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Black Durgon Inn and Scuba Center: Traveler Reviews

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Reviews of Black Durgon Inn and Scuba Center

( 9-13 of 22 )
“Black Durgon Inn--Excellent Choice!”

Black Durgon Inn and Scuba Center

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5 of 5 stars
virginia
May 18, 2007
4/4 found this review helpful

Anyone looking for a great place to stay on Bonaire, look no further. The Black Durgon Inn is a great find! My husband and I just returned from there and cannot say enough good things. The place is extremely relaxing, and you are treated more like a friend than a tourist. Their house reef is right there in the backyard, so if you don't feel like going elsewhere to dive, you don't have to leave the property. When we were there, we got to see two seahorses that have made their home in about 60' of water. Incredible. The daily breakfasts at Black Durgon are awesome, and to be able to use the outdoor kitchen for lunches and dinners is a plus--sunsets are just an added bonus! Because the place is small (only 10 rooms), you don't feel like you're overcrowded. I can honestly say that future trips to Bonaire will include a reservation at this quaint waterfront inn.

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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“Brilliant dive location, small friendly inn”

Black Durgon Inn and Scuba Center

Apr 15, 2007
2/2 found this review helpful

We have recently returned from 5 days at Durgon Inn and have already emailed Rona about dates for our next return! We had a non-seafront room and when we saw it we were concerned that it might be noisy, facing the road, but we needn’t have worried. The room was basic but more than comfortable. There was no problem with road noise. The breezes were excellent and we never needed any more than the fan at night. It can get warm in the middle of the day but then who would be in the room then when there is diving and snorkelling to be done and a great covered outdoor area and hammocks right on the sea! The towels were a little thin but these were changed every day so not a problem. Extra beach towels were not provided so just bring your own.

Doris’s breakfasts were great. We made use of the common cooking facilities and guest fridges to cook some dinners and we also brought back take away (from La Plazita Limena and Surinam Bar) to eat by the sea rather than eating in town – where could you get a more idyllic or romantic location?

The diving and snorkelling on the house reefs were excellent. You could do Small Wall and Durgon reefs every day and never tire of them. There was always a ready supply of tanks for guest use and shared facilities for storing dive gear. There are no boat dives though but we were more than happy to do shore dives.

We met people who were repeat guests and we can see why. We’d highly recommend it if you are looking for low key family-run accommodation, relaxed location and value for money.

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
nomadwannabes's Summary
Date of Stay: April 2007
Traveled with: Spouse / significant other
Age group: 50-64
Member since: April 15, 2007
  • My ratings for this hotel are:
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 3 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
    • 4 of 5 stars Business service
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“For Hard Core Divers”

Black Durgon Inn and Scuba Center

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3 of 5 stars
West Palm Beach
Mar 6, 2007
1/2 found this review helpful

The Black Durgon is in a great location right on the water and one of the better dive sites in Bonaire, "Small Wall." If you are a scuba diver that likes to travel on the cheap, this bed and breakfast is very good. There is great storage for your gear and fresh tanks are always ready for the next dive.

The rooms are rather low-end with the bare essentials. I was bothered by the lack of quality bath towels and the bed was just average with just a sheet and no blanket. The rooms have satellite TV without remote controls. But, for $89 bcuks a night, you get what you pay for.

This property is really great for divers on a budget and is a low-key alternative to the larger properties on the island.

  • This TripAdvisor Member:
    • Liked — Location
    • Disliked — Room
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
G8TR73's Summary
Date of Stay: March 2007
Traveled with: Friends
Visit was for: Hobbies / interest / culture
Age group: 25-34
Member since: March 06, 2007
  • My ratings for this hotel are:
    • 2 of 5 stars Value
    • 2 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 3 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 2 of 5 stars Check in / front desk
    • 3 of 5 stars Service
Would I recommend this hotel to my best friend?
most likely
I recommend this hotel for:
Older travelers
I do not recommend this hotel for:
An amazing honeymoon, A romantic getaway, Girlfriend getaway, People with disabilities, Great pool scene, Pet owners, Families with young children, Families with teenagers
I selected this hotel as a top choice for:
Other
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“Exceeded my Expectations!”

