Champagne – Caribbean’s number one site to snorkel

Section of Champagne

Champagne, near Pointe Michel, has been named the top place to snorkel in the Caribbean by Snorkeler’s Life List in Caribbean Travel + Life Magazine.

Champagne managed to outmaneuver 25 other snorkeling spots across the region, including Scotts Head which came out at number 18, to grab the top position.

This is the way the magazine described Champagne, “Sea horses and frogfish will keep you company as you explore the island’s most popular snorkel site, where streams of air effervesce from fissures in the seafloor, making snorkelers feel like they’re swimming in a bottle of bubbly. Keep your eyes peeled for parrotfish and lobster amid gardens of hard and soft coral.”

Another of Dominica’s popular snorkeling sites, Scotts Head, was described by the magazine as follows, “It’s renowned as a stellar dive site, but Scotts Head Marine Reserve has plenty to delight snorkelers as well. Stick close to the wall around this ancient volcanic crater just below famous Champagne Beach, on the southern tip of the island, and prepare yourself to experience a visual panoply of sea life, including yellow tube sponges, dolphins and reef fish of every color.”

Other sites from across the region appearing on the top 25 list are Anse Chastanet, St. Lucia (number 9), Trunk Bay, St. John, USVI (number 11), Cenotes, Mexico (number 5) and Los Roques, Venezuela (number 24).

Underwater reef at Scotts Head

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20 Comments

  1. laba powa
    September 27, 2012

    Once again de hard work and kneegosheyashun of our dimpled prime meannista half paid off. Since Skeritt involve Dominica tourist sports, moss ween top sport in da world.
    Just immageen wart wood harpoon if hour PM hard put de boiling lake in diss cuntess. So beeg up de man, peeple!

  2. Anonymous
    September 26, 2012

    That’s good news! God bless Dominica.

  3. papa met
    September 26, 2012

    wow! lovey DOMINICA!

  4. Anonymous
    September 26, 2012

    Not forgetting to mention the warmth of the water there. my great island

  5. Positive
    September 25, 2012

    I see Beauty everywhere in my country. If we get that world class international airport our Dominica will soar. Visitors would want to come if bigger more comfortable jets were able to land in our homeland. Love DA

  6. concerned
    September 25, 2012

    something needs to be done about all the spear fishing that is taking place at champaigne during the off-season. The department responsible for monitoring the champagne reef area needs to be done year round. I was up there about three weeks ago and met three guyes coming out of the water there with about 3o lbs of red fish. When I was leaving one guy came out of the water with about 10 lbs of octopus. So we need to protect this area even when we have no cruise ships because outside of ships we have other visitors to the island.

    • Snorkeller
      September 26, 2012

      It is pathetic that so much fishing is still being done in a protected area. Champayne is part of the SSMR and so much work has been done to raise awareness of the need to protect and conserve its world class attributes. Some villagers even do seine fishing which is perhaps the most destructive of all.
      There is a protocol for illegal activites at Champayne, including a warden to monitor activities there; user fees are collected during the season as well as off season, so there should be enough funds to maintain a vigilant presence at least during the daylight hours; its a question of management.
      I love snorkelling, and I have snorkelled in at least four of the other sites you mentioned, but Champayne and Scottshead are the best, and I take my children and visiting relatives and friends there regularly. Snorkeler’s Life List in Caribbean Travel + Life Magazine perhaps did not visit TanTan and Toucari where the underwater scences are also so amazingly beautiful.
      You see God gave us the terrestrial environment to enjoy and protect but He also gave us the marine environment and those of us who have not experienced it or do not go there are perhaps missing half of our country’s beauty.

  7. DESIE
    September 25, 2012

    White people enjoy our country more than us
    You will surprise to see a tourist might know more about Dominica than you and i.

    • Suki
      September 25, 2012

      not all tourist are white :/

  8. Morihei Ueshiba
    September 25, 2012

    Beautiful country but BAD GOVERNMENT & SupporTers! :oops:

  9. Wow
    September 25, 2012

    Technically champagne isn’t closer to either. If soufriere where in a straight line like la pwet I’d get to soufriere from champagne in no time. The hills just make it look that way. Try from the sea.

  10. Simple.
    September 25, 2012

    lovely Dominica

  11. Anonymous
    September 25, 2012

    If this is so why aren’t we seeing an increase of visitors to the island? We have the best in so many things yet people choose to go to 2nd 3rd best and who is not even on the list. Are we really marketing Dominica? Should we in truth really try to build an international airport and get one stop flights? It seems the changing of planes is devastating to us even if we are number one in a lot of site. Let’s focus on what we need to do.

  12. Just Saying
    September 25, 2012

    Just yesterday I was telling my mother how amazingly beautiful this area is.

  13. L
    September 25, 2012

    OH MY! SUCH BEAUTY I WOULD NEVER THOUGHT THAT THIS AREA IS LIKE THAT, AM MISSING OUT ON ALL THE BEAUTY THAT DOMINICA HAS. I THINK ITS TIME FOR ME TO LEARN HOW TO SNORKEL.

  14. September 25, 2012

    Congratulations!!

    Dominica is certainly the best place to visit if you want to be at one with nature…you’re certainly helping others to realize that dream!!

    I still plan to visit and chase after my own bubbles!! :)

  15. natural dominican
    September 25, 2012

    Way to go Dominica

  16. mouth of the south
    September 25, 2012

    according to the pix…. the scott’s head reefs look more impressive lol…. d.a doing big things…. though champagne is nearer to pointe michel… it’s characteristics is derived from soufriere…. um hot springs etc etc… not lapwet…

  17. grell
    September 25, 2012

    congrats tell skerro thats what he needs to be focusing on tourism,since he killed agriculture.

  18. just looking
    September 25, 2012

    wowww………so proud of my country. Dominicans lets do as much as we can to preserve our island as the nature isle :wink: :wink: :wink:

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