Dominica - Experience nature and wildlife at its purest
Diving in Dominica presents some of the most beautiful opportunities to witness thriving healthy reefs covered in colourful sponges. Seahorses, frogfish, flying gurnards and scorpion fish are commonly spotted in Dominica's waters but are rarely seen around other Caribbean islands. Its coast is varied in terms of diving, with steep 6,000ft drop-off walls, beautifully coloured coral, Champagne snorkelling and craters. Fans of the underwater world are able to experience the Caribbean's longest running diving festival at the annual Dive Fest in July.
Whale Watching: Dominica stakes a claim to being the 'whale-watching capital of the Caribbean' with all whale watching tours having an almost guaranteed sighting success rate. Its temperate seas and underwater contours provide the ideal environment for whales and dolphins year-round and two thirds of the 33 known species in the Caribbean have been seen in the island's waters, primarily in the south around Scott's Head, where waters plunge to 6,000ft. Dive Dominica and Anchorage Dive Centre both operate boat trips where passengers can get closer to some of these magnificent mammals. The most commonly sighted are sperm whales, which grow to a length of 70ft.
Just announced: The UK will host WhaleFest for the first on 5 November in Brighton. A great opportunity to meet and speak to whale and dolphin experts from around the world, it will feature Mark Brownlow, producer of the BBC1 Ocean Giants series, which was partly filmed in Dominica, and Andrew Armour from the island, known as 'the Whale Whisperer' after forming a special bond with a colossal sperm whale.
Hiking: The best way to fully experience the varied terrain and outstanding natural beauty of Dominica is to explore the island on foot. Dominica has walking trails to suit all from the novice to the most experienced of hikers. Launching in early 2012 is a network of trails that allows you to traverse the island completely. A first for the Caribbean, this mega-trail is called the Waitukubuli National Trail, after the Carib Indian name for the island. The trail will be around 115 miles (184km) long and divided into 14 sections, with walkers expected to take up to two weeks to cover the entire route.
Bird watching: Dominica's rugged but lush high mountain terrain gives way to tropical forest, gently sloping downward to bush and drier savannas, before dropping to the shoreline. This great variety of habitats provides a wide diversity of birds within a relatively short distance. The most famous birds of Dominica are the parrots - the Sisserou (Imperial), the National Bird, which proudly adorns Dominica's flag, and the Jaco (Red Necked). In total, Dominica has more than 170-recorded species of birds. The best times of day for bird watching are in the first three hours after dawn and the last two or three hours before dusk. For those who want to learn more about Dominica's birds through guided field trips, bird-watching tours are offered by a number of hotels and tour guides.
Sea Turtle Watching: Ever imagined watching the endangered sea turtle, one of the world's longest-living marine creatures, crawling onto the beach to perform a fascinating nesting ritual? This is typical in Dominica between March and August each year and for those with some luck who brave the nocturnal challenge it can be a lifetime experience. Four of the seven species of sea turtles visit Dominica's shores: loggerheads; hawksbills; green sea turtles; and leatherbacks. Sea turtle watching is done only under strict standards to ensure preservation of the species. Community groups along Dominica's coasts monitor nested beaches daily, to ensure that everyone follows these standards and that the turtles and their eggs are protected.
Dominica (pronounced Dom-in-ee-ka) is a spectacular green island of rugged mountains, lush rainforests and rushing rivers in the Eastern Caribbean, lying south of Guadeloupe and north of Martinique.
For more information about Dominica, visit discoverdominica.com.
