I haven't read much about this place in the posts on this site, but it seems like a nice place for the money - on the water, yet still inexpensive. Has anyone stayed here, or does anyone have any info on the Black Durgon Inn? Especially cleanliness of rooms and property.

Can anyone compare this inn to Coco Palms? (My other choice)

Thanks.

well, i can speculate that the "house" reef at the black durgon is more convenient than at coco palms...but the place doesn't appear to be nearly as "charming" as coco palms (where i regularly stay;))

both places (in my opinion) are good examples of how to approach bonaire;)

Joe, do a search for Black Durgeon. You will find a lot of reviews on the place. I don't remember reading anything negative Plus, you are right up the road from small wall

"right up the road from small wall"....and the street cam! :-) Say "CHEESE" for 2+ minutes while standing at someone's front door!

I haven't read any negatives about the Black Durgon, but I haven't found very descriptive postings about the property, either. I'm having a hard time getting a feel for what the area is like and what to expect in terms of the inn itself.
I have a better sense of Coco Palms, probably because there have been more postings and trip reports.
Maybe I'm expecting too much, but the more info I have before committing to my vacation the better.

joe,

this is all just based on "feelings" ...

the durgeon inn is located in a nice, quite neighborhood, sits on the water, and has a pretty good house reef. the place seems like it was put there for diver's convenience and appears to me to be maintained only with that goal in mind - kinda boy scout campish...i think you would be pretty much on your own - i get the feeling the owner does not get as involved as other inn keepers might...

the girls over at the coco palms work hard to make you comfortable and there efforts go a long ways to making the place seem charming - i guess i'd say the durgeon inn lacks from a "woman's touch" ???

i hope i'm not getting in trouble with anyone;)

hope that helps a little...

Long Time listener, first time caller. I noticed this topic and felt I should enter something. We (my wife and I) went to Bonaire last November for two weeks. We stayed at the black Durgon. We liked it so much we are going back for two weeks again and are staying at the Black Durgon again. The Small Wall is RIGHT off the dock there – not down the road. And you can just plop in the water off the dock and have a great reef experience either direction. Al, the owner, we found to be honest and a person of the utmost integrity. He will leave you to your own devices if you don’t ask, but is very helpful and caring if you do. The rooms were clean and spartan. The price includes a nicely cooked breakfast in an outdoor kitchen/dining area that is also open to the guests for lunch and dinner use. It’s quiet, peaceful and very relaxing. This is not really a "resort". Nothing fancy, just a great spot on the water. If you require pampering or onsite amenities I'd go elsewhere. e-mail me if you need more detail.

Bob

So, it sounds clean; does it have screens and cross ventilation at all? I know the reef is nice, but I couldn't get in to see the place last April.

Seb, The reason you couldn't get in is because Al protects his guest's privacy and diving oportunities to the Nth degree. And as a 4th year guest, I heartily appreciate it.

Joe, I returned home last night after a week there, and am already homesick for Doris's breakfasts and my "room with a view". The Inn rooms are super clean, I have never seen a bug in my room in 4 years, (squeemish female that I am) except for the mosquito my hubby said that "I" let in through the door. Spartan is an OK description, because there is no deep pile carpeting, whirlpool baths, or big screen TV. (But I don't have that at home anyway!) However there is an incredible sense of tranquility and peace that I've not found elsewhere. As Bob said, if you want to go your own way, the path is open, but if you want info and guidance, Al will do his best to provide you with what you need. And it is a 6 minute swim/dive to the Small Wall! Of my 15 dives this trip, 13 were off of the Black Durgon dock. With all that out there, why go anywhere else!! And I ended my trip with my 100th dive off the Black Durgon dock to Small Wall!!!! Perfect, perfect, perfect!!! It doesn't get any better than that!

Gail,
We're not divers, but we do love to snorkel. How is the snorkelling by the inn?
Are the grounds a decent place to hang out, or is it the kind of place where you spend most of your time in the room, in the water or in your car?

Thanks for your input everyone.

It is a small inn that used to be a private home. The "grounds" are a seaside yard with a covered patio/kitchen/dining area with plenty of chairs and tables, a scuba gear storage area, a hammock between the palms, a roomy dock with lounging chairs (great for sunset watching), excellent snorkeling right off the dock. The feel of the outside area is not luxurious, but is relaxed, casual, comfortable, seaside beach house style in a nice middle range residential neighborhood. If you book there don't be disheartened when you drive up to the front. It doesn't have curbside appeal. All the charm and usable area is seaside.

He is pretty protective, Gail, because he will not answer e-mail or phone calls from me, and wouldn't let me get a look at the joint last April. I guess he is in good rapport with his inner curmudgeon. That's the nicest way I know to say it. I'm glad it works for those it does.

