Dominica 2022 - Updated June 20

Ken Dunker   Jun 19, 2022

Dominica June 18th to 26th 

The Beginning

The trip down was long but we made it.  Lots of delays causing us to arrive late in Miami but it worked out.

The flight to Dominica was uneventful until the landing.  It's a very circuitous approach over mountains and down valleys.  Immigration and Customs were pretty easy but they are two separate booths.  They were both fast and friendly.

The trip to the hotel took about an hour over small narrow roads. Our driver was very good and really showed his skill when a semi transporting a crane came the other way.  I still don't know how they passed each without swapping paint.

The resort is very pretty.  It's older but the building are very well.  We have a waterfall on one side and the ocean on the other.    Our room is airy, attractive, and comfortable.

First Dives 

The boat is large and stable.  Lots of room for divers and gear.  The crew takes good card of us answering all our questions and offering help when needed.  The briefings were complete and easy to follow.  We had a divemaster leading and another following each dive. 

The highlights of the first dive were 2 (yes, two) sea horses close together. We also saw lots of frogfish, a few eels, some lobster, and more.

Dive two did not top the sea horses but it came close.  Many more eels, lots of lobster, pipe fish, big arrow crabs, and a really  big turtle.  I caught a glimpse of him and took off to get a picture.  Didn't really catch up enough for a good picture (they can move) but I did get some.  I estimate the shell was better than 5 feet long. I wish I could have gotten closer for a better look.  I didn’t have my strobe hooked up as I didn’t expect much from the first day.  My mistake.

Day Two

Really enjoying the smooth, short rides out.  Our first dive started with another large turtle swimming by.  The area had some dramitic drop-offs and canyons.  Some of us headed to deeper depths that still good coral and fish life.  Lots of shrimp and crabs and some eels.

Our second dive was shallower with a lot of fish life.  I found lots of banded coral shrimp and got a light manicure from a couple of cleaning shrimp.  The highlite was a spotted snake eel having lunch.  It came out of the sand with lunch in mouth and swam right through the group heading off for a more private dining experience.

The coral seems to be in good condtion.