4409 Ocean Pointe Suites

English is the working language of the hotel team, so you can deal with the practicalities of a diving holiday without hand signals or translation apps. Ocean Pointe Suites at Key Largo is an all-suite resort built around space, self-catering and access to the water rather than formal hotel routines.

You are choosing a proper holiday home here, not just a room with somewhere to put your suitcase. The resort occupies 60 acres on the oceanfront, with a private entrance, tropical grounds, a protected mangrove setting and suites suited to couples, families or a longer stay. Bring a little food, leave room for wet kit and give yourself somewhere to sit when the day's diving is done.

The address is in Tavernier, Florida, on Key Largo's Atlantic side, at 500 Burton Drive. The resort sits directly on the ocean, with a private sandy beach, a boardwalk and marina access. Harry Harris Park Beach is around 0.7 miles away by road, while the resort itself keeps the sea much closer than the map's nearest public beach marker suggests.

The private entrance is reached from US1 at mile marker 92.5, with the gatehouse roughly a quarter of a mile from the highway. Restaurants and shopping are a short drive away. For days when you want something beyond the resort grounds, Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park is about 7 miles away, Theater of the Sea about 8 miles away and the History of Diving Museum about 9 miles away.

The accommodation is a two-bedroom holiday home with a separate living room, a sofa bed and two bathrooms. That layout matters when three or more people are sharing a diving trip: you can spread out after the boat returns without turning the bedroom into a drying room or a luggage warehouse. The master bedroom has a king-size bed and an en-suite bathroom with a step-in shower; the guest room has twin beds.

The fully equipped kitchen includes an oven, hob, microwave, refrigerator, dishwasher, toaster and kitchenware, with a breakfast bar and a separate dining table. There is also a washing machine and tumble dryer, which saves the post-dive laundry from becoming tomorrow's problem. Air conditioning helps when the Keys have done their warm, humid thing, and the private entrance, flat-screen television and free WiFi keep the evening straightforward.

The open-plan living area has been renovated and the suite has an ocean view. Individual suites are privately owned, so decoration and some details can vary from one unit to another. You get the practical advantage of a full home base, but not the uniformity of a chain hotel room.

This is a self-catering stay. The kitchen is ready for breakfast before an early departure, cold drinks on the way back and the sort of uncomplicated dinner that tastes better when you are hungry enough to eat it standing up. A tea and coffee maker is also provided.

For something made on site, the Pool Bar / Little Cafe serves casual food at the pool for lunch and dinner. There is one bar, the Pool Bar, with homemade drinks and a poolside setting. It is not a full evening restaurant programme, so the kitchen earns its keep here.

When cooking is not on the agenda, restaurants and shopping are only a short drive from the resort. Nearby named options include Dairy Queen around 0.9 miles away on foot, Sunrise about 1.6 miles away and Snappers Key Largo about 2.8 miles away by road.

The private beach is the obvious place to slow down, with sand, loungers, parasols, showers, a shaded panoramic gazebo and a private boardwalk beside the ocean. The boardwalk and marina give you somewhere to walk when sitting still has stopped being relaxing, which can happen even to divers.

There are two heated outdoor water areas: a renovated junior-Olympic-size pool and a 14-person Jacuzzi hot tub. The pool has its own bar, while the hot tub has an ADA lift. Two lighted tennis courts, nature trails and beach volleyball add some movement without requiring a full expedition.

On the water, the resort offers or supports snorkelling, kayaking, paddleboarding, fishing and boat excursions. Glass-bottom reef trips, Everglades eco-tours, kayaking tours and wildlife or cultural outings provide alternatives for a non-diving day, while John Pennekamp State Park, Everglades National Park and the History of Diving Museum all give couples something to argue about over the next coffee.

Miami International Airport is 68 miles away, with a drive of about 1.2 hours. Marathon Airport is 40 miles away and roughly 45 minutes by car; Key West International Airport is 91 miles away, around two hours, and Fort Lauderdale Airport is 99 miles away, around 1.4 hours. Airport transfer service is not part of the listed resort services, so plan on arranging your own transport.

Check-in is handled at the Ocean Pointe Suites Welcome Center on Overseas Highway in Tavernier, about a three-minute drive from the resort, and the centre is open from 9am to 11pm. Allow for accommodation terms that place check-in between 4pm and 5pm and check-out between 10am and 11am, depending on the terms attached to your stay. All guests must complete check-in by 11pm.

On-site private parking and WiFi are available, and a lift serves the property. The resort also has accessible accommodation, ramps, accessible parking, pool and whirlpool lifts, hearing and sight assistance kits, and access to beach wheelchairs and lifts through local providers. Children of any age are welcome, but cots and extra beds are not available. The resort is non-smoking, pets are not accepted, and quiet hours run from 9pm to 7am.