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Burr fish in Dominica

Dramatic Seascapes and Small Treasures

Known as the nature island, Dominica is a land of rugged beauty. Ditto for what lies below, where the island's soaring peaks and deep valleys are mirrored in dramatic drop offs, sheer walls and submarine canyons. Volcanic origins are evident in a seascape riddled with pinnacles, swim-throughs and bubbling fumaroles, while the nation's commitment to conservation is evident in the wealth of marine life and healthy hard and soft corals that thrive within a trio of marine reserves. Small treasures from seahorses and frogfish to a plethora of invertebrates await the keen-eyed diver and the avid macro photographer. Calm waters are inviting to all, but excitement is just offshore where the big animals swim.

Highlights

  • Best for: Macro photographers, underwater naturalists, explorers and whale watchers
  • Best season to visit: Year round, with some sites having best visibility during the dry season, January to April
  • Weather: Trade winds and forests keep temperatures mild throughout the year. Wintertime lows run in the mid 70s, while summer rarely sees daytime temperatures above the mid 80s

Dominica Information

About Diving in Dominica

All diving takes place in a trio of marine reserves located along the island's western shore, which is sheltered from prevailing trade winds and swell. Dives begin close to shore on a narrow coastal shelf, or on nearby pinnacles. Dramatic topographies are common, while some sites offer more gradual slopes and shallow reefs. Coral cover and fish life benefit from protection and remain among the healthiest in the Caribbean. Water temperatures range from the high 70s to mid 80s.

Diving in Dominica Tips

Brush up on your buoyancy and trim skills to comply with the marine parks' no-touch policies. Take in the big views then move in for a closer look at crevices, holes and ledges. Schedule a night dive for more macro life.

Best Places to Dive in Dominica

Pinnacles such as Scotts Head, Dangleben's and Soufriere provide dramatic backdrops for multi-level dives. Crater's Edge and Point Break are among the island's fishiest sites. The geothermal sands at Pointe Ronde or Hot Sophia and the escaping gas bubbles at Champagne Reef are evidence of the island's volcanic origins. When weather permits, the Suburbs and Village provide big sponges and larger fish.

What to Pack for Diving in Dominica

If you plan to hunt for macro life, pack a fish ID book, a small light to illuminate crevices and a muck stick to use as a stabilizing anchor when moving in for a closer look or a photo.

Specials

Dive

Dominica

Fort Young Hotel & Dive Resort

DOMINICA FREE NIGHT-FREE DIVES- $100 RESORT CREDIT PER PERSON!

Package Includes 7 nights Fort Mountain accommodations, 6 days of 2-tank boat dives, free shore diving, full breakfast daily, roundtrip airport transfers, hotel taxes, service charges and marine park fees.

VALUE ADD: EXCHANGE 1 day 2-tank boat diving for 1 Waterfall Combo Adventure!

Upgrade room category to Fort Ocean, Oceanfront, or Deluxe Oceanfront in the shopping cart on the next screen!

Fort Young Hotel & Dive Shop offers Various Specials & Group Discounts throughout the year – Contact Caradonna Adventures at 800.328.2288 for Exclusive Pricing and Information.
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From $1,759 per person double diver

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Dive

Dominica

Jungle Bay Resort and Spa Dominica

DOMINICA JUNGLE ADVENTURE PACKAGE 7-night accommodations, all meals (full board, fresh fruit juices & snacks), 1 half-hour spa treatment per stay and 6 days of scheduled excursions/activities (these excursions/activities can be exchanged for half-hour spa treatments), round trip airport transfers, dive shop transfers, taxes, and service charges.

Example Activities: Boiling Lake Hike/Snorkeling at Scotts Head/ Perdu Temps Hike/ Fresh Water Lake & Titou Gorge/Middleham Falls Hike/ World Famous Champagne Snorkel//Sunset Yoga/Kayak & Snorkeling/ Herbal Experience/Caribbean Cooking Class

Valid 1/5/24-4/30/24. Rates from $2,695 per person double.
Valid 5/1/24-12/18/24. Rates from $2,590 per person double.

