Dominica has been named the number one diving site in the Caribbean and the USA by a radio station devoted to diving.
Scubaradio listed ten diving sites with Dominica emerging at the top.
“The Nature Island consistently delivers the best in Caribbean diving, if not the world,” the website of the radio station said. “Champaign reef and Scott’s Head drop off are just a couple of the many underwater highlights.”
Among other sites named the Bahamas at number 2, Saba at number 3, Bonair at number 4, Florida at number 5, Cayman Islands at number 6, Cozumel at number 7, Grenada at number 8, Roatan at number 9 and Catalina Island at number 10.
Dominica’s dive experience features pristine marine habitats, a wide range of sea creatures, marine reserves, and underwater volcanic activities.
Below are some of the features as presented by the Discover Dominica Authority.
BEAUTIFUL CREATURES
Dive our reefs and you’ll enter a world filled full of magic and adventure. Encounter seahorses, frogfish, flying gurnards and other species rarely found in other Caribbean diving destinations. Huge stands of coral and sponges are home to golden crinoids with feathery, radiating arms. Batfish, electric rays, Caribbean reef squid, sea snakes and sea urchins add to Dominica’s list of rare undersea inhabitants.
PRISTINE MARINE HABITAT
The underwater topography of Dominica mirrors the beautiful landscape above, with canyons and cliffs plunging to depths equal to the soaring mountain peaks above. Massive underwater boulder fields and volcanic craters accompany steep walls and pinnacles, setting the stage for some of the best diving in the Caribbean, and indeed the most breathtaking diving to be found anywhere.
MARINE RESERVES
Soufriere Scott’s Head Marine Reserve, located in the southwest, is the oldest reserve on the island and offers the most popular volcanic underwater features. With virtually no current and unspoilt coral walls, The Cabrits National Park Marine Section in the north is renowned for a large variety of rare fish. The earmarked Salisbury Marine Reserve in the central west area consists of a dozen sites with some of the healthiest and best reef diving in the Caribbean.
“CHAMPAGNE & VOLCANO”
Underwater volcanoes are the source of Dominica’s dramatic underwater landscape: craters, chasms and sheer walls plunging thousands of feet, and soaring pinnacles formed by lava flow. Visit the “Champagne” dive site and swim through warm bubbling waters created by geothermal vents. You can feel the water temperature rise. The sea floor itself can be warm to the touch!
We Dominicans are too laid back, we like turtles and snails. So many natural resources we have and the Government is not paying enough attention. When there is a hot market for something you must act fast. You never know who or what other country can cease the moment. Make hay while the sun shies, and too late might be our cry.
We need to be pro active than being re active. We have it, take advantage right now. Also, I hope the Government is charging for these people diving in Dominica to bring some kind of income for our country. In other countries, when you have to enjoy their natural resources or man made, there is a fee or a price to pay. Go My Dominica go, and hope they don’t pollute the waters.
This is great news for Dominica’s Dive Tourism Sector… We need to capitalize on this to get more Divers to “Come Experience the Nature Island of Dominica – Diving Capital of the Caribbean/ World”. We can do this through increase target marketing/ promotions and greater use of public relations. Agree with other comments on the need to continue to grow the Dive sector through increased local and foreign direct investments, improved airlift and better scheduling of the ferry service… Dominica is our home… let’s all make the Tourism sector sustainable and beneficial to all
Put politics aside and come up with a sustainable plan to market our natural resources. I would think that at this stage in the game we have the talent and expertise necessary to execute the plan.
Congrats to the Fisheries Officers who work tirelessly to develop the marine reserves and protect our waters from pollution, and unlawful activities. Your hard work is not recognized.
The government needs to invest seriously into the Diving Industry. This is a niche market that Dominica can capitalize on. Set up a diving school so that more Dominicans can learn to dive and have their own diving businesses. Right now it is only a few Hoteliers and Dive operators that benefit.
you could not have said it any better. I support your comment.
