Plan your trip
Dominica Dive Trip Planning
Dominica dive trip planning in one place: how to get to the island, which area to stay in, how to choose a dive operator, and the practical details to sort out before you fly.
Getting there
How to get to Dominica
Dominica's main airport is Douglas-Charles Airport (DOM), on the northeast coast. There are no long-haul flights from Europe, so most visitors connect through a nearby hub such as Antigua, Barbados, St Maarten, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Guadeloupe or Martinique, on regional airlines. From the United States, American Airlines has flown direct from Miami in recent years; check current schedules, as routes change.
The airport is on the opposite side of the island from most dive centres. Allow roughly an hour to an hour and a half by road to Roseau and the southwest coast, on winding mountain roads. Many hotels and dive resorts can arrange a transfer.
You can also arrive by sea. A fast ferry service links Roseau with Guadeloupe, Martinique and St Lucia, which makes it easy to combine Dominica with a French island.
Not the Dominican Republic. Dominica and the Dominican Republic are different countries hundreds of kilometres apart. Double-check the airport code (DOM) when you book.
Where to stay
Choosing a base for diving
Dominica is small, but the roads are slow. Stay close to the area you want to dive.
Roseau and Castle Comfort
The capital and the coast just south of it. Several dive centres and dive hotels are based here, within a short boat ride of Champagne Reef and Soufriere Bay. Good for restaurants, shops and day trips.
Soufriere and Scotts Head
Small villages on Soufriere Bay, right beside the marine reserve. Quiet guesthouses and small lodges, and the shortest trip to the famous southern sites. Ideal if diving is the main reason for your trip.
Portsmouth and the north
Dominica's second town, on Prince Rupert Bay, close to the Cabrits National Park, Toucari Bay and the airport side of the island. Good for divers who want to explore the northern reefs and the Indian River.
Dive operators
How to choose a dive operator
Diving on Dominica is run by small, mostly locally owned dive centres, some attached to dive resorts. Group sizes are usually small. When you compare operators, ask:
- Which training agency they work with (for example PADI or SSI) and which courses they offer.
- How many divers go on each boat, and how many guides go in the water.
- Which sites they visit most often, and whether they run night dives and macro dives.
- Whether the marine reserve fee is included in the price.
- Whether they have a current permit for whale watching, if you want to combine the two.
Most operators offer packages of several boat dives, which work out cheaper than paying per dive.
Practical details
Before you go
- Entry: visitors from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and the European Union can usually visit for short stays without a visa. Check the current rules for your passport before you travel.
- Money: the currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar (XCD). US dollars are widely accepted. Carry some cash for small businesses and the marine reserve fee.
- Language: English is the official language, and Kwéyòl (Creole) is widely spoken.
- Driving: traffic drives on the left. Roads are narrow, steep and winding, and you need a local driving permit to rent a car.
- Dive insurance: carry dive accident insurance that covers recompression treatment and medical evacuation. Ask your operator where the nearest recompression facility is.
- Flying after diving: follow the usual guidance of at least 18 hours between your last dive and your flight after several days of diving. A whale-watching trip or a rainforest hike makes a good last day.
- Reef-safe habits: wear a rash guard, use reef-friendly sunscreen and never touch or take anything from the marine reserve.
Topside
What to do on a no-dive day
Dominica is called the Nature Island for good reason. Its interior is mountains and rainforest, with rivers, hot springs and waterfalls such as Trafalgar Falls near Roseau. Morne Trois Pitons National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the long-distance Waitukubuli National Trail crosses the island from south to north.
Plan hikes and river trips for your no-dive days, and save a sperm whale watching trip for your last day before flying.
Next steps
Build your Dominica dive itinerary
A week on Dominica suits most divers: five days of diving with one or two days for the rainforest and the whales. Choose your dates with the best time to dive Dominica, then pick your dives from the Dominica dive sites guide. Don't miss Champagne Reef, and leave time for a slow macro dive or two.
Questions
Dominica dive trip planning FAQ
How many days do I need to dive Dominica?
Five to seven days is ideal. That gives you time for the main southern sites, a macro dive or two, and a day for whale watching or the rainforest.
Which airport do I fly into for Dominica?
Douglas-Charles Airport (DOM) on the northeast coast, usually with a connection through a nearby Caribbean island or Miami.
Where is the best place to stay for diving in Dominica?
The southwest coast, from Roseau and Castle Comfort down to Soufriere and Scotts Head, is closest to the best-known dive sites. Portsmouth suits divers exploring the north.