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Dive Review of Castle Comfort Lodge in
Dominica/Rouseau

Castle Comfort Lodge, Jun, 2010,

by Serena Black, NY, US ( 2 reports). Report 5587.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 4 stars Food 4 stars
Service and Attitude 4 stars Environmental Sensitivity 4 stars
Dive Operation 4 stars Shore Diving 5 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 4 stars
Advanced 4 stars
Comments
Castle Comfort is a small resort about a 20 minute walk south of Roseau. It has a bar, restaurant serving good, varied food at reasonable prices, 15 rooms and a dive operation.
The rooms were very clean, the beds comfortable, the A/C worked, there were lots of outlets, both 110 and 220 volts and some TVs even got cable.. The beds provided the only work space for cameras. Wireless internet was free.
Dive Dominica is located on the grounds. Boats leave every morning at 8:45 for 2 one hour dives with a one hour surface interval. The 60 minute limit is strictly enforced so the boats get back in time for lunch or to deal with cruise ship people. Briefings were like the recorded safety announcements on airplanes. There was little site specific information except ‘reef on the right, ocean on the left’. No sketch maps showing the topography. These would have been useful since visibility rarely exceeded 50 feet. I was with a group of 6 divers who had visited CC numerous times and we were all interested in creatures and small fish. Most of the time a DM was assigned to this slow group but you still could not lag too far behind and since we did not know where we were going you did not get very far in front.
Current was occasionally noticeable but not memorable.
Nitrox was available but not necessary. 80 cu ft were standard and 63 cu ft tanks available.
The boats all had a marine toilet, rinse tanks for cameras, a dry storage area and plenty of drinking water.
In spite of heavy silting big colorful sponges were thriving and there was some healthy hard and soft coral. When the light was good they were magnificent. Large fish of any species were absent. Corallimorphs and odd anemones could be found on most dives.
A night boat dive was scheduled most weeks.
Unlimited shore diving day or night, from the hotel’s dock was included. Grass beds started just north of the dock; 15-40 feet deep. Flying gurnards, bat fish, garden eels, Atlantic long armed octopus plus the grass dwellers: black ear wrasse, blue lip and buck tooth parrotfish and more. Wow No dive masters, no time limits and since it was shallow no deco worries.
Diving in front of the hotel was so good I skipped the whale watching and inland hikes in favor of being underwater.
18 days was long enough to realize how little I know about the grass environment. I am already planning a return visit.
Plus NO lion fish or breakins like Bonaire.
Websites Castle Comfort Lodge   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience Over 1000 dives
Where else diving Carribean, Pacific
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, rainy, cloudy Seas calm, surge, no currents
Water Temp 84-°F / 29-°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 50-25 Ft/ 15-8 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile no
Enforced diving restrictions 60 minute maximum time, 100 feet maximum depth
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 3 stars Tropical Fish 4 stars
Small Critters 5 stars Large Fish 1 stars
Large Pelagics N/A

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter 4 stars Boat Facilities 4 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 3 stars Shore Facilities 1 stars
UW Photo Comments [None]The boats had large fresh water rinse tanks and there was a dedicated fresh water tank at the dive center. Boat crew was careful when handling the cameras.
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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