Has anyone been to Dominica?

[fireken]

Any suggestions as to best time of year to go? Good places to stay, dive ops, can't miss dives? Don't know alot about the place other that it is supposed to be great diving. Any help is welcome.

 

[Angel Of Death 2008]

Yes.
Went there July 2004.
Stayed at and dove with Castle Comfort Lodge. Did all the boat diving towards Scotts Head area of the island between Lodge and that end of the island. However did many, many, many wonderful shore dives right from the dock.
Would go back and do the same thing again in a heartbeat.
However I would give you the heads up that departing the island with all the same stuff you arrived with is another story. American SUCKED Butt with their attitude towards our departure and being overweighted. I've heard things may have changed since then but you never know until you have to actually experience it yourself.

 

[dkktsunami]

Any suggestions as to best time of year to go? Good places to stay, dive ops, can't miss dives? Don't know alot about the place other that it is supposed to be great diving. Any help is welcome.

Dominica is a very interesting place, definitely third world, but you can watch capitalism in the bud. The locals are very friendly, industrious, and co-operative among themselves and with tourists. Stayed in the Fort Young Hotel (actually built inside an old fort), food was good and local beer, Kubuli, excellent. Diving is very good. Transportation can be tedious, as a previous poster mentioned, and my luggage was lost on the way there, including dive gear. This resulted in my first and only emergency ascent - because of faulty rental equipment. Luggage eventually showed up after having travelled to countries I've never been to.

Countryside is beautiful and is one of the youngest land masses on the planet, formed by volcanic activity. Beautiful jungle with very few mammals due to the newness of the land I suppose.

This is definitely a worth while trip if you are looking for something a little different but it is definitely "undeveloped". Good luck.

 

[deborahdelamar]

We've been to Dominica twice in the last three years -- both trips were during the fall & early winter when the water was still warm (81-83F) & the days weren't scorching. Rented cars both times and explored freely, hiked to waterfalls, swam Titou gorge, relaxed in hot springs, strolled the colored-sand beaches, and overloaded on the scenic beauty. (My first impression when flying in was that the terrain looked like the table model for a set designer's dream, rain-forested island.) First trip we dove only the south -- used Nature Island Dive in Soufrierre and stayed in a seaview room at the Evergreen, a more upscale & non-AI hotel next door to Dive Dominica's lodge. (The owners of the two operations are cousins.) Magnificent, long ("use your whole tank, we'll wait for you") diving with incredible life. On our return, we split the trip between north & south. Stayed at Calibishie Lodges and dove with Cabrits Dive Centre in Portsmouth -- another op we highly recommend -- then moved south the the Evergreen & Nature Island. The night diving in both parts of the island was spectacular. We also took Nature Island's "Sari-Sari Bike & Hike" trip -- a very full and fun day of cycling, a visit to the Emerald Pool, picnic lunch on the bank of the Rosalie River, guided hike to Sari-Sari falls (swim in the pool) and, the grand finale...a very British high tea in the middle of nowhere.
Pack your adventurous spirit, dive gear, rain jacket and a pair of all-terrain shoes that can get soaked and check it out -- it's one of the most interesting Caribbean destinations you might choose. And, if you rent a car, don't crush the crabs!

 

[tuner fish]

I just booked a trip to Dominica, leaving on July 1st. Should I plan on packing light?

 

[NCBabs]

Castle Comfort for sure they are offering

[SIZE=+1]Summer Adventure Package
June 2008 - Oct 2008
(prices in US$)[/SIZE]

Play for 7 and pay only for 6 nights. Summer Special based on PP Double occupancy.
Diver: $919.00 plus $80 taxes = $999.00 pp
Vacationer sharing with diver $655 + VAT ($65) = $720.00
Single Diver: $1,240 + $102 = $1,342.00
Package Includes:

• 7 Nights Accommodation
• 7 Breakfasts
• 5 days of 2-tank boat dives)
• 1 FREE Whale & Dolphin Safari (on Wednesday or Sunday afternoons)
• 1 FREE Adventure Island Tour (afternoon; TiTou Gorge & Trafalgar Falls)
• Unlimited Shore Dives off our dock
• Round Trip Airport Transfers
• Welcome Rum Punch upon arrival
• Tank, weights & weight belt

Be Glad to help Just PM me!

 

[Jandee]

Pack light because if you don't you won't see your luggage for a few days. We stayed at Castle Comfort at the end of April 2007, the resort was very comfortable, villages were cleaner then Roatan,the water was very warm, about 86. There is a lot to do on the island, can't complain about the diving. My only objection was the hour ride from the airport, up, over, around and then down the mountain. If you need Dramamine for the boat rides you will need it for the drive to the resort.

 

[scubadiver888]

Any suggestions as to best time of year to go? Good places to stay, dive ops, can't miss dives? Don't know alot about the place other that it is supposed to be great diving. Any help is welcome.

I just came back from there. All I can remember at the moment is I went out with Brad, Aaron and Imran from Dive Dominica. It is one of the few places I've been to in the Caribbean where it is pretty untouched. Most places have some garbage in the various dive sites (a tire, cinder block, etc.) but I saw none of that in Dominica.

Tourism is just starting up there. You can not going to find 5 star accommodation.

Unfortunately, I don't have my notes on the dive sites I went to (airline loss my gear with my log book)

Check out Dive Dominica for more information. The only thing I remember at the moment was an awesome wall dive called L'Abym (translates to The Abyss). The water was loaded with natural fish food. I was drifting with current and all the fish were drifting along with me. I suddenly realized all the fish disappeared then I saw a school of trumpet fish swimming against the current, past me. I looked back at them. When I looked forward again, out of the 'fog' came a barracuda. It raced past me, 2 yards to my left, after the trumpet fish. Really cool.