our new yacht photo below. We also have a large new dive boat + high-tech Nitrox compressor on the way, mateys!

Call John or Susan at U.S. DIVE TRAVEL for extra discounts -- such as 1 free resort package for groups of 7+ divers or snorkelers, staying 7 nights or more. Note: New owners recently purchased DUNBAR VILLA & prices will be subject to some very favorable specials for a time. Please feel free to call us any time for more info at   952-953-4124.


Dunbar Rock, Villa at Dunbar Rock, Dunbar Villa, Honduras diving, Guanaja diving, Guanaja snorkeling, Honduras snorkeling, Honduras vacation
© Copyright 2019, Villa on Dunbar Rock & CBR Co. All rights reserved.
Mealtime is always an eye-catching adventure at VILLA on DUNBAR ROCK.


Dunbar Rock, Villa at Dunbar Rock, Dunbar Villa, Honduras diving, Guanaja diving, Guanaja snorkeling, Honduras snorkeling, Honduras vacation
© Copyright 2019, U.S. Dive Travel Network & Live-Aboards.com. All rights reserved.
John Hessburg, founder & general manager of the U.S. Dive Travel Network,
with his son L.J. Hessburg ("Jack"), who serves as USDT's computer tech,
welcome you to a dream vacation at VILLA on DUNBAR ROCK.


Dunbar Rock, Villa at Dunbar Rock, Dunbar Villa, Honduras diving, Guanaja diving, Guanaja snorkeling, Honduras snorkeling, Honduras vacation
© Copyright 2019, Jack Hessburg, U.S. Dive Travel Network. All rights reserved.
USDT owner John Hessburg free-dives down the beckoning South Wall of Southwest Caye,
2 miles off Guanaja's southern shores. Even on rare rough days, the "viz" tops 60 feet.


Dunbar Rock, Villa at Dunbar Rock, Dunbar Villa, Nautilus Dive Resort, , Honduras diving, Guanaja diving, Guanaja snorkeling, Honduras snorkeling, Honduras vacation
VILLA on DUNBAR ROCK -- right outside your bedroom door, a cool private balcony graces the master suite.
The 3 photos in this following block are © Copyright 2019, John Hessburg / U.S. Dive Travel Network.


Dunbar Rock, Villa at Dunbar Rock, Dunbar Villa, Nautilus Dive Resort, , Honduras diving, Guanaja diving, Guanaja snorkeling, Honduras snorkeling, Honduras vacation
And another spectacular ocean view from a master suite balcony...


Dunbar Rock, Villa at Dunbar Rock, Dunbar Villa, Nautilus Dive Resort, , Honduras diving, Guanaja diving, Guanaja snorkeling, Honduras snorkeling, Honduras vacation
...and yet another stunning vista from the Villa's sun-kissed west-side veranda.


Dunbar Rock, Villa at Dunbar Rock, Dunbar Villa, Honduras diving, Guanaja diving, Guanaja snorkeling, Honduras snorkeling, Honduras vacation
© Copyright 2019, Dunbar Villa & CBR Co. All rights reserved.
The new infinity pool, perched above the Caribbean, is the lap of luxury.




CLICK HERE to enjoy a beautiful new chopper's-eye video of DUNBAR VILLA -- on YouTube.

Click back-arrow atop browser to return to this webpage.



Your TLC-service luxury vacation package is priced at low rates equivalent to Cayman or Cozumel, but featuring reef diving MUCH lusher, the package includes: 17-18 boat guided dives per week including 1 night dive when weather permits + all meals daily (fresh delicious local island menu, prepped by a skilled hard-working kitchen team + a clean spacious 4-star ocean-view balcony room (dbl-occupancy) + friendly staff of private servants, cooks & ocean guides attending to you as you wish, on your own preferred customized daily schedule + unlimited free shuttles between Dunbar Rock & dive shop all day. Our senior diving guide, & resident manager of Dunbar Villa, is easily the most talented & experienced guide we have ever worked with in the Western Caribbean since the late 1990s. Denis (yes one "N") is a kind, soft-spoken gentleman with a sparky sense of humor & a heart as big as the great outdoors. You will love working with him. Countless clients write us letters each & every year, praising Denis for serving them with such grace & professionalism. In the opinion of hundreds of good clients who have worked with Denis, & in our opinion, he is a gem of a human being who's the "Straw that Stirs the Drink" at VILLA on DUNBAR ROCK.

STANDING OFFER, ALL SEASONS, ALL YEARS:  BRING 7 DIVERS or SNORKELERS who stay at least 7 nights & the 8th CLIENT GETS a FREE RESORT PACKAGE. This offer & all our special prices are subject to possible changes by new resort owners, as future seasons unfold. Call us any time for updates on wholesale package specials.



Click here: HOT TIP for a SIDE TRIP to the INSPIRING MAYAN RUINS at COPAN !!

Ask about our fun, low-cost 3-day tours of the ancient Copan Ruins, in the cool mountains of the Honduras mainland near the Guatemala border. (See the Copan video hotlink below the "beach dancer" photo on USDT's Home Page!) This lost Mayan metropolis is dazzling in complexity & size -- more than a square mile of ruins. Copan's architecture & history, the saga of its 17 deity-king dynasties, will thrill you. Copan is so magnificent it makes Chichen Itza seem like an Old-World parking garage. We were amazed by the almost palpable mystery & magic that Copan radiates. To visit Honduras for the first time, yet miss a chance to see the Copan Ruins, is not unlike visiting Paris & missing the Eiffel Tower or the Champs Elysees. One loses a good share of what the local culture is really all about. We consider the Copan Ruins a must-see. Call us about a possible Copan side tour, which we can arrange in a jiffy. It's safe & economical.





