DOMINICA DIVING AND NATURE
Southern Dominica
The drive from Melville Hall airport goes south along the choppy, windward east coast, up winding roads, through switchbacks and settlements of a few houses here and there, across some of the island's 300+ rivers, over a pass in the centre of the island, down the other side and along the tranquil west coast to Roseau, the capital, and takes an hour, and another 15 minutes down to Soufriere, close to the southern tip and Scott's Head Marine Reserve.
The drive from Melville Hall airport goes south along the choppy, windward east coast, up winding roads, through switchbacks and settlements of a few houses here and there, across some of the island's 300+ rivers, over a pass in the centre of the island, down the other side and along the tranquil west coast to Roseau, the capital, and takes an hour, and another 15 minutes down to Soufriere, close to the southern tip and Scott's Head Marine Reserve.
Whilst not having the diversity of other warm water dive destinations, the Caribbean has its own unique fauna, and the reefs here are rich in sponges and endemic corals. Schools of the strikingly blue Tomate swam past on the wall, trumpetfish lurked in wait for prey, and improbably shaped trunkfish puttered around. It was a pleasant start. The second dive took us to Soufriere Pinnacles, just off shore from the picturesque village of the same name. A series of underwater mounds, the Pinnacles are literally covered with in stovepipe, rope, and barrel sponges, and colourful schools of grunts and snapper.
MARINE LIFE & ENVIRONMENT
Dominica's topography is breathtaking both above and below the water. Canyons, steep walls, volcanic craters, and pinnacles - it creates a very diverse layout. Basically no current. The underwater volcanoes are the cause of Dominica's unique landscape. Specifically "the Champagne dive site" is a unique place to see it all in action. You can see warm bubbling water, and feel the rising water temperature, created by geothermal vents in the rocks below! Electric rays, seahorses, frogfish, gurnards, Caribbean reef squid, sea snakes, and batfish are just a few of the things to keep a look out for while diving Dominica
DIVING CONDITIONS
BEST DIVE SITES
Dominica is also home to approximately 55 of the world's largest carnivores, the sperm whale. Year round mothers and daughters cruise the deep waters a few kilometres off shore and, between January and April when the sea is a little cooler, are joined by males looking to mate.
There is plenty to do in the afternoon if you don't want to do three dives a day, with the spectacular Trafalgar Falls, the ethereal Titou Gorge. Trafalgar Falls are actually two waterfalls, Mother and Father, which plummet down from on high. Next to them lie natural pools of 30-degree centigrade mountain water, a great place to relax and take a natural spa. Though there are other places to do this too. Nearby Screw Spa has a constant stream of volcanic mineral water feeding a series of stonewalled pools. The higher the pool the warmer the water. Middleham Falls is also an excellent two-hour return walk through the forest to first a viewing platform and then the swimming hole at the bottom of these spectacular falls. For something more sedate, Emerald Pool is worth a visit too.
MARINE LIFE & ENVIRONMENT
Dominica's topography is breathtaking both above and below the water. Canyons, steep walls, volcanic craters, and pinnacles - it creates a very diverse layout. Basically no current. The underwater volcanoes are the cause of Dominica's unique landscape. Specifically "the Champagne dive site" is a unique place to see it all in action. You can see warm bubbling water, and feel the rising water temperature, created by geothermal vents in the rocks below! Electric rays, seahorses, frogfish, gurnards, Caribbean reef squid, sea snakes, and batfish are just a few of the things to keep a look out for while diving Dominica
DIVING CONDITIONS
- Water Temperatures: Water temperatures in the summer are in the mid-80s, while in the winter it moves into the 70s.
- Visibility: Anywhere between 60 and 100 ft.
BEST DIVE SITES
- Crater's Edge: Situated at the southernmost point of the Soufriere crater, the calm Caribbean meets the raging Atlantic at this site, creating ample opportunities to spot pelagic creatures like rainbow runners and tuna.
- Scott's Head Drop Off: coral bommies, seagrass providing protection for nudibranchs and many small and juvenile fish. 10 minutes into the dive, there is a drop off to a 130-foot (40 m) deep shelf, schools of Tomate, Creole fish, and Rainbow runner are often encountered. Barracuda are common.
