Dominica Diving

"The Nature Island" is just as its name implies: full of eco-attractions, unspoiled wilderness and soft and hardcore adventures for everyone. Eighteenth-century Fort Shirley in Cabrits National Park is man-made site worth seeing.

On an island so lush, it's hard not to be romantic. If the mood strikes, rent a rowboat for a cruise down Indian River. Emerald Pool is the perfect spot for a champagne toast. Or try standing under one of the waterfalls that seem to plummet from every cliff. The twin falls at Trafalgar are a favorite to look at; those at Titou Gorge are only safe for swimming if a guide okays it.

Not everything on this 290-square-mile island is sweet-smelling, though. Sulphur Springs in the south emits pungent fumes as a reminder that the volcano that created this island is not finished yet. West of Sulphur Springs, Boiling Lake simmers and smells from the same volcanism in action.

While all the bubbling and boiling may seem forbidding, there's little chance of Dominica firing up anytime soon.

Dominica underwater is surrounded by the same rugged scenery that reaches to the clouds. Volcanic activity has formed sheer drop-offs, arches and pinnacles, particularly around Soufriere Bay on the southwest coast. On the northern coast, Castaways Reef, Grande Savane and Toucari Bay are good. Calm waters suitable for swimmers, snorkelers and inexperienced divers can be found around Champagne, a sub-Pointe Guignard, an aquatic hot spring with calm waters made bubbly by underwater vents, attracts snorkelers and beginning divers.

DIVES NOT TO MISS :

Champagne is a site with bubbling volcanic vents and a coral finger that juts out from the shallows into deep water. Although it lacks a lot of the color and marine life of some sites it is most memorable for its jacuzzi like warm bubbling springs. Rodney's Rock is in 0-50 ft of water midway up the western coast of the island is a great critter dive covered in corals and sponges that provide a home for Octopus, flying gurnards, frogfish, sea cucumbers, spotted drums, seahorses, lobster and the ever elusive batfish. Swiss Cheese is named for its many swim throughs and creveses. Located off Scotts Head Point, it slopes from 30-80 ft and two pinnacles rise from the shelf. Danglebens Pinnacles are made up of five pinnacles rising up from the blue with a variety of bottomography including mini-walls valleys and canyons.