VILLA on DUNBAR ROCK is, quite simply, the best vacation lodging on Guanaja Island. This fact is held as axiom by most Guanaja natives, who love seeing this now world-renowned mansion perching above their Sandy Bay. Here's why Dunbar Rock has captured the hearts & imaginations of so many good folks over the years. This fun & affordable watersports center had been the darling of dive pros & travel industry critics since the mid 1990s. That's when happenstance launched VILLA at DUNBAR ROCK even more keenly across the radar of tropical vacation clients. Both of the other top dive resorts on Guanaja went out of business due to escalating fuel costs & market pressures after 9-11. Yet the happy miracle is this: we remain, steady as she goes, enthusiastically building, refurb'ing, tweaking nuances week after week, refining this Dunbar Rock + Nautilus resort duo into one of the most alluring tropical getaways in the Caribbean.

These beautiful sister resorts on Guanaja Island -- owned by the same friendly Texas family -- are located only about 300 yards from each other, right across Guanaja Island's Sandy Bay, within easy shuttle distance. The 27-acre plantation + dive shop + waterfront apartments of the old classic (no longer open) NAUTILUS DIVE RESORT are barely a minute away from VILLA on DUNBAR ROCK, by small skiff. Our water shuttles are convenient, easy as key lime pie, free all day long. You will feel like nobility out there, smiling VIPs with a staff of private servants to wait on you, serenely ensconced on Dunbar Rock, but never shut in, never limited in motion, always free as a bird. You will enjoy easy water-taxi access to virtually anywhere on Guanaja within minutes. You will feel privileged to work with Senor Denis Midence, arguably the most kind-hearted, savvy scuba diving guide in the Bay Islands of Honduras. The meals are not fancy, just wholesome, warm, delicious & nutritious. This is Livin' Large, mon, on the smallest of isles.

Not a pixel of hyperbole -- the delightful DUNBAR VILLA is one-of-a-kind. Over 35+ years of planet wanderings, we have visited hundreds of quality dive resorts & snorkeling vacation properties in 30+ countries & we have never seen anything like this -- anywhere in the world. A smart Texas real estate developer who owns much of Guanaja's protected southern flanks, the owner has priced VILLA on DUNBAR ROCK & dramatically lower than standard Caribbean weekly rates for a choice resort of this 4-star quality. Hundreds of happy clients have enjoyed Dunbar Villa, & its sister since it opened. We are getting constant & consistent feedback from this place. OK, rewind amigos ... Back story: along with the former owners, a German couple, we pioneered wholesale scuba diving vacations & snorkeling vacations on Guanaja back in 1991, well before the hip & happenin' folks first rambled in around early 1993.

The place has done well. The green of reef preservation has always superceded the long green of revenues. No Hot Lycra Specials a la Cozumel. No risible goofball bar scene. Maybe a couple dozen tourists a week visit Guanaja during peak seasons, & we like it that way. Guanaja Island's centuries-old Caribbean culture is like Opie & Andy of Mayberry with a twist of lime & shot of dazzling coral. Nothing's perfect, of course, & sometimes the good ol' boys running those puddle jumper flights will flub the dub in San Pedro Sula. A few Saturday flights get nixed when they are half-full, not often. No flights in on Sundays. However, Mondays & Fridays have given us nearly perfect air connections for years.

Yep, the spirit out here is clean, free of guile, the peoples' hearts are noble, the marine life is precious & vivid. And we care about those corals & sponges, believe it folks. We have walked the walk, & 99% of our loyal Guanaja diving clients will agree -- passionately in fact.


Dunbar Rock, Villa at Dunbar Rock, Dunbar Villa, Nautilus Dive Resort, , Honduras diving, Guanaja diving, Guanaja snorkeling, Honduras snorkeling, Honduras vacation, Bay Islands vacation, Bay Islands diving, Bay Islands snorkeling
VILLA on DUNBAR ROCK on Guanaja hosts the dive shop for all Villa guests,
with two cool new apartments above the shop (beautiful ocean views!) & located
an easy breezy 90 seconds away from Dunbar Rock on the long Nautilus beach.



Dunbar Rock, Villa at Dunbar Rock, Dunbar Villa, Nautilus Dive Resort, , Honduras diving, Guanaja diving, Guanaja snorkeling, Honduras snorkeling, Honduras vacation, Bay Islands vacation, Bay Islands diving, Bay Islands snorkeling
VILLA on DUNBAR ROCK offers a simple, clean, straightforward dive vessel;
seldom more than 10-12 divers at a time; never a "cattle boat" experience.




Here's one reason why our clients remain loyal, to us & to Guanaja. Several years ago, U.S. Dive Travel committed nearly USD $11,000 in wholesale discounts to about 20 student divers, to enable their placement of some 2 dozen permanently anchored buoys alongside the southern reef, for divers & fishermen to use 24 - 7 - 365, to spare the regenerating reef from haphazard anchor drops after Hurricane Mitch (October '98). The Dunbar Villa crew assisted with logistic support & the project was a resounding success, that endures to this day. We are committed to sharing this Guanaja jewel with the scuba diving & snorkeling communities, in a relaxed, sustainable-yield manner. This place sells itself by word of mouth -- only. Friends of friends of friends. No rampant mass marketing in the dive mags. Never. You can't land anything but an twin-engine 18-seater on this island anyway. And that means good news to the maritime eco-system & the gentle social system as well.