Additional room categories and other dates also available! Book on-line or Contact Caradonna Adventures at 800.328.2288 or email us sales@caradonna.com.
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From $2,590 per person double

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Dive

Dominica

Fort Young Hotel & Dive Resort

DOMINICA $50 RESORT CREDIT PER ROOM - DIVERS DREAM & DOMINICA TOUR PACKAGE - 7 nights’ accommodations, 5 days of 2-tank boat dives, free shore diving, 1-afternoon tour to Titou Gorge & Trafalgar Falls, full breakfast daily, roundtrip airport transfers, hotel taxes, service charges and marine park fees.

Fort Mountain room accommodations rate from $1,662 per person/double diver.
Fort Ocean room accommodations rate from $1,698 per person/double diver.
Ocean Front room accommodations rate from $1,723 per person/double diver.
Deluxe Ocean Front room accommodations rate from $1,824 per person/double diver.

Valid through 3/31/25. Book by 4/7/24.

Book on-line or Contact Caradonna Adventures at 800.328.2288 or email us sales@caradonna.com.
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From $1,662 per person double diver

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Dive

Dominica

Jungle Bay Resort and Spa Dominica

DOMINICA DIVE & ADVENTURE PACKAGE – 7 night accommodations, 5 days 2-tank boat dives with Nature Island Dive, marine park fees, all meals (full board, fresh fruit juices & snacks), round trip airport transfers, dive shop transfers, taxes, and service charges.

Divers receive 1 scheduled off-site excursion/activity per stay and 1 half-hour spa treatment per stay.
Non-Divers receive 1 half-hour spa treatment per stay and 6 days of scheduled excursions/activities (these excursions/activities can be exchanged for half-hour spa treatments).

Valid 1/5/24-4/30/24. Rates from $2,695 per person double.
Valid 5/1/24-12/18/24. Rates from $2,590 per person double.

Additional room categories and other dates also available! Book on-line or Contact Caradonna Adventures at 800.328.2288 or email us sales@caradonna.com.
Read More

From $2,590 per person double

Book Now

Packages

Dive

Dominica

Jungle Bay Resort and Spa Dominica

DOMINICA DIVE & ADVENTURE PACKAGE – 7 night accommodations, 5 days 2-tank boat dives with Nature Island Dive, marine park fees, all meals (full board, fresh fruit juices & snacks), 1 scheduled excursion/activity per stay, 1 half-hour spa treatment, round trip airport transfers, dive shop transfers, taxes, and service charges.

Divers receive 1 scheduled off-site excursion/activity per stay and 1 half-hour spa treatment per stay.
Non-Divers receive 1 half-hour spa treatment per stay and 6 days of scheduled excursions/activities (these excursions/activities can be exchanged for half-hour spa treatments).
Read More

Book Now
Dive

Dominica

Fort Young Hotel & Dive Resort

DOMINICA Includes 7 nights’ in your choice of Mountain, Ocean View or Ocean Front accommodations, 5 days of 2-tank boat dives, free shore diving, 1-afternoon tour to Titou Gorge & Trafalgar Falls, full breakfast daily, roundtrip airport transfers, hotel taxes, service charges and marine park fees.

Fort Young Hotel & Dive Shop offers Various Specials & Group Discounts throughout the year – Contact Caradonna Adventures at 800.328.2288 for Exclusive Pricing and Information.
Read More

Book Now

Resorts

Dive

Dominica

Jungle Bay Resort and Spa Dominica

Jungle Bay is a unique oasis for divers, nature lovers, individuals, active and adventurous travelers, as well as for those who seek tranquility, relaxation, yoga, and wellbeing. A place to wind down, to rejuvenate your mind and body in a natural environment. Jungle Bay’s accommodations are in 60 island-inspired villas (suites & rooms), nestled within tropical trees, banana plants and flowers. “Nature Island Dive” in Soufriere is located 5 minutes from the hotel; right offshore lays the Soufriere Scotts Head Marine Reserve. You can explore nearly 20 dive sites in the Marine Reserve and some of them – according to experienced divers – are among the top sites in the entire Caribbean! All the dive sites are less than 15 boat minutes from the dive shop. The hotel offers transfers, guided hikes, excursions & activities, spa treatments & massages, yoga, delicious and fresh island meals.
Contact Caradonna Adventures at 800.328.2288 for additional info.
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Dive

Dominica

Fort Young Hotel & Dive Resort

Take an adventurous vacation to the Nature Island of Dominica while staying at Fort Young Resort, a full-service hotel nestled at the edge of a cliff overlooking the Caribbean Sea and cradled in the beauty of Dominica’s mountainous landscape.

