Dominica: Paradise Above and Below

      Roseau, Dominica

      BP
      Blue Planet Scuba
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      142 reviews
      Mar 16 - 23, 2019
      Group size: 5 - 14
      Dominica: Paradise Above and Below
      Roseau, Dominica

      Blue Planet Scuba
      • Email address verified
      • Facebook verified
      • Twitter verified
      142 reviews

      Mar 16 - 23, 2019
      Group size: 5 - 14

      About this trip

      Join us in one of the Caribbean’s best keep secrets! Dominica is absolutely stunning both above water and below: green rainforest-covered mountains drop down to gorgeous pristine reefs. Between the diving, whale watching, hiking and other topside adventures, this is one trip you won’t forget.

      Dominica 

      Known as “The Nature Island,” Dominica sits midway along the Eastern Caribbean archipelago, just a few miles from Martinique to the south and Guadeloupe to the north. Tropical rainforests cover two thirds of the island and are home to 1,200 plant species. This volcanic island is still actively evolving with continuous geothermal activity.

      The Diving

      Minimum dive certification/experience:  Perfect for beginners. A great spot to complete your Open Water Diver certification, Advanced Open Water Diver and more. 


      The underwater topography of Dominica mirrors the beautiful landscape above: massive underwater boulder fields and volcanic craters accompany steep walls and pinnacles, setting the stage for some of the best diving in the Caribbean. And it’s macro heaven! Encounter seahorses, frogfish, flying gurnards and other species rarely found in other Caribbean diving destinations.  Huge stands of coral and sponges are home to golden crinoids with feathery, radiating arms. Batfish, electric rays, Caribbean reef squid, sea snakes and sea urchins add to Dominica’s list of rare undersea inhabitants.

      Other Activities

      There’s plenty to keep you occupied top side as well. Watch sperm whales swim just off shore, hike through rainforests to swim below waterfalls, relax in natural hot springs and so much more. Experience the rich history and architecture of the capital city, Roseau, full of great restaurants, shopping and the Botanic Gardens.

      Fort Young

      Set along a serene coastline amidst Roseau, stands Fort Young Hotel, a proud staple of the island’s heritage. This military fort turned gorgeous hotel is right in the heart of Dominica's cultural center, an easy walk to the local market, restaurants and shops. After we're done diving, come back and relax in the infinity pool and jacuzzi, indulge in a spa treatment or partake in a yoga class. 

      Travel

      You should plan to fly into Dominica's Douglas-Charles (DOM) airport on March 16. From there, it's a one-hour ride to Roseau. You can fly home at any time on March 23.
       

      International flights from the U.S. can be tricky -- some U.S. carriers have code share agreements with the local Caribbean airlines so your bags get checked all the way through. However you may find it's less expensive to fly into San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU) the day before and then take a local carrier into Dominica. There's also a ferry that runs from Martinique and/or Guadeloupe directly into Roseau. Please email or call the shop before booking your flight!  

      Cancellation Policy

      Upon cancellation of a reservation for any reason, the refund of the deposit and payments made or due will be contingent upon Blue Planet reselling the participant's reservation. Any refund may also be subject to a cancellation fee and payment of any non-refundable fees imposed by the tour company, dive operator or any other contractor associated with the trip. 


      Dive accident insurance is required for all divers on this trip. We strongly recommend travel insurance to protect your vacation investment. Contact us if you need more information. 

      What’s included

      • 7 nights at Fort Young
        Double or single occupancy available
      • 10 boat dives
        5 days of 2-tank boat dives
      • Unlimited shore diving
      • Whale watching trip
      • Friday waterfalls tour
      • Full breakfast daily
        At Fort Young
      • Airport transfers
        Round trip transfers from DOM airport
      • Marine park fees

      What’s not included

      • Flights
        international flights to Dominica
      • Scuba equipment
        Only tanks and weights included; rental gear available
      • Tips
        Tips for the boat's excellent crew

      Available Packages

      Oceanfront Room, Double Occupancy

      Double occupancy in a room with full bath, walk-through closet, coffee maker, small refrigerator, safety deposit box, etc..  Only rooms with one king bed are available.


      Bringing a non-diving companion? Contact us for pricing!

      $1,625
      Deposit: $500
      Oceanfront Room, Single Occupancy

      Single occupancy in a room with full bath, walk-through closet, coffee maker, small refrigerator, safety deposit box, etc. Only rooms with one king bed are available. 

       

      Bringing a non-diving companion? Contact us for pricing!

      $2,375
      Deposit: $500
      Deluxe Oceanfront Room, Double Occupancy

      Double occupancy in a room with the same amenities as an Oceanfront room but with an expansive balcony and fully accessible by elevator. Two beds in each room.


      Bringing a non-diving companion? Contact us for pricing! 

      $1,675
      Deposit: $500
      Deluxe Oceanfront Room, Single Occupancy

      Double occupancy in a room with the same amenities as an Oceanfront room but with an expansive balcony and fully accessible by elevator. Two beds in each room.

