Anchorage Dive Center

I actually snorkeled Champagne Beach. I took a taxi from a cruise ship and requested Champagne reef. Taxi followed the coast for 20 to 30 minutes to a state park with a $2.00 entry fee. We were charged $60.00 round trip for the taxi, but he did sit and wait 3+ hours while we snorkeled. I thought we would be quicker but the snorkeling was great and the Kabuli (beer) was not bad either. The park rents snorkel gear if you do not have your own. There is a wooden pier most of the way along the beach. The only negative is there is no sand and lots of rocks between land and the sea. The rocks are not sharp but they are not easily traversed. Snorkeling or diving here is terrific. Visibility was 80 to 100 feet with little if any current. There are the champagne bubbles that are rather unique in one area, but I do not think they are the best part. The tube coral, brain coral, other types of coral, very colorful fish, lots of variety, and plenty of them to see. This is definitely a place I wish to return to in the future.

I would like to mention two other sites real close to the Anchorage dive center. Just south of the anchorage (if you are driving it is easier to reach) there is Champagne Beach. They will rent you snorkel gear, also there is a minimal park entry fee, but if you get there later in the day 4pm+ there is a chance that they will be closed. However you can still get down to the beach, easy 1 min walk. There is a long wooden pier, where you can walk along the beach, all the way to the end and more (on the actual beach). At the end you will see some rocks, that is where you'll be heading, there is the entry. They have long sheets of rubber going in the water supposedly to make it easier to enter the water as there are small rocks and stones everywhere; this is not your sandy beach! But as soon as you enter there is lots of sea life with medium visibility 30-50feet. About 20 feet in we found a sting ray about 4 feet wingspan, just laying down. But you will see the bubbles coming up everywhere-- very very unique. You can stay as long as you want, and if you have torches you can easily turn this into a night free dive You can just explore at will this easy free dive spot. There is no current, easy for everyone, you can also swim in a bit further, but the nicest part is the bubbles. At night no facilities though. Much much more worth than the $85 night dive trip where they will bring you out to the same spot -by the way- they just started getting ready as soon as we were leaving, around 6:30 pm. Wonderful experience, also very economical. The other site is Scott's Head marine reserve park, another 15 minutes driving to the south will bring you to this beautiful fishing village. Drive to the very very end (no more road and you are there). Walk to the end of the beach, couple of locals hanging there (friendly) will tell you it is their beach…so you can rent from them snorkel gear..just ignore them in a friendly way. Walk into the end of the beach (Caribbean side) and you are in snorkel heaven. Lots of fishes. If you swim in a bit further and look down you will see the wall, starting at about 20-25 feet deep. You can easily free dive and you will see even a lot more sea life. Same thing, the dive boat just got out there to explore the wall. $120/2 tank..ouch. But looking down at the wall I wish we would have done it. But again it is very easy - even for beginners and if you make it to the wall, free diving it can make it a nice challenging trip. Dominica is beautiful very pristine, enjoy the locals, (Creole and Patoue spoken here). Food is a challenge though, but kubuli will make up for all that.

Dive Anchorage is a great facility and Reggie is a wonderful dive master. You can enter the water directly from their pier. We did a very nice night dive and saw many flying gunards, very nice tube coral, other small fish, and a very large turtle on our way back to the dock. Dominica has very large underwater pinnacles that rise almost to the surface in places and you can see sperm whales they year round. The people are very friendly, hiking is wonderful, and I would highly recommend it as a diving destination. However, there is not much shore diving - only from the dive facilities docks.