Introduction

Dominica, a sovereign island located between Guadeloupe and Martinique, is one of the most attractive destinations in the Caribbean for scuba divers. The underwater landscape is composed of caves and swim-through, corals are is perfect condition - although the variety of species is limited - and, most importantly, a huge number of fishes and invertebrates can be observed. Classical encounter includes trumpet fish, lizard fish, groupers, butterfly, box fish, sea urchins, morays, etc. Apart of its attractive diving spots, the island offers an attractive scenery, including mountains and tropical forests. Hikers will without doubt be charmed by Dominica.

Travel facts

Diving type

Destination

easily accessible

bargain destination

Diving level & type

for beginners

for advanced divers

shore diving

liveaboard

Diving Characteristics

pelagics

lots of fish

lots of corals

interesting underwater scenery

Other activities

attractive natural spots

gastronomy

night life

beach

snorkeling

Infrastructures

• diving center
  

  Dive Dominica

  
  Dive Dominica (diving center)
  email : dive@cwdom.dm

  internet : www.divedominica.com
  rating : 4 / 4 stars

  comments :

  Dive Dominica will not only pick up divers from all hotels on the southern part of the island, but also from the capital, Roseau. Other diving centers are operating on the north, as the Sunset Bay Club in Coulibistrie, but the most interesting diving spots are all located in the south. Most of the dives are made on the inner part of the reef, which is especially interesting for people who tend to be sea sick!

  
  
• hotel
  

  Castle Comfort Dive Lodge

  
  Castle Comfort Dive Lodge (hotel)
  telephone : 1 (767) 448 2188

  fax : 1 (767) 448 6088

  address : P.O. Box 63, Roseau Commonwealth of Dominica

  email : dive@cwdom.dm

  internet : www.castlecomfortdivelodge.com
  rating : 4 / 4 stars

  comments :

  This small intimate hotel, with only 15 rooms, is located directly on the ocean shore. In its wall you can find the diving center Dive Dominica. Both of them are managed efficiently by Derek Perryman. As the best diving sites are located on the south shore of the island, several other hotels are also present in the area: Evergreen Hotel, Anchorage Hotel, et Fort Young Hotel. After having visited all of them, we are very comfortable recommending the Castle Comfort Dive Lodge, which is probably the best place on the island to enjoy your favorite sport. Everything is, indeed, made to make divers' live easier!”

  
  

Diving Sites

• 

  Coral Garden

  rating : 4.0

  depth : 15 m

  visibility : very good
  description :
  
  Shallow dive. Classical sea life with a yellow 20-centimeter long frog-fish, a lion-fish, stingrays, a flat-fish and a large, 15-centimeter long horsefish.
  
  
• 

  Dérivante: Soufriere à La Sorcière

  rating : 4.0

  level : for advanced divers

  depth : deep

  visibility : good
  description :
  
  Sometimes, in Dominica, current can be really strong, especially when strong wind is blowing. At that time, when boats can not go far from the coast, a drift dive is an excellent alternative! In our case, we drifted from Soufrière to La Sorcière - two famous sites - which allowed us to observe a large number of fish, including lion-fish, morays, stingrays, a huge porcupine fish (in fact, the largest we have ever seen), a turtle, flatfish and shrimps. Corals are also beautiful.
  
  
• 

  La Sorcière

  rating : 4.0

  depth : 40 m

  visibility : good
  description :
  
  Diving site located just under the cliff called La Sorcière. Legend says that unfaithful women where send to their death from that cliff… An alternative version is that warriors preferred to jump from that cliff rather than being captured by their enemies. The mooring is at a depth of only 5 meters, but just next to a vertical wall which plunges in the blue, to more than 250 meters. Some lion-fish, as well as a stingray in the open water.
  