Virtually no crime. No panhandling. No dope-peddling, beach-bumming nor tiresome chick-stalking, no room-pilfering of the sort that's plagued Jamaica, the Northern Bahamas, Cozumel & many once lustrous Caribbean island gems. No e-coli wriggling through the water table, nor heat-packin' Hunduran wiseguys wriggling through local culture, like Roatan has experienced over the years. The spring water from Guanaja's mountain is as pure as Cascade glacier melt. Now onward to the corals. With the new safeguards, there's no diver damage to Guanaja's reefs -- ever. No thundering hordes of sunscreen-dripping, rum-sipping, coral-snipping tourists -- ever. No intrinsically sick cruise ships to blight the skyline -- ever. No cruise ships upchucking skittery camera-toting lemmings who bury the local village alive in pushy pursuit of souvenirs -- ever. No legions of Jerry Springer wannabes with brassy brattitude, fleeing college for Spring Break sex, drugs & rock'n'roll -- ever. No spearfishing oafs or hard-drinking hooligans -- ever. Just down-home cool folks, a few at a time, guys & gals who fly in from San Pedro Sula to dig the sunshine, brilliant reefs, sweet service, lazy hazy days of summer. Then after an eye-candy day of diving or snorkeling, our clients relish a contented evening up on the breezy balcony with a local barley pop, some conch fritters & a world-class ocean sunset. All that at a price & value nearly unattainable anywhere else in the Caribbean.

Are we humming your tune yet, amigo? For well more than 20 years we have poured our hearts into this island of Guanaja. Given it everything we've got. Our U.S. Dive Travel admin team developed, refined & perfected scuba diving & snorkeling getaways to this delightful island. We have vetted these properties to the Nth degree, adjusting services when warranted, responding to customer feedback immediately, serving countless clients -- from celebrities craving escape from the paparazzi, to decent working families seeking the vacation of a lifetime, to honeymoon sweethearts with a yen for inner-space adventure. Scores of happy customers have written us heart-warming letters of thanks, & they continue to do so month after month. Check our Client Letter Page, off the Home Page index for Info Kits. VILLA on DUNBAR ROCK is a WYSIWYG destination, folks -- What You See Is What You Get. No strings attached. The reality is the dream. No Madison Avenue fluff, no frills, no hassles. Simple, clean & pure. Just amazing tropical island fun at affordable rates. Get down, mon, get down to de basics o' Caribbean Life. Guanaja Island & DUNBAR VILLA are your oyster. And U.S. Dive Travel is the spoon.


Here's a look at the delightful snorkeling & scuba diving on GUANAJA ISLAND:

Guanaja Island diving photos by Roy Small.
Wonderful shallow reefs are everywhere, for snorkeling enthusiasts.
All underwater photos are © Copyright 1996-2019, Roy W. Small.

Cool scuba diving vacations & snorkeling vacations.
A shy nurse shark naps away in the sandy shallows of Guanaja Island.


Dunbar Rock, Villa at Dunbar Rock, Dunbar Villa, Nautilus Dive Resort, , Honduras diving, Guanaja diving, Guanaja snorkeling, Honduras snorkeling, Honduras vacation
The first of many fab photos of Guanaja's healthy vibrant reefs, & clean sandy shoals,
lent to USDT by our esteemed Midwest diving friends, Roy & Cheryl Small.

Guanaja Island diving photos by Roy Small.
A scenic cut in the life-rich fringing reef of Guanaja Island.
All undersea photos are © Copyright 1996-2019, Roy W. Small.

Cool scuba diving vacations & snorkeling vacations.
"Heading out for adventure, into the Big Wide Blue..."

Guanaja Island diving photos by Roy Small.
A peek at the superb barrel sponges of Guanaja Island.

Cool scuba diving vacations & snorkeling vacations.
Lush, serene, abundant corals bless you at every turn.


Dunbar Rock, Villa at Dunbar Rock, Dunbar Villa, Nautilus Dive Resort, , Honduras diving, Guanaja diving, Guanaja snorkeling, Honduras snorkeling, Honduras vacation
B-b-b-big, b-b-b-beautiful b-b-b-b-b-b-barracuda !!!


Dunbar Rock, Villa at Dunbar Rock, Dunbar Villa, Nautilus Dive Resort, , Honduras diving, Guanaja diving, Guanaja snorkeling, Honduras snorkeling, Honduras vacation

Guanaja Island diving photos by Roy Small.
One of thousands of vibrant seafans at Guanaja Island.

Cool scuba diving vacations & snorkeling vacations.
This sweet li'l octopus tried to play possum...

Guanaja Island diving photos by Roy Small.

Cool scuba diving vacations & snorkeling vacations.

Guanaja Island diving photos by Roy Small.

Cool scuba diving vacations & snorkeling vacations.



The BEST & BRIGHTEST CLASSIC DIVE SITES on GUANAJA ISLAND:

Here is a very interesting wall that drops 80 feet to a sandy bottom. The bottom slopes gradually deeper, & at 90 feet you come across a sunken shrimp boat resting right-side-up on the bottom. The mast still looms upwards to about 50 feet. Both the wreck & the wall abound with life. Spotted eagle rays are common to this site. This is one of Guanaja's classics.

