Known as the Nature Island of the Caribbean, Dominica has a unique micro-climate - lush rainforests, volcanic peaks, thundering waterfalls, cloud-covered hills, sulphur springs, pools of bubbling therapeutic mud and hot mineral streams. This tropical wonderland has 365 rivers, many of them providing excellent swimming. The exotic animals and plants that have been wiped out on nearby islands thrive here. Nature is spectacularly and uncontrollably rampant.

Most diving on Dominica takes place off the island's south western corner between Roseau and Scotts Head, the lip of a sunken volcano. This produces a varied underwater topography, from the bubbling volcanic vents at Champagne to the walls near Soufrière to pinnacles at Danglebens. Boat rides to these sites take no more than 15 to 30 minutes from dive operations around Roseau. While really big fish and pelagics are virtually nonexistent, there is enough underwater life to keep you thumbing through a reef ID book for days. However, you do have a decent chance of seeing a whale or two here, including sperm, pilots and false orcas.
Dominica is blessed with dramatic walls that plummet to depths of 1,000 feet - hardly any distance from the dock.

Skin Diver Magazine, recently called Dominica "...the undisputed divng capital of the Eastern Caribbean as well as one of the most unusual and popular dive locations in the world!"

Why is the Dominica under-sea world so unusually eye-catching? Precipitous mountains, craggy canyons, colorful scenery and even seething pools, which embellish the island's interior also parallel the vibrant world below. Steep drop-off's, pinnacles, walls and dramatic topography are all close to shore. Other Caribbean dive destinations, which feature mainly sloping reefs, have a hard time comparing with Dominica's dramatic sheer reefs.

Reefs flourish with layers of gorgonians. Huge stands of sponges are home to golden crinolds with their feathery, radiating arms. From north to south, dives sites are plentiful along the western (leeward) coast. Among the most popular are Champagne, The Pinnacles at Scotts Head, Dangleben's Reef, L'Abym (sometimes referred to as "The Wall"), Soufriere Pinnacle, Coral Gardens, Rodney's Rock and Douglas Bay Point. These sites, and numerous others, unfold an underwater wonderland second to none.

Divers can plunge into the crater of an underwater volcano. The Scotts Head/Soufriere Marine Reserve (bay at the southern end of Dominica, eight miles south of Roseau) is a submerged caldera of a prehistoric volcano. Known as the Soufriere Crater, the entire bay is cradled by this ancient volcano. The crater is bordered by the isthmus at Scotts Head to the south and the mainland to the east. The northern border (almost two miles to the north) and the western border are still submerged. Inside the perimeter of the crater, the steep vertical walls drop sharply to nearly 1,000 feet. Along the rim of the crater, pinnacles formed by lava flow reach upward. Some nearly break the surface. Within these boundaries, divers will note many exciting sights around the crater's rim.

Scott's Head Pinnacles at the southern edge drops steeply into the crater's center and features a well-encrusted arch and schools of larger fish. Thermal underwater vents create thousands of bubbles which rise to the surface at popular Champagne. Soufriere Pinnacle and nearby Point Guignard with its caverns boast numerous sea critters. Dangleben's Reef at the northern edge of the crater stretches more than two miles out from shore. Starting in only 20 feet of water, the reef is abundant with small pinnacles and sea life. Still on the northern edge, Dangleben's Pinnacles offers five indiadual spires all climbing to within 30 feet of the surface. Each formation swells with corals and animal life. One wall is covered with black coral trees, while the next is home to immense sponges.

Another interesting dive in the same general area is L'Abym. Divers (and snorkelers) delight at vertical walls rich with more black coral and beautiful sponges. At Coral Gardens, an overwhelming stand of nearly 100 yellow tube sponges are found.

North up the coast, near the mouth of the Canefield River, is the Canefield Tug Wreck. The 55-foot, well-preserved tug sits almost upright in 80 to 90 feet of water. It hosts sponges, gorgonians, tropical fish and, occasionally, seahorses. Farther up the coast is historic Rodney's Rock. Today it brightens up the eyes of divers with its canyon-like features and a variety of marine life. Yesteryear, it was lighted up like a war-ship to scare offattacking French forces.

More good dive sites exist on the northern half of the island's west coast. At Coral Gardens North you'll find sponges and corals, including growths of black coral. Rina's Hole is one of the nicest shallow dives Dominica has to offer. Azure vase sponges supporting golden crinolds and rich finger corals are found at Maggie's Point on the central west coast.

At the recently discovered Underwater Volcanoes and Springs north of Pointe Ronde, everything is coming up bubbles. Along the rim of a submerged volcano, divers see trails of bubbles emitted from the ocean floor. Caverns, arches, encrusted sponges, black coral and a profusion of invertebrates make Toucan Caves a "must dive" in the northern reaches. Douglas Point is another exceptional dive site with its vast population of huge barrel sponges, purple tube sponges and radiant corals.

There is plenty to do for non divers too - especially if they enjoy nature. As well as the excellent diving, there are opportunities for superb hiking through the rainforests, bird watching, climbing, photography, rafting, biking, shopping - the list goes on and on.

Getting There:

There are regular fights from Gatwick to Antigua and St. Lucia with British Airways, Britannia, Caledonia and Virgin. Dominica is 4 hours behind GMT (5 hours behind BST). Flights generally leave Gatwick Airport mid morning, arriving Antigua mid afternoon, (some continue to St Lucia) before returning overnight to Gatwick. Your connecting flight is usually Air Liat or Caribbean Star and takes only 35 minutes. The other option is to fly from either Orly or Charles De Gaul Airports in Paris to Guadeloupe or Martinique, which remain Departments of France. Consequently these are regarded as domestic flights and are often cheaper than those from London. Air France and various charters fly regularly, also giving you the opportunity to do some duty free shopping in France on your return. Depending onyour arrival/ departure times from either Guadeloupe or Martinique you may prefer, instead of flying, to take the fast catamaran ferry to Dominica (max. sailing time 1hr. 45min). Even though Barbados is a little further away, there are often very cheap excursion flights on offer from the UK.

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Eco tourists will love Dominica - it really is the Caribbean's version of Costa Rica. If your idea of paradise contains casinos, duty free shopping and American food chains, you probably won't. Great destination for macro photographers too. Take a mac! It doesn't get to be this green without the odd shower falling.

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