Modern, boutique style air-conditioned rooms, seaside dining, entertainment, and duty-free shopping on the resort’s waterfront, to neighboring Saturday markets and unfathomable adventures at your doorstep — waterfall hikes, hot spring soaks, rainforest walks and world-class scuba diving — Fort Young Hotel & Dive Resort is your gateway to experiencing Dominica by both land and sea.
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Dive

Dominica

Hotel The Champs

Small 5-room comfortable hotel, situated on the hillside in the Picard, Portsmouth area, close to the sea. Attentive and personalized service for all guests. Home away from home ambience.
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Dive

Dominica

Secret Bay Dominica

Secret Bay Resort is located on the northwest coast of Dominica on a breathtaking clifftop overlooking the Caribbean. Each of the eco-luxury villas and bungalows have a fully-equipped kitchen and comes with a replenished daily pre-stocked organic breakfast basket (farm eggs, fruit, granola, yogurt, bread, jam, local beverages). Positioned for privacy and seclusion while offering ocean and mountain views. Use of mountain bikes, kayaks, snorkeling and swimming gear. High-speed WiFi access, audiovisual system with Apple TV, iPod dock, cable television, books and games and daily international newspapers on your "Villa Kindle". Stays of 7-nights or more include roundtrip airport transfers and welcome dinner complimentary.
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Diving in Dominica

The underwater landscape of Dominica is the most dramatic and varied in the Caribbean. It is also among the healthiest. The island is ringed by a narrow coastal shelf of volcanic rock that holds a high density of hard and soft corals. Most dive sites are within 300 yards of shore, with the exception of the underwater sea mounts and pinnacles that rise from middle depths slightly farther from land. Other unique features of the seascape include fields of massive boulders, craters, canyons and active volcanic fumaroles. All diving takes place on the calmer Caribbean side of the island within one of three marine reserves: The Cabrits National Park Marine Section on the island's northwestern coast, the north, the Salisbury Marine Reserve in Dominica's central west, and the Soufriere Scotts Head Marine Reserve to the southwest. The south offers the most dramatic profiles and is the most popular, though diver traffic is light at all areas as compared to many other Caribbean destinations. Some sites receive sediment from river runoff, particularly during the rainy season, but because deep ocean water runs close to shore, disruptions in visibility are usually short lived, and waters clear quickly. The upside of the rain is a rich flow of nutrients that support thriving populations of invertebrates. Sites are rich in sponge and soft coral growths, and home to varied populations of crabs, shrimps and crinoids. Reefs also hold a range of small tropicals, along with numerous parrotfish and, thanks to protected status, a population of mature grouper. One of the Dominica's best-known sites lies at the southern tip of the island. Divers begin the exploration of Scotts Head Pinnacle with a swim through the rock formations of Swiss Cheese, where the swim-through at Soldierfish Cave is packed with a living curtain of soldier fish and grunts. The actual pinnacle offers an even more dramatic swim-through that leads to the steep flank of a volcanic crater. The nearby Scott’s Head Drop Off presents an intensely colorful landscape of pink and azure vase sponges, orange icing sponges, yellow tube sponges, and green rope sponges, with many small nooks and crannies that hide lobster, crabs, and many different kinds of cleaner shrimp. Another famous dive site off the southern coast is Champagne Reef, so named for the gas bubbles that rise from underwater hot springs that sit below the corals. With minimal currents and shallow depths, this is an ideal site for divers of all experience levels. It is one of the best places on the island to find frogfish, seahorses and flying gurnards, and an excellent night dive that yields squid, octopus, large crabs and lobster. Steep-side pinnacles are a common feature of many south coast sites, though there are also a number of shallower sites that offer gentler topographies. One of the fishiest sites in the region is Crater's Edge, where a volcanic ridge attracts schools of blackjack, tuna, snapper, Creole wrasse, and blue chromis. Mid-island sites are gaining increasing recognition for healthy reefs and some of the Caribbean's best muck diving. The Canfield Tug Wreck adds variety to a seascape, and Rena's Reef offers an explosion of hard and soft corals in lavender, violet, orange and yellow. Sites such as Castaway Reef and Rodney's Rock provide hours of exploration for small treasures and elusive finds such as leaf fish, bumblebee shrimp, shortnose batfish with their unicorn-like projections and speckled band tail puffers. Another unique feature found at some dives sites are fumaroles—submerged volcanic vents that heat the sea floor. At Hot Sophia and Point Ronde, divers will find sand bottoms that are hot to the touch. Dive sites along Dominica's northwest coast are known for prolific growths of feather stars and sponges. The site known as Shark's Mouth didn't actually earn its name for these apex predators, but instead for the thick growths of basket sponges that are said to give the slope the appearance of a toothy shark jaw. At the island's far northern point, sites such as Point Break are more exposed to blue water and currents, and hold larger fish in greater numbers.