This site is famous for its cracks & crevices. Here you can find nudibranchs here if you search carefully. There's almost always a friendly furry sea cucumber available for photos here in one of the sandy patches. The maximum depth reaches to 70 feet. This is also a good practice dive before you do Black Rock Canyons.

This is a site along the barrier reef wall that has some spectacular drop-offs. As is true along the entire barrier wall, the beauty here is truly unbelievable. The top of the wall is at about 35 feet, & drops down to about 160 feet, where a sandy shelf runs out about 60 feet, then drops to oblivion. Black & white crinoids are found here. On Guanaja, it's rare to find them anywhere other than certain spots along this wall.

Created by volcanic action, this conglomeration of caves, tunnels & deep cracks & crevices is one of the most exciting dives around Guanaja. It's common to turn a corner, or come out of a tunnel, & come across a sleeping shark or a big moray eel lounging in a hole. Bring your dive light for the caves & tunnels.

This is one of the two most-written-about dive sites here on Guanaja. At a spot along the barrier reef wall, & about 70 feet deep is the entrance to a tunnel. You swim through thousands of silver-side sardines as you navigate this tunnel. It opens out into an amphitheater-like area with a sandy bottom surrounded by coral. Huge grouper & yellowtail converge here waiting for our divemaster to give handouts. There is almost always at least one large moray waiting also. This is an excellent photo-op site.

Another site that is written about extensively, this is a sunken freighter lying on a sandy shelf next to the barrier wall. Dive guides rank this among the most famous wrecks in the Caribbean. The maximum depth here is 110 feet. Besides the wreck, there is a very nice plateau next door which comes up to a depth of about 45 feet. Macho Paco, a huge tame moray, lives in this wreck. Meanwhile, grouper & yellowtail abound here also, because we feed the fish here. Hammerhead sharks have been spotted here as well. It is one of the most sought-after wrecks in the Caribbean & is likely the most renowned dive site on Guanaja. This site is definitely not for novices. Too deep & a little too tricky. It's an exhilarating dive you will never forget.

This is another cool spot along Guanaja's barrier reef wall. There are interesting pinnacles here, but this site is known especially for the amazing deep-water gorgonia that inhabit the wall. There are some amazing giant barrel sponges here too. Some of these sponges are nearly large enough to hold a small person inside, though of course you would never touch them like that.

This pinnacle is located in a channel, close to Guanaja island. It stands on a sandy bottom at 135 feet, very close to the channel wall, & rises 80 feet to a point about 55 feet below the surface. Several varieties of black coral are attached to the pinnacle, & there is a lot of life here. The best way to view it is to start at about 80 feet & spiral up & around it. The wall of the channel has some really beautiful coral along it at depths of only 10 to 30 feet. This makes for great diving.



WONDERFUL NEWS about VILLA on DUNBAR ROCK: though we are a laid-back low-key little lodge, we were voted by Gayot.com, a prestigious international rating agency for tropical resorts, as one of the WORLD'S TOP TEN SCUBA DIVING RESORTS of 2005 -- alongside some of the finest luxury island properties in the world -- from Oz to Fiji. Check this exciting page here below, sunseekers. (TIP: simply cut & paste any of these red-font URLs into your browser, then hit the "enter" key ...)

http://www.gayot.com/hotels/bestof/2005/top10divinghotels.html


Our Dunbar Villa also was featured on the cover of the world's largest-circulation travel magazine -- FROMMER'S BUDGET TRAVEL in March 2010 -- as one of the best-quality, low-cost summer vacation getaways in the Pacific or Caribbean. Take a sec' to check the Budget Travel website here at ...

http://www.budgettravel.com/bt-dyn/content/article/2010/02/16/AR2010021604080.html


More good news -- our Dunbar Villa also was highlighted by the travel editors of Canada's national newspaper, as a premier destination for snorkeling families, as depicted here at this web page -- The TORONTO GLOBE & MAIL in July 2011 -- as one of the Caribbean's best getaways for safe, affordable & exotic snorkeling vacations for families. Please take another moment to cruise 'n' peruse the Toronto Globe & Mail's wonderful little feature here ...

www.theglobeandmail.com/life/travel/vacations/beach-sun/caribbean/article2114331.ece


What's more, the enthused reviews continue to roll in at one of the Web's most respected consumer-advocate sites -- TRIP ADVISOR throughout years 2009 to 2019 -- as random readers who were happy with their Dunbar Villa vacations wrote in unsolicited, unedited comments for the travel public to read ...

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Search?q=villa+dunbar+rock&sub-search=SEARCH&geo=1&returnTo=__2F__



[ Please feel free to call 952-953-4124 for more details & also for prices through Dec. 31, 2019; classic 7-night package, diving or snorkeling, dbl-occupancy. ]


Dunbar Rock, Villa at Dunbar Rock, Dunbar Villa, Nautilus Dive Resort, , Honduras diving, Guanaja diving, Guanaja snorkeling, Honduras snorkeling, Honduras vacation, Bay Islands vacation, Bay Islands diving, Bay Islands snorkeling
VILLA at DUNBAR ROCK -- a clean no-frills ocean-view bedroom w/ private bathroom.
All 5 photos in this block are © Copyright 2019, U.S. Dive Travel Network.


Dunbar Rock, Villa at Dunbar Rock, Dunbar Villa, Nautilus Dive Resort, , Honduras diving, Guanaja diving, Guanaja snorkeling, Honduras snorkeling, Honduras vacation, Bay Islands vacation, Bay Islands diving, Bay Islands snorkeling
VILLA at DUNBAR ROCK -- another angle on the upstairs master suite.


