Resorts
CASTLE COMFORT LODGE & DIVE DOMINICA
Perched on the waterfront with a backdrop of lush green hills and just five minutes drive from Roseau, Dominica’s diminutive capital, Castle Comfort Lodge (and on-site Dive Dominica) is owned and run by Ginette Perryman, who is on hand to make sure everything runs smoothly. The guesthouse has 8 Standard Rooms and 7 Ocean View Rooms, all with queen-sized or twin beds, air conditioning, ceiling fans, en-suite bathrooms, cable TV and direct dial telephones. The rooms are pleasantly decorated in modern style and Ocean View Rooms have a small terrace or balcony. Two rooms are especially equipped for wheelchair access. Rooms are situated around a small but pretty, well-maintained garden with a small plunge pool and hot tub. In the evening you can enjoy a local rum punch, wine, beer or soft drink at the Ti Punch Bar or sip your drink slowly in the hot tub as the sun sets below the water. Ginette oversees the production of rum punch, made using a secret recipe passed down through several generations of Perrymans! Lime, banana or mango daiquiri or punch seem to be very popular (especially with British divers, apparently!) and guarantee a good night’s sleep!
Meals are unique to Castle Comfort and local style dishes are made from ingredients grown on the family land higher up the hillside or purchased from a local estate. Some of the recipes have been passed down through the generations and you can expect some genuine traditional Caribbean food for breakfast and dinner with a choice of snack dishes available at lunch time. Evening meals consist of three courses beginning with soup, perhaps callalou or pumpkin, followed by a choice of fish or meat served with local vegetable dishes such as sweet potato casserole, black eye beans and rice cooked with coconut milk. Desserts may be banana fritters or pancakes, fruit salad or home made ice cream. A choice of tea or coffee is served after each meal.
Castle Comfort is a dive lodge rather than a hotel and as the site is relatively small it cannot offer the spaciousness and quiet privacy of some resort hotels. On the other hand it has a friendly atmosphere and offers the chance to socialize with like-minded people after the diving is over.
Situated on the same site with Castle Comfort Lodge, Dive Dominica offers a personal service with 4 boats. Barana is a twin diesel powered catamaran usually used for whale watching trips. Olga can take up to 24 divers, Arienne another catamaran, can take up to 20 divers and Yan Yan caters for small groups of up to 10 divers. All boats have shade and are fully equipped with first aid and oxygen. Water is available on the boats and towels (for those staying at Castle Comfort) are supplied. Dive sites are just 10-20 minutes boat ride from the dive dock.
The boat leaves the dock at 0900 each morning for two dives and returns around 1300, just in time for lunch. Tanks are available for shore diving from the dock at any time, day or night. Nitrox (32%) is available. Special rinse tanks are available for cameras and videos.
Please note that Castle Comfort Lodge and Dive Dominica are closed during September.
There is a 4 nights minimum stay. Prices given below relate to a 7 nights stay.
Price from $1019 for 7 nights. Includes: airport transfers; 7 nights room and breakfast accommodation on a twin/share basis in a Standard Room at Castle Comfort Lodge; 5 days of diving (2 morning boat dives per day and unlimited shore diving tanks, dive guide on boat dives). A night dive is also included in packages between April and November. A marine park fee of $20 (subject to change) is payable in cash to Dive Dominica. Reduction for non-divers.
Single occupancy supplement: $917