Dominica Scuba Diving

The marine life in the north of the island is consistently good, and turtles, rays, barracuda and lobsters are commonly sighted. There are relatively few dive operators located in the north of Dominica, and subsequently the likelihood of coming across other divers whilst in the water is relatively small.

At the south end of Dominica lies the Soufriere Scotts Head Marine Reserve, which was initially a number of small fishing communities, but which is now a large marine reserve protecting the area from the impact of increasing tourism. The geography of the area is structured like a large bay, which offers some excellent dive sites throughout, predominantly due to its large amounts of both hard and soft corals. The influx of large amounts of fresh water, coupled with the unusual volcanic formations, ensure that the marine reserve has an incredible diversity of marine life. During the period of January to May, the bay literally becomes a playground for large numbers of dolphins and pilot whales.

Dominica has a typically tropical climate, which tends to be moderated by the trade winds throughout the region. The temperatures in Dominica vary only slightly, and will vary from approximately 26 degrees C in January up to approximately 32 degrees in June. The main rainy season here is from June through to October, when Dominica is also at its hottest.

On the whole, diving in Dominica is of a good standard, and there are a number of well run, professional dive operators throughout the island. The opportunity to dive near the underwater volcanic vents are undoubtedly the largest draw to most divers, however the rest of Dominica has plenty to offer scuba divers of all standards.