Dunbar Rock, Villa at Dunbar Rock, Dunbar Villa, Nautilus Dive Resort, , Honduras diving, Guanaja diving, Guanaja snorkeling, Honduras snorkeling, Honduras vacation, Bay Islands vacation, Bay Islands diving, Bay Islands snorkeling
VILLA at DUNBAR ROCK -- spacious all-tile bathrooms w/ vanities in both master suites.


Dunbar Rock, Villa at Dunbar Rock, Dunbar Villa, Nautilus Dive Resort, , Honduras diving, Guanaja diving, Guanaja snorkeling, Honduras snorkeling, Honduras vacation, Bay Islands vacation, Bay Islands diving, Bay Islands snorkeling
VILLA at DUNBAR ROCK -- huge double shower, all tile, in both master suites.


Dunbar Rock, Villa at Dunbar Rock, Dunbar Villa, Nautilus Dive Resort, , Honduras diving, Guanaja diving, Guanaja snorkeling, Honduras snorkeling, Honduras vacation, Bay Islands vacation, Bay Islands diving, Bay Islands snorkeling
One of two south-side balcony rooms, with 1 or 2 beds, as needed + a large hammock.


  • No adult parties of 3 or 4 persons per room, please, at Dunbar Villa or Nautilus Dive Resort.
    Non-diver kids 3-11 get 20-30% discount. Kids 12 or older full price. All divers, all ages, full price.



  • Nautilus/Dunbar also charges all clients, all seasons, a $20 per guest tariff to cover the long distance phone calls & labor to make your commuter air reservations with the commuter airlines in San Pedro Sula, mainland Honduras. This is how we secure your booking of commuter airline tickets from San Pedro to Guanaja Island, since these small but safe carriers do not operate on the international computer reservation system.


  • The St. Paul, MN main office of U.S. Dive Travel is the exclusive North American representative for Dunbar Villa & Nautilus Dive Resort. Therefore all clients from the U.S. or Canada who wish to book a dive package at Nautilus Resort are asked to phone, or e-mail the U.S. Dive Travel office at  952-953-4124.


    Dunbar Rock, Villa at Dunbar Rock, Dunbar Villa, , Honduras diving, Guanaja diving, Guanaja snorkeling, Honduras snorkeling, Honduras vacation, Bay Islands vacation, Bay Islands diving, Bay Islands snorkeling
    VILLA at DUNBAR ROCK -- living room with new furniture & flat-screen TV.
    All 4 photos in this block are © Copyright 2019, U.S. Dive Travel Network.


    Dunbar Rock, Villa at Dunbar Rock, Dunbar Villa, Nautilus Dive Resort, , Honduras diving, Guanaja diving, Guanaja snorkeling, Honduras snorkeling, Honduras vacation
    DUNBAR VILLA, GUANAJA -- a late-afternoon view of the dining room.


    Dunbar Rock, Villa at Dunbar Rock, Dunbar Villa, Nautilus Dive Resort, , Honduras diving, Guanaja diving, Guanaja snorkeling, Honduras snorkeling, Honduras vacation
    DUNBAR VILLA, GUANAJA tranquil little upstairs patio lounge.


    Dunbar Rock, Villa at Dunbar Rock, Dunbar Villa, , Honduras diving, Guanaja diving, Guanaja snorkeling, Honduras snorkeling, Honduras vacation, Bay Islands diving, Bay Islands snorkeling
    Historic heart of Guanaja tourism -- the old home -- built in the late 1800s.
    This venerable home, accented with lovely mahogany, is part of Dunbar Villa's complex.


    The Dunbar Villa package includes: 7 nights lodging in a quiet, friendly inn of modest amenities + 5 days of 3-tank boat diving + 6th day of 2-tank boat diving (2nd-to-last day) + 3 hearty home-cooked meals per day + 1 free night dive per week (weather & currents permitting) + round-trip airport transfers on Guanaja (pronounced Gwa-NAH-hah) + all hotel sales taxes pre-paid. Tips are optional. All beverages & water-taxi transportation for personal side tours are extra costs. The gracious staff at Dunbar Villa / Nautilus Dive Resort essentially becomes your private Domestic Dream Team for a week. You will have your own personal chefs, maids, gardeners, divemasters & boat tenders. It's been described to us by delighted clients as "having your own staff of personal valets!"

    The cheerful & optimistic native people of Guanaja are always looking ahead with a strong spirit of positivism & dedicated client service.

    Second -- Dunbar Villa now has a brand-spanking-new guest inn, with spectacular ocean views unique anywhere in the Bay Islands, perched atop a 30-foot-high rock pinnacle in the middle of Sandy Bay, barely 250 meters from the end of the dock. There are 4 guest rooms in this beautiful private home, all of which are so close to the ocean you literally can fish out off your balcony, if you wish. Now Nautilus Dive Resort will be able to accommodate 12-16 guests at a time -- & in style despite offering the lowest prices of any reputable dive resort in the Bay Islands! Wait until you see this wonderful new villa over the water on Dunbar Rock. The owners are calling it "Villa at Dunbar Rock" & it is one of the most compelling & unique 3-star lodges anywhere in the western Caribbean, we feel.