Black Durgon Inn and Scuba Center

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5 of 5 stars
San Francisco
Jan 6, 2007
4/4 found this review helpful

I absolutely loved the Black Durgon Inn when I stayed there over Thanksgiving. After reading the reviews, I knew that I would be comfortable, have a clean and wonderfully located room (rolled out of bed every morning just in time for brekkie by the gorgeous sea!), enjoy doorfront snorkelling and diving, and experience nice hospitality.

What I didn't expect, was to be treated like one of the family, meet lovely easy-going guests, have my FAVORITE reef in front of the inn, and leave feeling like a friend. Rona, Rick, Emily, and Al made my stay as a single women very relaxing and fabulously friendly. I couldn't have asked for a cleaner room - Doris keeps the entire property spotless. Being there by myself, I cooked a number of meals in their nice outdoor kitchen and really enjoyed my sunset dinners. I could also walk about 15-20 mins next door to the other hotels when I wanted to eat out.

I did the Advanced SSI Scuba class with Rick who was very thorough, enthusiastic, but easy going enough to let me enjoy my vacation. I had not dove in 10 years and he helped me remember everything again quickly and confidently. It made the whole class experience so much nicer to have the reef at our doorstep and lecture time by sea after breakfast. I was able to watch the videos in my room and read the manuals in the hammock (very difficult not to fall asleep it was SO relaxing).

Rick took us on a guided dive of Salt Pier, which was my favorite dive. He is very good at spotting things I would otherwise miss on my dives: seahorses, hawksbill turtle, moray eels, octopus...I was also lucky enough to see dolphins on my last day (they are in my photos, those aren't sharks!).

Can't wait to go back to the Black Durgon!

  • This TripAdvisor Member:
    • Liked — Hospitality was amazing.
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
wanderlustsfgirl's Summary
Date of Stay: November 2006
Traveled with: Solo traveler
Visit was for: Hobbies / interest / culture
Age group: 25-34
Member since: January 06, 2007
  • My ratings for this hotel are:
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 3 of 5 stars Check in / front desk
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
Would I recommend this hotel to my best friend?
absolutely!
I recommend this hotel for:
Young singles, Girlfriend getaway, Older travelers, Tourists
I do not recommend this hotel for:
An amazing honeymoon, A romantic getaway, Girlfriend getaway, People with disabilities, Great pool scene, Pet owners, Families with young children, Families with teenagers
I selected this hotel as a top choice for:
Beach / Sun
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“Most relaxing diving holiday ever”

Black Durgon Inn and Scuba Center

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5 of 5 stars
Dorset, England
Oct 27, 2006
5/5 found this review helpful

Just returned from a 10 day stay at the Black Durgon. We booked at the Black Durgon after reading the good reviews on trip advisor. We were not disappointed.

The dive site in front of the Black Durgon was fantastic with a huge veriety of life. Almost every creature we saw during the 10 days was also seen at the Black Durgeon except for the Black Durgon! This included Seahorse, Tarpin, Octopus, Stingray, Eagle Ray, Turtles, Spotted Cleaner Shrimp, Moray eels and last but not least we were within sight of the Black Durgon when we saw a Manta Ray while snokleing.

If you want to relax, enjoy good company with fellow guests, with the freedom to do your own thing, without the production line diving seen in many of the bigger hotels then stay at the Black Durgon.

  • This TripAdvisor Member:
    • Liked — Access to dive site
    • Disliked — dated room decor and furnishings
    • Tips/Secrets: — Ask for an ocean front room
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
JenHart's Summary
Date of Stay: October 2006
Traveled with: Spouse / significant other
Visit was for: Quality time with family
Age group: 25-34
Member since: October 27, 2006
  • My ratings for this hotel are:
    • 4 of 5 stars Value
    • 3 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 4 of 5 stars Check in / front desk
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
    • 4 of 5 stars Business service
Would I recommend this hotel to my best friend?
absolutely!
I recommend this hotel for:
Young singles, A romantic getaway, Girlfriend getaway, Older travelers, Families with teenagers, Tourists
I do not recommend this hotel for:
People with disabilities, Great pool scene, Pet owners
I selected this hotel as a top choice for:
Beach / Sun, Outdoor / Adventure
Was this review helpful? Yes No

Reviews of Black Durgon Inn and Scuba Center

( 9-13 of 22 )
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