If you think Dominca's diverse topside,
wait until you discover the world beneath
the waves. Every adventure above ground
is cloned undersea. Divers from all corners
of the globe are finding out that diving in
Dominica is an exceptional experience -
where every plunge Is "living" proof of the
majesty and spectacle of the underwater
world.
Dominica is blessed with dramatic walls
that plummet to depths of 1,000 feet, seemingly
only a fin's toss from the dock. Then
there are the calm, crystal-clear waters.
And exotic marine life. Couple all that with
qualified operators who offer "quality" experiences
(no "cattle" diving on crammed boats) and it's little wonder why experts
rate Dominica's seascape experiences near
the top of the charts.
Skin Diver Magazine, considered the
world's premier dive publication, 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.
Want hot samples of dives unique to
Dominica? At two hot springs you'll feet
the water temperature increase. See thousands
of bubbles from subterranean volcanic activity ascend to the surface.
The proximity of many dive
sites being close to shore, excellent health
of the reefs, and the diversity and density of
coral life and it gets easier to see why
Dominica gets high marks. Then there's
the creature features. Divers can expect
to see many different kinds of fish and
marine critters rarely seen at other
Caribbean destinations. Seahorses, frogfish,
batfish, flying gurnards, electric rays,
Caribbean reef squid, sea snakes and sea
urchins lead the list.
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.
Dominica offers a dive for every class
of diver - a snorkel for every non-diver.
Dive operators are well trained and very
aware of their product. Standards are high,
safety is practiced, equipment is well maintained.
Most boats are large, comfortable and in good condition.
As with diving in any other destination,
please make sure your operator is licensed and approved.
All you have to do now is check your
gear, pack your U/W camera and head
for Dominica. After one or two dives you'll
quickly discover why Dominica goes to
the head of the class in dive travel.
Best dive sites in Dominica
* Champagne Reef – Named for the bubbles rising up through the sand from underwater hot springs, this site is accessible from shore and also good for snorkeling. Currents here are usually light and you may see seahorses, frogfish, flying gurnards, and squid.
* Soufriere Pinnacles – This site consists of a series of deep-water pinnacles that drop off into the deep blue. The walls are covered in plate and whip corals with an amazing array of colorful sponges. Look up every now and then for turtles and mantas that occasionally swim by.
* Point Break – Located where the Caribbean and the Atlantic meet on the northern tip of the island, Point Break offers a chance to see lots of large fish. There’s usually a decent current at the sight, but the wall and scenery are worth the effort. Be sure to check out the swim-throughs.
* Cottage Point – Links of chain and other remnants of an 18th century wreck are scattered in shallow water. After surveying the wreck, swim around the pinnacles that are covered with color and full of invertebrate life.
* Whale Shark Reef – This reef starts at about 18 metres/60 feet and drops off to more than 40 metres/130 feet. Along the nice vertical face, large barrel sponges and tube sponges are abundant and colorful corals swarm with reef fish. There’s a chance to see barracudas, Spanish mackerel and jacks swimming off the reef.
* Five Finger Rock – The site is named for rocks that looks like a hand and knuckles sticking out in the water. Look for colorful elephant ear sponges and spotted eagle rays swimming in the mild current.
Source: PADI
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