    Because the Honduras Bay Islands got such an unfairly bad portrayal by the American TV media in 1999, who exaggerated the extent of storm damage considerably, the people of this lovely island are on their toes for tourists in a big way. You will never see such an attitude of respectful & solicitous service, as the Bay Islands scuba diving community is offering these days. They WANT you to be there, & they will bend over backwards to make sure you have the best time possible, so that you not only come back some day, but you bring friends & family. As far as prices & the attitude of classic customer service go, this is the best time to visit the Bay Islands, & especially Guanaja, in the last decade.

    Call the U.S. DIVE TRAVEL hotline in St. Paul, MN
    for reservations or information -- 952-953-4124.

    Dunbar Rock, Villa at Dunbar Rock, Dunbar Villa, , Honduras diving, Guanaja diving, Guanaja snorkeling, Honduras snorkeling, Honduras vacation, Bay Islands diving, Bay Islands snorkeling
    © Copyright 2019 John Hessburg, U.S. Dive Travel Network. All rights reserved.
    Denis Midence, talented manager of DUNBAR VILLA & senior diving guide, now has a skipper's license, too.
    A young man of many talents, Denis is prepping to take families, clubs & corporate teams on private yacht
    charters of Guanaja & neighbor isles. All 7 photos of "C-Angel" interior: © Copyright 2019, U.S. Dive Travel.
    Behind Denis, at top right, is longtime USDT partner Doug Poulin, who owns a large NorthAm travel website.


    Dunbar Rock, Villa at Dunbar Rock, Dunbar Villa, Nautilus Dive Resort, , Honduras diving, Guanaja diving, Guanaja snorkeling, Honduras snorkeling, Honduras vacation
    Denis's strong cheerful dive-boat assistant, Cheli, next to USDT's Jack Hessburg. (Yep, Jack's 6-ft-6.)

    There's more than Guanaja dive packages to entertain visitors here. Among the many rural charms of Guanaja island, there are miles of beautiful -- & rugged -- hiking trails within close access of the resort. There's a fun, moderately strenuous 3rd-class scramble for a couple hundred meters up a rocky buttress to gain the mountain ridge behind Nautilus Dive Resort. Then you can hike & bushwhack for miles in near wilderness, with thousands of towering Norfolk pines everywhere, & lush jungle below on the mountain's flanks. No worries about evil critters here, just bring some bug juice. Also bring good Vibram-soled hiking boots & 2 or 3 water bottles.

    For apres-diving nightlife, there is a small sister resort just down the beach on Guanaja, where you can find cold beer & good conversations. You can ask the staff to arrange, for small extra fees, a private picnic on a pristine deserted cay near Guanaja island, where you can laze or romance the day away, far from any human contact if you wish. Guanaja also offers outstanding opportunities for deep-sea fishing. Furthermore, some of the world's best topwater bone-fishing is right near the Dunbar Villa / Nautilus Dive Resort shoreline. (The world-record bonefish was caught off Guanaja, not far from Nautilus, just a few years ago.) 's owner was so excited he phoned us just to report this amazing catch.

    During the last decade we have mastered the art of finding the lowest USA-SAP air ticket prices, plus the best commuter airfares, & perfect connecting flights, from San Pedro Sula out to Guanaja island. This is an easy hour's flight, maybe a bit more if you stop in La Ceiba on the North Coast. The vistas of the unspoiled Honduras North Coast are primo.

    The motto at Dunbar Villa is, "Come as a guest & leave as a friend."


    Dunbar Rock, Villa at Dunbar Rock, Dunbar Villa, Nautilus Dive Resort, , Honduras diving, Guanaja diving, Guanaja snorkeling, Honduras snorkeling, Honduras vacation, Bay Islands vacation, Bay Islands diving, Bay Islands snorkeling
    A beautiful half-day trek is exploring the Guanaja
    Waterfall, a refreshing respite from summer heat.
    Photo courtesy of James L. Wilson of CA.


    Dunbar Rock, Villa at Dunbar Rock, Dunbar Villa, Nautilus Dive Resort, , Bay Islands, Honduras diving, Guanaja, Guanaja diving
    Typical guest room at the original mansion, .

    This isle of Guanaja is so sweet of spirit, so free of the bustle & greed that have sullied many Caribbean islands, that you may be changed from the inside out once you visit Guanaja. That's what happened to us one Spring. That's why we feel a little twinge of happy envy each time we book another couple or family into Nautilus Dive Resort. The resort leaves a subtle & healthful mark on your heart. Guanaja is not a place people forget easily, we assure you.

    The historic island of Guanaja sits about 40 miles off the northern coast of Honduras, maybe 20 miles East of Roatan. Nautilus rooms give you sweeping views of an ante-bellum plantation estate, perched 100 meters up a gradual hill above the beach. The broad upstairs balcony overlooks miles of the blue Caribbean. This comfortable & romantic old mansion has only 6 guest rooms -- never a tourist crowd -- & was built by descendants of British buccaneers. No kidding, matey.

    First spotted by Columbus in 1502, Guanaja was a haven for brawling pirates of the 17th Century, including the infamous Blackbeard, Barbarosa & Sir Henry Morgan -- you know, those bearded, growling miscreants that Errol Flynn used to swashbuckle over the railing into Davey Jones' Locker. Jesting aside, those pirates were painfully real; they lived large on Guanaja; they plundered the British & Spanish armadas off & on for about 200 years, amassing vast fortunes. And they left many sons & daughters among the Mayan-African-mixed people of the Bay Islands. Some of their descendants are still living in Guanaja's little village cay called Bonacca Town. They are beautiful, generous people with sable-cinnamon skin, proper British surnames & a singsong "Be Hoppy Mon" accent that will lilt you back to a time in the Caribbean when the sextant & the saber were haute technology.