- Swiss Cheese: Schools of grunts or squirrelfish, swim-throughs, a labyrinth of hills, valleys, a wall, lace coral, sea rods, gorgonians and sea fans form an underwater garden, with barrel sponges and brain coral.
- Champagne Reef: Mild currents with seahorses, frogfish, flying gurnards, and squid.
- Soufriere Pinnacles: Colorful sponges, occasional turtles, mantas, frogfish, and seahorses.
- Point Break: Decent current with large fish in great numbers.
- Rina’s Hole: Moray eels, giant anemones, huge sea fans, large groups of chub, stingrays, and also nurse sharks.
- Cottage Point: The remains of an 18th Century wreck lie in shallow water.
- Whale Shark Reef: Colorful corals swarm with reef fish. Occasional barracudas, Spanish mackerel and jacks.
- Five Finger Rock: Mild currents with squirrelfish, flounders, tobacco fish, angelfish, elephant ear sponges, and spotted eagle rays.
- Pole to Pole: Dive under the Cabrits Cruise Ship Dock…this easy dive features, on a regular basis, some of the rarest critters around. Seahorses, Batfish, Flying Gurnards, Sand Eels and much much more, all set against a background of towering wooden poles which are covered in sponges. Amazing in the day and incredible as a night dive. Pole to Pole was voted 1 of 7 Top Pier Dives by Scuba Diving Magazine in 2010!
- Sunshine Reef: Like swimming through a sun-filled aquarium, this dive has a sand plateau at 35 feet, covered with coral heads, sponges and sea plume. The wall drops off to over 100 feet and has many colourful sponges and coral.
- Toucari Caves: a beautiful cave, coral archways to swim under, bubbles rising from the reef floor and fish everywhere…a must dive and always a favourite.
Dominica is also home to approximately 55 of the world's largest carnivores, the sperm whale. Year round mothers and daughters cruise the deep waters a few kilometres off shore and, between January and April when the sea is a little cooler, are joined by males looking to mate.
There is plenty to do in the afternoon if you don't want to do three dives a day, with the spectacular Trafalgar Falls, the ethereal Titou Gorge. Trafalgar Falls are actually two waterfalls, Mother and Father, which plummet down from on high. Next to them lie natural pools of 30-degree centigrade mountain water, a great place to relax and take a natural spa. Though there are other places to do this too. Nearby Screw Spa has a constant stream of volcanic mineral water feeding a series of stonewalled pools. The higher the pool the warmer the water. Middleham Falls is also an excellent two-hour return walk through the forest to first a viewing platform and then the swimming hole at the bottom of these spectacular falls. For something more sedate, Emerald Pool is worth a visit too.
Indigo Safaris organizes tailor-made trips to Dominica covering accommodation, diving, hiking, guided walks, and vehicle rental.
There are only two dive centres worth diving with, there is one other part-time operation, and that's it. There isn't the demand for more, with the island only having a handful of hotel options. There is also Fort Young Hotel in Roseau, but the despite, or possibly due to, its billing as the "premier" hotel on the island, is also the dock for the cruise ships that block out the ocean view....
There are only two dive centres worth diving with, there is one other part-time operation, and that's it. There isn't the demand for more, with the island only having a handful of hotel options. There is also Fort Young Hotel in Roseau, but the despite, or possibly due to, its billing as the "premier" hotel on the island, is also the dock for the cruise ships that block out the ocean view....
Dominica DIVE pACKAGEs
8-day Diving Package at Soufriere Guesthouse
includes 12 dives and airport transfers
from US$ 930 per person sharing
interactive itinerary here
includes 12 dives and airport transfers
from US$ 930 per person sharing
interactive itinerary here
8-day Diving Package in Jungle Bay
includes 10 dives and airport transfers from US$ 1,795 per person sharing interactive itinerary here |
8-day Diving Package with Fort Young Hotel
includes 10 dives and airport transfers from US$ 1,846per person sharing interactive itinerary here |