Organizers of Dive Fest to market event early for 2017

Patrons at the final event of Dive Fest on Sunday. Photos by Simon Walsh
Patrons at the final event of Dive Fest on Sunday. Photos by Simon Walsh

Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Dominica Watersports Association (DWA), Simon Walsh has revealed that plans will be in place to market Dive Fest 2017 ahead of time.

DWA is the host of Dive Fest and the event this year kicked off with a Happy Hour at the Fort Young Hotel, on Friday, July 8 followed by several other activities in villages around the island and culminated with a Kubuli Canoe Race held in Soufriere on Sunday, July 17.

“Next year we are really planning on starting in September- October,” Walsh told Dominica News Online on Monday, July 18. “One thing we can look at in improving next year is just be way ahead of the game. What we are planning next year is to have a registration way ahead and we are going to limit the Kubuli canoeing to 18 teams only.”

Walsh said there will be an official start time for each race. at Kubuli Canoe race which normally brings the curtain down on Dive Fest.

“Each race, we are going to have an official start and if you are not there you forfeit your entry fee and you won’t get a chance to be in the finals,” he explained. “If you are not there on time you will be automatically disqualified. This will allow us to be much more organized on the ground because a lot of time we have to run around and find teams.”

He mentioned that the KIDS Snorkel Treasure Hunt at Champagne Reef Dive and Snorkel, held on Saturday, July 16, was very well attended.

“The kids got lots of prizes,” he said.

Walsh revealed that although there was a good turnout for the Soufriere Fish Fest on Saturday, it wasn’t as big as last year due to another major festival which took place on the same day.

“Even with the Carib Fest going on, the night went well, but it wasn’t as big as last year when it was the only event happening,” he explained.

He said the Kubuli Canoe on Sunday, July 17 was the biggest event.

“The event in Soufriere on Sunday was the biggest event as far as number of people goes…there was a massive crowd,” Walsh noted. “That event seems to be growing from strength-to-strength and we anticipate taking it to an even bigger event next year.”

He said the Kubuli Team won the race, second place went to Wacky Rollers, Harris Paints Dominica LTD copped the third spot, while ACE Engineering secured the fourth place.

Meantime, President of the DWA Daniel Perryman told DNO that this year’s activity was a “great success.”

“Overall I think it was a great success, the activities pulled a big crowd,” he said.

He stated also that the discounted Whale Watch with Anchorage Hotel & Dive Center had a great turnout.

As organizers plan ahead for next year’s activity, Perryman said hopefully by November this year there will be a schedule for Dive Fest 2017.

Kubuli was the number one sponsor of the event.

Dive Fest has been taking place in Dominica for the past 23 years.

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20 Comments

  1. troof
    July 21, 2016

    Independent Observer do we even have 70,000 plus? people leaving and those who remaining are dieing. and yes most of it is true, look around at the communities. the state of the road sides, gutters, houses even the state of some businesses. it is true in many respects. Children dress inappropriately to go to school, graduating with honors is not something strived for by all, children are ok with barely passing. GROWN PEOPLE throw rubbish anywhere and everywhere and refuse to pick it up. People urinate wherever they feel like. there is no togetherness anymore unless is to party and drink.

  2. Iluvteachers
    July 19, 2016

    Every year traffic is crazy oh my what a mess! You all tried but it didn’t work. That lady even had the audacity to ask for $5 for what? When going thru was a maze..

  3. on your deng deng
    July 19, 2016

    Not even a good fete, just people standing around drinking and watching. maybe some played a game of dominoes some rowed a boat for their organisation. But the majority is standing, watching, drinking, smoking, gossiping, plotting. i think the proceeds or part of it from dive fest should go towards building the community to ensure the next year is better and more accommodating.

    • troof
      July 21, 2016

      I agree. Soufriere has supported Dive fest for 23 years, and for decades the people have been begging for a warf or a proper jetty. Yes it is a protected marine reserve in that area, but there must be some proper way to build a jetty for the fishermen and tour operators in the area. The Dive organisation must reinvest into the community that holds their flagship event yearly. Apart from the new road Soufriere still looks exactly the same as it did in the late 80’s and 90’s. Maybe we just like nostalgia and detest proper development.