    Guanaja's terrain is fresh & unspoiled, as exotic as Tahiti with none of the dross, nor the sullen energies of Papeete. You'll love Guanaja for its pristine little cays, coves, mountains & fringing reefs. Yet Guanaja has none of the bumbling Bermuda-shorted hordes that invaded & infected so many cultures throughout the Caribbean. There are no roads, no industrial centers, no high-rises & no pollution on this 7-by-3-mile island. The turquoise waters, tall fragrant pines & the trail-rich hillsides are a hale hiker's heaven. This is serene, clean Caribbean life like it was more than half a century ago. It is a wonder such a place still survives, hard on the dawning of the 21st Century. Thank God that Guanaja island is too mountainous to build a long landing strip that handles jumbo jets. That fact alone may be why Guanaja was spared the cultural ransacking of islands like Hispaniola.


    Dunbar Rock, Villa at Dunbar Rock, Dunbar Villa, Nautilus Dive Resort, , Honduras diving, Guanaja diving, Guanaja snorkeling, Honduras snorkeling, Honduras vacation, Bay Islands vacation, Bay Islands diving, Bay Islands snorkeling
    Clean beach of Nautilus Dive Resort,
    about 600 feet long & downhill from the inn.

    Dunbar Rock, Villa at Dunbar Rock, Dunbar Villa, Nautilus Dive Resort, , Honduras diving, Guanaja diving, Guanaja snorkeling, Honduras snorkeling, Honduras vacation, Bay Islands vacation, Bay Islands diving, Bay Islands snorkeling
    Ultra-clear waters off Guanaja isle are a
    pristine playground for bone-fishing, too.

    Dunbar Rock, Villa at Dunbar Rock, Dunbar Villa, Nautilus Dive Resort, , Honduras diving, Guanaja diving, Guanaja snorkeling, Honduras snorkeling, Honduras vacation, Bay Islands vacation, Bay Islands diving, Bay Islands snorkeling
    The warm hospitality of Guanaja's
    Garifuna people will rejuvenate you.
    All 3 pics in this block are
    © Copyright Gerd Ottehenning.


    Scuba divers & snorkelers will be delighted to find brilliant, unspoiled reefs surrounding nearly all of Guanaja, an ancient island near the Southern Belize Barrier Reef. Here some of the Western Caribbean's most colorful marine life is thriving, including magnificent hard corals & sponges. We've seen tube sponges as tall as a man, & barrel sponges so huge a woman could swim down inside one -- except we don't touch one living thing on these virgin reefs. We urge our clients to look at, but never fondle, these delicate sea creatures. They are candy for the eyes only. So look lots, but don't touch, mon. Muchas gracias, amigos del mar.

    The clear Guanaja waters are safe & fun for snorkelers & scuba divers all year-round. Ocean temps will likely be 80-84 degrees F at the surface. The climate is delightful, except in deepest summer, when the sun is high & hot, & humidity is also intense. Expect scuba "viz" from 80-120 feet! Imagine -- a bad viz day being 80 feet, as you lollygag in lapping currents & sea water that's bathtub warm, while a 200-lb grouper as mellow as a manatee drifts past you, friendly & unflappable; & large green morays sway from their cubbyholes, gaping like curious kids.

    One afternoon, following lunch after your morning dives, you can take a water taxi over to the picturesque old-world village of Bonacca. This bizarre little hamlet, less than 100 acres, is home to about 3,000 friendly Caribbean people. These good folks live in 2- & 3-tiered stilt homes, piled atop each other like shoe boxes, flanked by boardwalks & concrete catwalks along narrow Venice-like canals that weave through the island. Incessant ocean tides sweep through the village day & night. Affable Bonacca Town seems a page ripped from some 19th Century schoolbook, yet it even has its own churches, hotels, bars, discos, police force & snack kiosks, all hovering over the big blue Caribbean! Bring a lot of color film, because Bonacca will get you snappin' like Art Wolfe on high-test cappuccino.

    Another fun side tour is to hike the big peak just behind Nautilus Dive Resort, where after several hours of excellent cardio-pump, you'll be treated to one of the best long-distance vistas in the Bay Islands of Honduras. If you decide to hike up into the hills, we recommend you start very early (by 5 a.m.) to avoid the searing midday sun. Sit out the morning dives for sure, before your mountain trek, to increase your safety decompression margin. Bring 3 or 4 quarts of water & some snacks, plus your camera & plenty of film. Always stay well hydrated in the tropics when you're scuba diving. This is vital.

    Another day, your divemaster guide will speedboat you through the island's canal, & around Guanaja to the Northwest side, out to a scenic trek up to the island's main waterfalls. Some geologists believe that Guanaja, more than 40 miles north of the Honduran coast, is blessed with a strange & almost baptismal link to the mainland. The first time we heard this story we were astonished by the weird science of it all.

    The massive tropical rainfalls that inundate the Honduras North Coast & eastern Mosquitia regions have created vast underground lakes of fresh water, whose hydraulic pressures over the eons have pushed through solid rock strata under the ocean floor -- drilling 40 miles through this ocean substratum -- reaching all the way to Guanaja's hillsides! Here, the theory goes, that abundant crystal-clear water gushes freely from rock springs much of the year, pushed by unimaginable forces all the way from the mainland, then up into a mountain's inner depths -- all deeply underground. Even Bill Nye the Science Guy might be amazed at this far-out factoid. But we have the waterfall photos to prove it !