Which is a shame because it looks pretty perfect to me.

It is pretty perfect. When we're between dives and trying to decide if we want to go elsewhwere, we glance out at the dock and water beyond, and say "With all that out there, why go elsewhere!". Tarpons, turtles, lobster, squid, octopus, eels galore, barracuda, you name it and we saw it! I don't night dive, but my husband and his night buddies had the most excellent night dives there this year. They all surfaced screaming with an incredulous excitement. (Is that a word?!)

Ed and I have stayed at the Black Durgon for years. We like the quiet. We have seen 'non guests' come in to the property some years ago - get water and sand ALL over the places for guests. Even had some that took a guests beer out of the refrig. Even had people LOOK right into 'our' room from our patio (when we were in our room, changing)! Some people just don't appricate other people's space. That is one reason for the lack 'outsider' access.
Sometimes the guests will get together for a group dinner - using the kitchen facilities. But we have used the kitchen to make lunch and dinner - you just have to clean up after. Jake lives just up the road. You can see the webcam bouy from the patio.

I appreciate all of your feedback, it is extremely helpful. I think I will try to stay here when we come in February, it's just a matter of whether my wife can get one week or two off from work. I'm hoping for two weeks, the winters here in New York are just too much.

Does the Durgon have tanks available round the clock? I can't get any specifics from their website. I've emailed them but we are getting minimal information in return. I really enjoyed diving small wall from a boat. It would be great to have access to it as the house reef.

Communication seems to be their short suit, Jane.

We had a 3 tank/day package recently for 14 people with a large group, and Al made sure that there were always tanks available for diving off of the dock or shore diving elsewhere. There is a rule of thumb that tanks would not be "clanked" up or down the stairs after 10 PM to ensure the early risers "quiet time", but with preplanning for night dives, that was no problem.

joe,
my wife and i returned yesterday from a 34 day stay at the durgon. it is our third trip to bonaire and we wouldn't stay any where else on the island. contrary to what seb thinks, al, the owner, is one of the most helpful and knowledgeable people on the island. he does indeed protect the privacy and tranqillity his place has to offer his guests.
i guess if you just wanted to stay in the room all day and maybe walk by the water then the durgon might not be your cup of tea. but if you're looking for shore diving and snorkling 200ft from your room then the durgon is perfect.
and yes, al keeps plenty of tanks right on the facility.
if it seems that al takes awhile to respond to emails remember, you're on island time.

Hi Gary,

I enjoyed meeting you and June. I'm sorry to hear that you've returned to reality too! Oh to go back and eat breakfast while watching the fishies in the shallows!

Gail

hi gail,

as they say all good things must end, at least temporarily. had a couple of dives with glen after ya'll left and saw a couple of more groups rotate thru. we enjoyed meeting you and the group. maybe next year again with the dolphins.

gary & june

Gary, it has nothing to do with what I think, it is a fact that Al does not respond to some e mails and phone calls unless he is in the mood, and he has not been in to mood to respond to me since April. I'm glad you had a good time there and love old Al,but he fails to respond to some people.
You are more than welcome to draw your own conclusions about what you suspect my thoughts are, but don't present those conclusions as mine. And just because Al is nice and helpful to you doesn't mean he's nice and helpful to everyone.
I hope he was nice and helpful enough to give you a great rate for a 34 day stay.

Can you folks who have stayed at the Black Durgon give us an idea what amenities are in the rooms? Are there refrigerators for example, or any capability for meal prep? We're going to Bonaire for the 1st time next March.

Thanks!
Bret

Bret,
I've not stayed or seen all the rooms at the Black Durgon so can only describe the one I stayed in. It had one large Bed ( guess it was queen size ), the room also had a twin bed. Actually it was more like two rooms. Twin bed in the second room. Sliding glass door leads out back to resort area and water. There is a table & chairs in a small patio area by the slider. A refrigerator is located near by for guests to use. Room has a small bathroom with shower. There is a chest of draws and TV set also in the room.
There is an outdoor kitchen where Doris prepares breakfast in the morning. After breakfast the kitchen is open for use by guests. You can also use the refrigerator in the Kitchen area. We made a lot of use of the kitchen in our two weeks there.
Hope this is helpful. Enjoy your trip.

Bob

Bob,
Sounds great! Now if only Al would email me back....

Bret

Bret,
Al is a great guy butI think he's a little technology phobic but hey I am not sigmund freud. It was a little shakey getting through to him at first but from our point of view well worth it.
Hope it all works out. We can't wait to get back to Bonaire and the black durgon.