Coral Garden Beach Resort

The house reefs are healthy and full of tropical marine life, and the setting is beautiful and peaceful. Dinner had enough variety that it didn’t get dull over a week. The rooms are plain but practical, with what you need to recover after diving, snorkeling, or an evening walk. For divers, the Dive Centre is exceptionally well organized and efficient. Tanks are refilled and ready for the next dive, and there’s often someone at the shore to take your tank when you come out of the water. That’s five-star service. In plenty of other places, you’d have to carry your gear back yourself. The staff and dive team were great, too. We’ve just returned from a brilliant holiday in a perfect diver’s retreat. My one complaint is the resort’s heavy plastic use: all those 1.5 L water bottles for guests and clingfilm at meals. Please stop using single-use plastic, it will kill the marine life and the beautiful sea around you.

The rooms are plain but spacious, and the facilities are good. There’s a TV, air conditioning, a decent shower, and daily housekeeping. Staff are attentive and very helpful. Soft drinks at the bar are a little expensive, but with no local shops, there isn’t another option.

It’s a quiet spot with only 36 rooms, just right if you want to dive and unwind. There’s no pool, but the sea is easy to reach for snorkeling and diving. If you’re after evening shows or animation, there’s an all-inclusive hotel at the far end of the bay instead. The dive club next door makes this a great base. Breakfast and dinner are buffet meals, lunch has different menu options, and the fresh drinks were lovely. The room’s colors, lighting, and furniture felt a bit dated and simple, but it was thoroughly cleaned every day. Housekeeping even made towel animals, which was a fun touch. The rest of the resort was cared for and clean too. Staff were the best part: friendly, funny, and polite, whether in the kitchen, bar, cleaning, transfer, or reception. Someone was always available at reception, and everyone looked after guests carefully. We enjoyed our stay and would recommend it.

We return every year for a day of snorkeling, and it’s always a treat. The beach team are friendly, and I’d especially recommend the ice cream parlor.