  
• 

  L'Abym

  rating : 4.0

  depth : 20-30 m

  visibility : very good
  description :
  
  In creole, the local language, the name of this dive site means the depth... Indeed, one of the most vertical wall of the island can be found here, covered by numerous healthy corals (anemones, tubes, barrels). Apart of the usual animals, including stingray, two lion-fish, lizards, trumpets (in large numbers), this site is considered to be a paradise for critters and thus photographers. It is especially easy to observe shrimps hidden in anemones, yellowline arrow crabs (Stenorhynchus seticornis, 2-5 cm) and even three seahorses (6-10 cm).
  
  
• 

  Pointe Guignard

  rating : 4.0

  depth : 18 m

  visibility : good
  description :
  
  A great dive with some of the best underwater scenery of the island : a wall with several caves - in one of which we saw 7 lobsters and 4 shrimps - as well as an arch at 12 meters. Lots of corals of all types. The fauna is really interesting, we could observe a turtle, a stingray, a dozen of lobsters, morays, some large parrots, a school of squirrelfish, and of course all the usual reef fish.
  
  
• 

  Scotts Head Pinnacle

  rating : 4.0

  depth : 25-30 m

  visibility : very good
  description :
  
  This site is easily recognized by its arch, located at a depth of 13 meters. Indeed, the underground scenery is especially remarquable there, with the presence of lots a valleys and canyons. Two brown horsefish, a two-stick stingfish, crabs and morays.
  
  
• 

  Champagne

  rating : 3.0

  depth : 15 m

  visibility : good
  description :
  
  Diving in shallow waters, where the presence of gas bubbles emerging from fumaroles gave its name to the dive site. Those sulfurous hot springs, located at 3-5 meters under the surface, are changing the color of the surrounding grounds. Divers can appreciate, even underwater, the intense geological activity of the island. A small turtle, a frogfish, a two-stick stingfish... Also an excellent night dive, with the possibility to observe lobsters, crabs and sea urchins.
  
  
• 

  Dangleben's North

  rating : 3.0

  depth : 30 m

  visibility : good
  description :
  
  Being a little distant from the shore, lots of fish are seen on this site, as well as a large number of morays.
  
  
• 

  Dangleben's Pinnacles

  rating : 3.0

  depth : 15 m

  visibility : limited
  description :
  
  Named after the Dangleben family, who owned the shore in front of the dive site. Interesting underwater scenery with five reefs reaching a depth of 8 meters, with a base much deeper... The particularity of this dive site is that different types of sea life can be seen, which makes the diving diverse. We have also seen two porcupine-fish.
  
  
• 

  Scotts Head Drop-Off

  rating : 3.0

  depth : 10-35 m

  visibility : limited
  description :
  
  Slope descending to more than 70 meters. Large variety of soft and hard corals. A barracuda longer than 1-meter followed us for a while... It is worth to underline that most of the fauna is found at a depth of 10 meters or less, which makes this location an excellent one for snorkeling. Also some schools of snappers, large porcupine fish and some morays.
  
  
• 

  Soufriere Pinnacles

  rating : 3.0

  depth : 30 m

  visibility : good
  description :
  
  Just in front of the Soufrière church, this site is accessible either by boat or from the shore (about 100 meters, swimming above underwater hot springs). The usual fauna.
  
  
• 

  Coral Garden (deep)

  rating : 3.0

  depth : deep

  visibility : good
  description :
  
  Very steep wall. At 43 meters, we saw a stingray. However, the most interesting part of the dive is the time spent from 30 meters to the surface... On the way back, we found a large surface - around 50 m2 - where all corals where dead! Even in a protected area, damages are found...
  
  
• 

  Plongée du Rivage

  rating : 2.0

  depth : 30 m

  visibility : good
  description :
  
  Dive from the pontoon, starting on a sandy bottom at 5 meters, with reefs covered with corals, then a gentle slope going to more than 30 meters. The usual fauna can be observed both during the day and the night time - indeed, the best time to dive here is probably at the sunset. Morays, two small stingrays, trumpetfish, parrots, lobsters, sardines, spotted garden-eels and some robin fish with their wings spread.