  4. manos
    July 18, 2016

    Nice fete. I enjoyed the First Serenade Band. Brought back memories…long I hadn’t fete like that. Sorry I missed everything before…I am guilty of coming for the SEWO.

  5. MAPAU GIRL
    July 18, 2016

    Congrats to the Mapau Portsmouth girls for the great effort. They were also the only female team. go girls :lol: :) :-D

  6. July 18, 2016

    Is this a reaction to St.Lucia’s Dive fest? I think so. three things that comes not back is the spoken word the arrow that flies and the neglected opportunities.

    • Mi
      July 19, 2016

      Dive Fest has been taking place in Dominica for the past 23 years

    • July 19, 2016

      Last sentence of the article: “Dive Fest has been taking place in Dominica for the past 23 years.”

    • on your deng deng
      July 19, 2016

      Ive been going to Dive Fest in Soufirere, Dominica since the mid 90’s. By then it was already well established. I dont know about St. Lucia but they always biting our style and claiming is theirs. I remember once Balance Batty – WCK was playing and someone said that was St. Lucian music.

  7. Dominican
    July 18, 2016

    Something needs to be done URGENTLY about the state of the beachfront at Soufriere. At the even yesterday i would not even of put my BIG TOE in that water, it is NASTY. There is a dirty ravine flowing into the sea and an old drain with grey water and flies as well, absolutely HORRIBLE. I WAS IN DISBELIEF, something needs to be this is not HEALTHY, its sickening. Dominicans need to do better than that.

    • on your deng deng
      July 19, 2016

      Dominicans have lost their sense of pride and class. Those we have here today do not have the same values as their parents and grand parents. Laziness. No one does anything unless they getting money in their hand.

      • Independent Observer
        July 19, 2016

        That statement is NOT true!!!! To characterize 70 000 thus is ….. I do not even have words!!!!!

  8. Pedro
    July 18, 2016

    Simon, Great job. Bigger and better each year! But remember St. Lucia has already coipied us! We have to stand out! Grab a bit of that marketing pie from Tourism early. Aim to widely publicize this. Have enough world class attractions to have tours coming for that. Mention it everywhere you can. WCMF for example. get your videos out there. Try to attract the equipment manufacturers. Throw bigger challenges for dive teams…include competitions for free diving. Make La Bim the site for the next World Record free diving. Get the schools involved for example designing the next T-shirt, poster competition. Drive to have ,more swimmers must happen year round, See if we can introduce new sports like Parasailing on one occasion…. have a wall of fame including an exhibition with photos from the past and videos on diving and water sports…have rescue simulations, first aid refresher/workshops around that time…Live tv coverage…there is a lot that can and must be done. Water safety….

    • sweet
      July 19, 2016

      Great ideas Pedro

  9. Signman
    July 18, 2016

    While the focus of Dive Fest are the activities, something MUST be done about the TRAFFIC. I went up to Soufriere yesterday, and when time reached for me to head home, traffic was a disaster. The organizers should work with the Police to avoid the congestion there was. There was one road taking you in and out of the community. This I found to be CRAZY. What if you had an incident where the Ambulance had to come. The necessary authorities should plan in advance how to regulate traffic so that it flows easily.

  10. Ba Yo Bwa
    July 18, 2016

    “Meantime, President of the DWA Daniel Perryman told DNO that this year’s activity was a “ ‘great success. ‘” ” ‘Overall I think it was a great success, the activities pulled a big crowd,’ ” he said.

    At the risk of being biased, I was trying to gauge overall success of this year’s event by the numbers. I notice with great surprise, not to mention annoyance, that we continue to spend huge sums on putting on displays and events but do not (or can not) point to specifics in assessing “success” or failings of these events. Is like we’re content to flush our already scarce sums into a dark hole by putting on a gig for its sake; only to say that we did something. Where are the dollar amounts that would indicate that Dive Fest 2016 was a resounding success? And that would entice the private sector to continue to invest? We have a truly one-of-a-kind product. Time to raise its pedigree and potential in becoming a real job creator and money earner.

  11. Brigg
    July 18, 2016

    And how many international visitors and sponsors did it attract ? Are we simply doing these things to satisfy our own insatiable need to fete ?

    • July 19, 2016

      Invite some of your overseas friends Brigg. That would be your contribution.

      • Brigg
        July 19, 2016

        You have no idea.

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