Hello, <BR> <BR>We just returned from a dive trip to Dominica. There is such wealth of info-lol- about Dominica I thought I'd write a few words. Took 2 days to get there from Chicago- had to overnight in San Juan. Then a prop to the island. Nice green hills to fly over on approach. Then a 1.5 hour ride to Roseau where we stayed at Castle Comfort Dive Lodge. The ride was nice- through mountainous roads kissing the clouds, past green hills, banana fields, small towns and villages. Beautiful plants and flowers were everywhere. Then a view of the Caribbean Sea as you approach Roseau- where it is much warmer than in the mountains. Narrow, crowded streets are the norm here, with Dominicans filling the air with the sounds of their particular patois. If you listen closely you can hear some pure French. Castle comfort was a delight. We were treated royally. Very nice staff, excellent food for breakfast and dinner. I mentioned that I was on the lookout for some good callaloo and voila! - they prepared it 2 nights out of the 10 we were there. The diving was great- some of the healthiest coral we have ever seen. The conditions were right, so one time we were taken to a site called Des Fous-surge and current but a blast. The day trips on the island are nice- we went to Titou Gorge and Tralalger Falls. Took a bus to Scott's Head, where I snorkeled and we climbed to the top of the hill there. The USD = 2.67 Eastern Caribbean dollars so it was economical- much more than the Cayman Islands. It is a poor country with undeveloped areas but the people are really friendly. The water is fine to drink, the buses cost 1-3 ECD, you can buy alot of spices there. It is a World Heritage site and there is a team of Peace Corps workers there. <BR>Just passing along some info because it was really hard for us to find any here on this forum. <BR>

WOW thanks for a good report on an island I've wondered about. You're always kind of hoping to find somewhere like this, but you'd like some info before you take the plunge....

Thanks for the info about Dominica. We have been curious about the diving there before we book a trip. Besides the coral, was there a lot of marine life? If so, what kind? Was there much snorkeling from the shore? Was the hotel on the beach? What was the cost of diving? Thanks again for the info.

Thanks for the Dominica info - we're spending our honeymoon there in July and wondered if you noticed the Evergreen Hotel in Castle Comfort? Apparently it is next door to Castle Comfort Dive Lodge. They told us they had suffered some storm surge from hurricane Lenny in Nov 99, but that it was only to their waterfront/sea wall. We definitely plan to dive, but don't really want to stay in a place that caters only to divers - looking for something a little more private, but trying not to spend a fortune. If anyone else has stayed in Dominca that reads this, I welcome any suggestions you might have. Another place we are considering is Lauro Club Hotel, further north near Salisbury. Thanks!

Just some more info, <BR>Evergreen Hotel looked like the sea wall was pretty torn up.Ididn't pay much attention but it appeared not many people were there. I think there is a place in the mountains called Vena's that our guide said was popular with honeymooners-this would be maybe 1/2 hour ride into Roseau-but i may have the name wrong-sorry.We didn't stop to check it out.In Roseau there is Fort Young Hotel- more shore based people seemed to stay there but our boat would pick up divers and whalers from there.This is a place that recently renovated looked really nice but we couldn't afford to stay there. The marine life was small but alot of it-morays, spotted eels, whales, all the usual coral fish,octopus,crinoids, sea horses,file clams, rays-southern and electric-,squid.The plant life was in really great condition, it didn't appear to have too much damage from over diving.There is no chamber on Dominca. From the dock at Castle Comfort- yes it is sea side- the shore diving had alot of large rocks with a slope out to the wall. Yes, you can snorkel from the shore. In fact, on our trip to Scott's Head we snorkeled and had some pop and beer. There is a man right there to sell beverages out of a cooler- this saves you a walk to the little town. Our cost was about 1100 usd per diver and we stayed 10 days,breakfast and dinner included. We took our shore trips with Khatts, an island taxi/tour operator. Very knowledgeable about the island and the people. They have a web site-search for Ken's Hinterland Adventures. Also staying there was a guy from Michigan doing a thesis on the parrots- I guess one of the types is rare. Just a note about the rooms, you can stay in the front building which is above the dive shop- we didn't due to the noise on the morning -you know the tanks and gear being readied. We stayed in the main building -very quiet, cable tv, a/c and ceiling fan, no phone. rooms 6,7,8, and 10 face the sea. In the front building I don't know the numbers that face the sea. You catch a bus right in front of the hotel- just flag down a van with a license that starts with H or HA. The staff answer all questions.There is a daily ferry if you want to go to Guadeloupe or Martinique, however the cost to Martinique was 100 usd per person and you left at 10 am and returned at 2 pm. That left about 3 hours to see another island and we couldn't reconcile the cost to ourselves. Hope this helps.

My spouse & I will have a day in Dominica during a cruise (Ocean Princess) this May (2001); I'like to do a little scuba diving and Dominica looks like it might be a good place to do it. My wife has enjoyed some gentle snorkeling in Cozumel. Any advice?