      $2,480
      Deposit: $500


      Itinerary

      Saturday
      Arrival in Dominica

      Arrive at the DOM airport and transfer across the island to Roseau. Check in to the Fort Young Hotel.

      Your Organizer


      BP
      Blue Planet Scuba
      142 reviews
      Blue Planet is a different kind of scuba diving organization — aimed at providing the best education and experiences to divers in the Washington, DC area and beyond, while harnessing the excitement and adventure of scuba diving to help protect our fragile oceans.

      Reviews

      Heather & Jonas were excellent trip leaders making sure everyone was well taken care of. The Galapagos Aggressor had a super crew and the diving was challenging and stunning! We saw hammerheads, penguins, seals, sea lions & dolphins! I really appreciated the personal touches like our matching jackets and a cake for my birthday. I would highly recommend this trip.
      By Catherine W for Explore the Galapagos on Mar 02, 2024
      This review is belated, I know... ...But that only means I took **serious*** consideration into reviewing my experience with Blue Planet DC, and ranking them very highly. Its been almost a year since I was OW Certified with Blue Planet in Cozumel - my training during that trip was thorough enough to provide me with a solid foundation to continue scuba diving afterwards many, many times. The trip itinerary, accommodations, and overall pacing of the scuba lessons were incredibly well organized. The instructors were patient and attentive - at various times I was provided specific one-on-one, actionable feedback regarding things like my trim or my breathing rhythm impacting my buoyancy and what I could do to improve my technique. They made sure we knew our stuff before letting us loose into the ocean, and during our checkout dives they stayed closeby and kept a watchful eye on us, so I felt more at ease and safe. (Even with the drift moving us around!) My main priority for this trip was to learn how to scuba, but that said, there were opportunities at Cozumel to (after the day's lessons are done) be a tourist and explore the area. The resort itself is a very beautiful spot with relaxing, open air dining, lounge, and balcony areas as well as a fantastic view of the ocean horizon. I also really appreciated that lodging AND meals were included in this travel package - it saved me the trouble of having to figure that out on my own, which made a big difference by freeing up more time after each full day of lessons to just relax and chill. I know each trip is always different of course in terms of other group trip attendees you may end up with, so of course this can just be sheer dumb luck, but everyone else on this trip was chill. Even the more seasoned divers who were already certified and doing this for years were friendly and happy to drop useful advice or recount from their personal experiences how it was like them becoming certified the first time. The time I did this it was "drift diving" and of course that scared me a ton. But the PADI material that is mandatory to study goes over what drift diving is. When doing my checkout dive the drift didn't like, wash me away from the group dive route. You'll be under instructor supervision so people are keeping an eye on you, and the drift itself is mild - I didn't have to struggle against the current (if you've ever surfed, you'll see that this isn't at all like a riptide or undertow). If anything, managing your buoyancy will end up your primary concern or worry during the checkout dive. Hope this review helps anyone considering who to go with for getting certified on their first ever scuba trip! I'm very glad I went with Blue Planet.
      By M T for March Certification Weekend in Cozumel on Feb 19, 2024
      EM
      This was my first liveaboard! 🛥️ Anthony was a fantastic trip leader and teacher, as always! The Aquacat crew was fun, the food was delicious and the diving and excursions were great! I would definitely recommend this trip with Blue Planet, especially as a first liveaboard experience! I had a good time learning about sharks, too! 🦈
      By Elsbeth M for Ring in 2024 on a Liveaboard in the Bahamas! on Jan 15, 2024
      Thanks for joining on another amazing trip! Hopefully we will be on another fun trip in sharky waters soon.
      By Anthony White on Jan 17, 2024
      AW
      This was my first trip with Blue Planet and my first liveaboard - both were a great experience! The communication and prep from Blue Planet was excellent (pre-trip meeting was really helpful, paperwork was clear and organized). My husband and I are new divers and Anthony (trip lead from Blue Planet) was an invaluable resource - we learned a lot during the dives and felt safe with him looking out for us. The liveaboard itself was amazing. The bed was comfortable, the food was amazing, the staff were wonderful. This was one of the best trips of my life - it's going to be hard to top with the bar now set so high!
      By Rachel L for Ring in 2024 on a Liveaboard in the Bahamas! on Jan 08, 2024
      Thank you so much, Rachel! I am glad you and Ben had such a good time on the trip. You were both great divers, and I can't wait to see you on more of our trips. I look forward to diving with you some more!
      By Anthony White on Jan 13, 2024
      AW
      JR
      Had a great time diving, wonderful people and nice accommodations; hotel was super convenient to dive boats.
      By Jennifer R for December Certification Weekend in Cozumel on Dec 11, 2023
      Thank you so much, Jennifer! We’re so happy to hear how much you enjoyed the dive experience with Blue Planet in Cozumel. We look forward to you joining with us on a future trip!
      By Blue Planet Scuba on Dec 12, 2023
      BP
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