What to Know About Scuba Diving in Dominica

I’m sure you guessed a reason why we chose to visit Dominica was the opportunity to dive! We were excited to finally visit after discussing it for years. We typically combine diving and land activities in our trips and Dominica was perfect for that. We were able to have three days of solid diving while also exploring the island.

While you’re planning your Dominica trip, use this guide to give you knowledge about diving in Dominica.

Dominica Diving Quick Tips

Plan ahead because of availability. Book your dives before your trip and plan around cruise ship days. I recommend diving when cruise ships are in port so that you can do land activities on days they’re not there.

When to Dive in Dominica

You can dive in Dominica year-round! Hurricanes are expected from June through October and this is also the rainy season. Dry season is from February through April, which will be the busiest time for tourists.

Best Dominica Dive Shops

In researching dive shop options, I found three:

Nature Island Dive (Soufriere)
Dive Dominica (Roseau)
Cabrits Dive Center (Portsmouth)

We went with Nature Island Dive because we also wanted to stay at Jungle Bay Resort, which is closer to the dive shop. We did three days of diving with them and it was excellent. They had professional and attentive guides, quality gear, fun places to dive, and a genuine enthusiasm for diving. The dive shop is 10-15 minutes from most dive shops, so we took surface intervals at the shop and the boat rides were quick. I would visit them again and recommend them.

Where to Dive in Dominica

There are two main areas to dive on the island – Scotts Head Marine Reserve (south) and Cabrits National Park Marine Section (north). There are more dive sites in the south. I leaned more towards the south because Scotts Head Pinnacle is one of the most popular dive sites in Dominica. The reefs – coral and creature life – were vibrant!

Champagne Beach is frequently listed as a scuba diving site but it’s not necessary and would be a waste of a dive. It is a shallow area without a lot of fish life, but keep a lookout for a school of squid!

Where to Stay in Dominica to Dive

With limited dive shop options, where they are located helps you narrow down where you stay. Nature Island Dive is partnered with Jungle Bay Resort in Soufriere and Dive Dominica is on-site at Fort Young Hotel in Roseau, both towards the southern part of the island. This makes access easier if you stay in one of those hotels. Jungle Bay Resort has a shuttle to the dive shop. Cabrits Dive Center is located in Portsmouth, which is in Northern Dominica.

How Much is Diving in Dominica

Diving is fairly affordable in Dominica, costing less than $50 per dive (without tip and equipment rental). The following rates are what were published in January 2023.

Pricing for a package of 6 dives:

Nature Island Dive: $300
Dive Dominica: $290
Cabrits Dive Center: $285

Pricing for daily full set equipment rental:

Nature Island Dive: $25
Dive Dominica: $45
Cabrits Dive Center: $23

What You’ll See Diving in Dominica

Life is vibrant in Dominica! I was amazed by the colorful and varied coral. Volcanoes have created interesting underwater topography and we enjoyed many swim-throughs.

As for new creatures I saw, I was excited to see a lettuce leaf nudibranch and a crab. Some other happy sightings were a seahorse, octopus, and scorpionfish.