Congratulations Nature Isle, Dominica. Proud to be from that beautiful country.
We need the right team in government to maximize the benefits of our underwater resource. We do not have that team in office yet.
Having been labeled the best diving site, we should then sacrifice and market this award, there is a niche market of divers looking for great diving spots.
Congrats Dominica.
Clayton, I support your comments fully and it’s Dominicans like you who live abroad and know the “true” facts about what this Government is doing for and to Dominica and Dominicans. You are a True Son Of The Soil.
We are blessed with the most unique, beautiful, nature island in the world. Let’s pass it on to our children this way.
So proud, Hopefully i can get some of my diving peeps to come to Dominica.Also i do Hope some of the young people in D/A can learn to dive.
Lovely. Sounds good as expected. When will we focus on our beaches though? Ex Donkey Beach for water sports and more tourism related developments. Non the less…we do have some awesome diving.
…..only if visitors did not have to spend a whole travelling to get here and was able to spend that time diving and exploring the reefs and underground world
greattttttttttttt love that
Well this is great news! I hope more Dominicans can get to experience the Dominica that exists below the waves. There is a lot to see and experience for sure. Dive Fest, as mentioned, is a great place to start. Learn to swim, snorkel, scuba. Support our local dive operators. Advocate for the protection of the marine space. And remember, whatever we do to the land also affects the sea.
Yes, you indeed have it right.
Dominica has some of the best diving and for years the Fisheries division and SSMR/LAMA have worked to conserve and protect the resource. Difficult task!!!! People view the sea and any drop off into it as a dumping ground. Soufriere/Scottshead Marine reserve, sounds nice? yes but villagers continue to put human waste and garbage on the beaches and into the allum stream. Wonder what the fecal count in the waters around Dominica are?????? shocking!! Dominica is not the problem in its development……its the people. Bad deeds, practices and lifestyle has a way of returning to bite where its hurts and the attitude to indiscriminate dumping will soon lash us hard. Why do we have to wait for someone ‘out there’ to tell us what we have when we see it daily…….Dominica is beautiful and with sensational natural resources……..We the people of Dominica must appreciate it, care for it, manage it, and market it. The authorities must put legislation in place to start punishing the nasty people for they are hindering the countries development. Keep Dominica clean and beautiful.
yaahhh or OUR DOMINICA!!!!! I just love her sooo much!
As a Dominican diver who also has had the fortune to dive in the other Caribbean sites mentioned, I must say I agree we are among the top. Lets sing it from the mountain, but also encourage more people to learn to swim, snorkel and dive. There is a whole new world of colors and creatures down there! Dive fest is a good opportunity to be exposed to that! Thats where I got my start and never looked back. Just one final appeal to have everyone to help preserve our environment. Its not just so that the tourist does not see the can and the plastic containers and trash on the reef or sea shore, but our health and the marine environmental health depends on it! Big up Dominica!
Yep, Dominica is indeed blessed, but the cost of living is extremely, high whilst the salary remains the same, and they must start to pay every one forthnightly, instead of waiting till the month-end, and most times the second of the new month, that is something which needs to be looked at.
World class diving right in our own backyard. Now we need to get more Dominicans out there diving and snorkeling! Hats of to Ian Douglas for becoming a certified diver. Divefest coming up in July, take advantage and see the reef for yourself!
Yes, every year at Dive fest the DWA would invite ministers etc to get in the water…….in the early days the then police commissioner, Mr Blanchard got certified, great stuff back then……things have changed unfortunately. Its all lip service now however the DWA keeps on doing its thing encouraging, promoting, and getting the word out about what Dominica has to offer. Must mention Derek Perryman, this guy was instrumental in getting Dominica on the diveworld map. Gone but never forgotten, Perry.
CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!! DOMINICA. We are not only about negatives
excellent
A boost for tourism. taxi drivers, hotelias and other stke holders will get business and Dominica will get some positive international publicity. hats off to Ian Douglas tourism minister and the other players in the sector
DA is so blessed ….