    The wealth of water, plus acres of tall timbers back in the hills -- perfect girth for ship mast repairs -- were main reasons the old pirates favored Guanaja & the Bay Islands. You can still hear some of their briny 18th Century lingo in the sing-song slang of the local people. Guanaja is an island where not much has changed in half a century.

    Except the tourists. Nearly every person who visits Guanaja, & is blessed to experience the quiet excellence of , comes away with a refreshed perspective on how good it is to be alive, to be young enough to taste the ocean, embrace the cool blue currents & kiss the sky, all in a single day; young enough to lay down after a hard day's play in the throe of the Bay Islands' sea breezes, that lull you away in a minute.

    Then you sleep so deeply that you dream like a child dreams, of deep blues & vivid greens, of flashing orange reef fish & windy ridgeline sanctuaries, of safe harbors for slow boats & tired souls, where stress & anxiety are somebody else's fractured reality, which you can laugh at from afar & discard. When you awaken, hummingbirds flitting outside your window, a mango tree rustling, a ripe fruit plopping to wet earth, the smell of breakfast bread baking in the kitchen -- your dream has not gone away. You're still in it, mon. You're on Guanaja & the dream is alive. You are living it today. Really living. How long can you afford to stay away from Guanaja island?


    Dunbar Rock, Villa at Dunbar Rock, Dunbar Villa, Guanaja diving, Guanaja snorkeling, Honduras snorkeling, Honduras vacation, Bay Islands vacation, Bay Islands diving, Bay Islands snorkeling
    Both aerial photos of Guanaja Island provided courtesy of our friend, John B. Pohle.


    Dunbar Rock, Villa at Dunbar Rock, Dunbar Villa, , Honduras diving, Guanaja diving, Guanaja snorkeling, Honduras snorkeling, Honduras vacation, Bay Islands diving, Bay Islands snorkeling
    Olde Bonacca Towne in foreground; DUNBAR ROCK rules tranquil Sandy Bay in background.
    Bonacca is located about a mile west of DUNBAR VILLA on Guanaja's protected South Shore.





    Dunbar Rock, Villa at Dunbar Rock, Dunbar Villa, Nautilus Dive Resort, , Honduras diving, Guanaja diving, Guanaja snorkeling, Honduras snorkeling, Honduras vacation
    A plump healthy brain coral juts from a bommy at "Short Stop," a dive site not far from
    Guanaja's sheltered southern shore. Photo by Jack Hessburg, U.S. Dive Travel Network.


    Dunbar Rock, Villa at Dunbar Rock, Dunbar Villa, Nautilus Dive Resort, , Honduras diving, Guanaja diving, Guanaja snorkeling, Honduras snorkeling, Honduras vacation
    John Hessburg, Doug Poulin & the whole U.S. DIVE TRAVEL team
    invite you to come on down to VILLA on DUNBAR ROCK!


    FOR MORE INFORMATION or RESERVATIONS:

    Please feel free to contact:
    John Hessburg, General Manager
    Susan Hessburg, Operations Manager

    U.S. DIVE TRAVEL Network
    PMB 307 -- Suite # 116
    15050 Cedar Ave. S.
    St. Paul, MN, USA   55124-7047
    Voice Mail: 952-953-4124

    E-mail: divetrip@bitstream.net

    Website: www.usdivetravel.com

    ******************************************************

    IMPORTANT REMINDER about PRICES & TARIFFS:

    All dive package prices listed here are subject to possible change in this steadily evolving travel market. Lodging, side tour & diving prices are traditionally stable, while air prices can fluctuate daily. Until air tickets are issued, all airlines reserve the right to change airfares without notice -- an industry standard per FAA rules. We at U.S. Dive Travel will price-protect you to the utmost of our professional ability; & that has been our pledge for more than 24 years now. Remember please, the federal government has deregulated all U.S.-based airlines, so only they control their pricing -- not any travel professionals. Early is good when seeking the best air ticket rates.

    Unless specifically noted, these above scuba diving packages are prices for only the land-based portion of the resort, in all cases reflecting double-occupancy rooms. International air tickets & commuter "island-hopper" seats are always extra above these land costs. Nominal service fees are also extra for air tickets & the vessel + side tour components. The baseline tariffs for all clients start at $55 per person for the land portion + $35 pp for the air tickets. Late-booking clients may receive slightly higher tariffs on the lodging + diving at many of our dive resorts. Solo clients will always pay a single supplement to secure a private room -- normally USD $377 more than the standard double-occupancy rate at Dunbar Villa

    Remember, all tropical vacation clients to Guanaja island will be charged about USD $15 for a "reef preservation fee", assessed by municipal officials right as you deplane at NJA Airport. Also, you will be asked by Honduran emigration officials at SAP, upon departing the airport on your final day, to pay a nominal government departure tax, usually between USD $35 - $40 per client. USDT cannot collect this tax beforehand, so you simply pay it down there, in your host country. Be sure to stash away a little cash for this final moment at the airport, so you'll get your exit visa stamped quickly with no fuss; & away you go. Best of luck with your dive travel plans. We hope your scuba diving vacation is a safe & satisfying adventure. Blessings & best wishes with ALL your Honduras dive vacations.

    Best fishes too!

    >////*>   <*\\\\<

    John Hessburg & Susan Hessburg, Mgrs.
    U.S. Dive Travel Network.


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