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Where: Roseau Dominica
When: 12/30/2009 - 01/08/2010
By: mij49
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Type: Land based
Accomodations: Castle Comfort
Dive operator: Dive Dominica
Overall photography friendliness: Average
Camera tables/prep area: Not applicable
Camera rinse tanks: Poor
Charging facilities: Not applicable
Voltage: 110-120 AC
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First, let me start by declaring that I haven't shared this location with but a close group of friends. This is ,by far,THE BEST DIVING IN THE CARIBBEAN.(in my opinion)
I've been to 14 different islands and several multiple times in the Caribbean and I keep comparing each to Dominica(dom-in-ee-ca)and several have come close but...
Getting there in a day is practically impossible. We flew from Cincinnati,Ohio to Charlotte NC and were able to catch a southbound jet for Saint Maarten, where we overnighted. Here's where the scarry part comes in,flew out the next morning on Liat to Antigua and from there to Dominica(arrival time 11:20am at Melville Hall airport). This island is a rain forest nature preserve and is the lushest shades of green you can imagine.
The taxi ride to Castle Comfort is 1 1/2 hours through two heavily forested mountains and small villages and way to narrow roads for two vehicles to pass comfortably but the taxi drivers do it quite easily.(be sure to use the john before you go as it is a kidney buster). Waiting at the office when you pull up is some of the friendliest people you will ever meet.Sign in and be shown to a comfortable room and go down to the dive shop and get acquainted with the dive staff.
This is a land based trip and most of your dives will be in the morning and back at the lodge around 1:00pm. You will be diving in the caldera of a volcano(extinct),walls,pinnacles and gardens. Water clarity hovered around 80-100' and temperature at depth was 84 degrees. Some sites had a bit of surge but no real current to speak of. Corals&sponges were spectacular, large schools of black bar soldier fish hovered under most sheltered spots. Turtles so friendly you had to push them away to get their picture,frog fish sitting out in the open,I counted three different colors of sea horses and swarms of reef fish everywhere.
No free swimming sharks as they are usually farther off shore at this time of the year, but several trips back to home involved racing with the dolphins. If you are into whale watching, they have afternoon trips that take you out about three miles off shore where sperm and humpback whales pass by daily.
In the afternoon you can shore dive(unlimited)or go on hiking,canyoning or river tours. The waterfalls are unbelievably beautiful with several having hot springs at the base(don't miss Trafalgar) and for the adventurous ones there is nothing like a 6 hour round trip hike to the Boiling Lake(bring sturdy climbing sandals that can get wet at the least) and be forewarned that this trip is advertised as VERY STRENUOUS but very rewarding for those that take the time to devote to this destination. We stayed an hour just watching the steam rise and occasionally clear while eating lunch(non diving day)and RESTING!!!
Leaving was sad,to get back in a day we had to leave at 4:00am for the airport with little sleep and a cup of coffee. OK, this trip was right after the terrorist tried to blow up the plane with his underwear and we were wanded frisked and searched(baggage) into and out of every airport we were in. Here's a tip for you all: When you book with LIAT(Left It At the Terminal) buy the trip interruption insurance,which includes baggage delay. It's a sure bet as it clearly states on your ticket"Your bags may not be on this plane". They sent us ours three days later and saved us baggage fees and the hassles of lugging them through customs on the way home. SWEET!
Thirteen years ago I swore I wouldn't tell anyone about this island so it wouldn't be spoiled with the mega hotel chains and the mass tourism. This a pristine example of what the Caribbean islands once were and now most of them have succumed and are forever spoiled. Lets just keep this trip report between us OK?
Jim Callahan
Cincinnati,Ohio
mij49
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