Passport and/or Visa Requirements

A valid passport is required with at least 1 blank page for entry stamp. No visa is required for stays of less than 6 months with proof of onward or return ticket. See the entry/exit requirements here.

Immunizations

Vaccinations are not required for entering the Caribbean if you’re coming from the U.S. Before traveling check the CDC here.

 

Culture and Customs

Dominica is known as "the Nature Island" for good reason. It is a land of unspoiled rainforests, volcanic hot springs, wild rivers and waterfalls. More than 60 percent of the island is covered in lush tropical vegetation and protected within three national parks, including the Morne Trois Piton National Park, which has been named a World Heritage Site. The mountainous landscape rises to almost 5,000 feet above sea level to harvest moisture from passing trade winds. Water is one of the island's most abundant natural resources, and more than 350 rivers gush out of the mountains to create dramatic gorges and spectacular waterfalls that spill into emerald pools. Among the most popular are Middleham, Victoria, Trafalgar and Sari Sari Falls. This landscape creates a mecca for the adventure traveler. Tours and activities range from kayaking, bird watching and hiking to jeep/ATV safaris and mountain bike treks. For the rugged hiker, there is the cross-island Waitukubuli Trail, or the climb to Boiling Lake, one of the world’s largest volcanically-active bodies of fresh water. With a glimpse of pre-Colombian culture, a visit to Carib Indian Territory provides a chance to interact with the largest remaining population of indigenous people in the Caribbean. For a take on the island's current culture, plan a visit during Carnival season, when calypso crooners and dance troops take to the streets. Dominica has earned a reputation as the whale watching capital of the Caribbean. Sperm whales can be seen in the waters of Dominica through the year, but prime viewing months are between November to March, when mothers arrive to nurse their calves. Other marine mammals often seen in the same area include pilot, pygmy, and false killer whales, plus spinner, spotted and bottlenose dolphin.

Electricity, Phone and Internet Access

The island operates on 220/240 volts - 50 cycles, so both adapters and transformers are necessary for U.S. made appliances. However, many hotels have dual 220/110 voltage, with 110V US style outlets in the room, along with 110 outlets available in the dive shops for camera equipment. Approximately 70% of Dominica’s electric power supply is hydro generated. Diesel generators provide the remainder.

The island area code for Dominica is 767. There are 3 mobile service providers on the island, check with your local provider to see what plans are available or roaming charges will apply. Many hotels offer WiFi.

Water Quality

Tap water is safe to drink, if you prefer bottled water, it is available for purchase.

Language & Currency

English is the official language though much of the local population speaks Creole (French based Patois). The Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$ or XCD) is the currency used locally. Check the current exchange rate here. United States Dollars, British Pounds and the Euro are accepted. ATMs are available and dispense EC Dollars. Most vendors will accept foreign currency and give your change in local currency. Credit cards are widely accepted.

Time

Dominica is on Atlantic Standard Time and does not observe Daylight Savings Time. Dominica is 4 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (-4 GMT).

Location, Size and Population

Dominica is a sovereign island country that is part of the Windward Islands in the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean. It is located SSE of Guadeloupe Islands and Northwest of Martinique. Dominica is 289 square miles, roughly 29 miles long and 16 miles wide at it's widest point.

Dominica's population is 73,016 (2016).

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