Dominica Announces 16th Annual Dive Fest
Travel Desk
April 16, 2009
Ten Day Event Set to Kick Off July 10
Roseau, Dominica – The longest running Dive Festival in the Caribbean kicks off on July 10 for an action-packed ten days of activities focused on scuba diving and other associated watersports. Primary festival organizer, the Dominica Watersports Association, encourages visitors to dive down and discover the beautiful landscapes and colorful marine life found in the waters surrounding the island.
"Dive Fest was established to showcase the renowned marine environment of Dominica to visitors and residents alike, and is now one of the island´s signature events," comments Colin Piper, Director of Tourism at Discover Dominica Authority. "Visitors are invited to join in and experience the best the island has to offer, with endless adventures both above and below the surface. If you need a reason to visit Dominica, Dive Fest is it."
Would-be divers and snorkelers as young as eight can participate in pool or ocean-based introductory sessions to learn the basics, with some trial sessions offered completely free of charge. Intermediate and expert scuba divers will find a schedule that includes underwater treasure hunts, photography competitions and the chance to borrow and test out new equipment such as an underwater camera by Sealife.
Activities will take place along the entire East Coast, from Scotts Head to Portsmouth, as well as at selected locations around the island. Although Dive Fest has an environmentally-oriented focus, it has widespread appeal due to the variety of planned activities such as barbecues, wine tasting, whale watching, sunset cruises and more.
Dive Fest culminates with the traditional Carib Canoe Race, where highly competitive teams race custom built craft to be crowned champions; often with a few capsized crews along the way. To view the full schedule of events during Dive Fest, visit http://www.dominica.dm/site/divefest.cfm.
The sponsors of this year´s festival include, but are not limited to; Dominica Watersports Association, Sealife Camera, Oceanic, Henderson Wetsuits and Dive Training Magazine.
Known as "the Nature Island" and located between the French islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique in the Eastern Caribbean, the independent nation of Dominica (pronounced "Dom-in-eek-a") is the largest and most mountainous of the Windward Islands, encompassing an area of nearly 290 square miles. Of volcanic origins with mountains reaching heights of nearly 5,000 feet, rainforests that are considered among the latest true oceanic rainforests in the world, more than 365 rivers, waterfalls, the second largest Boiling Lake in the world and pristine coral reefs, Dominica´s natural diversity is truly unique. Dominica is also home to the last remaining settlement of Indigenous Peoples of the Caribbean – The Carib Indians. A place where man and nature live in harmony, adventurers and nature lovers alike will revel in the Island´s eco-tourism options which include scuba diving, snorkeling, mountain biking, kayaking, horseback riding, nature tours, hiking/trekking, whale, dolphin and bird watching, sailing and fishing.
Dominica continues to be recognized for its attributes and responsible tourism efforts, including being the first country in the world to receive Benchmarking designation from the prestigious eco-tourism organization Green Globe 21. National Geographic´s Center for Sustainable Destination ranked the island as the top sustainable island in the Caribbean and among the top ten in the world. Most recently, Dominica was recognized by Islands Magazine and was included in its 2007 Blue List for being a leader in responsible tourism and ensuring an environmentally and culturally sound island for future generations. Most recently Travel + Leisure announced Dominica as one of the most compelling destinations to visit in their 100 Greatest Trips 2008 edition.
Roseau, Dominica – The longest running Dive Festival in the Caribbean kicks off on July 10 for an action-packed ten days of activities focused on scuba diving and other associated watersports. Primary festival organizer, the Dominica Watersports Association, encourages visitors to dive down and discover the beautiful landscapes and colorful marine life found in the waters surrounding the island.
"Dive Fest was established to showcase the renowned marine environment of Dominica to visitors and residents alike, and is now one of the island´s signature events," comments Colin Piper, Director of Tourism at Discover Dominica Authority. "Visitors are invited to join in and experience the best the island has to offer, with endless adventures both above and below the surface. If you need a reason to visit Dominica, Dive Fest is it."
Would-be divers and snorkelers as young as eight can participate in pool or ocean-based introductory sessions to learn the basics, with some trial sessions offered completely free of charge. Intermediate and expert scuba divers will find a schedule that includes underwater treasure hunts, photography competitions and the chance to borrow and test out new equipment such as an underwater camera by Sealife.
Activities will take place along the entire East Coast, from Scotts Head to Portsmouth, as well as at selected locations around the island. Although Dive Fest has an environmentally-oriented focus, it has widespread appeal due to the variety of planned activities such as barbecues, wine tasting, whale watching, sunset cruises and more.
Dive Fest culminates with the traditional Carib Canoe Race, where highly competitive teams race custom built craft to be crowned champions; often with a few capsized crews along the way. To view the full schedule of events during Dive Fest, visit http://www.dominica.dm/site/divefest.cfm.
The sponsors of this year´s festival include, but are not limited to; Dominica Watersports Association, Sealife Camera, Oceanic, Henderson Wetsuits and Dive Training Magazine.
Known as "the Nature Island" and located between the French islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique in the Eastern Caribbean, the independent nation of Dominica (pronounced "Dom-in-eek-a") is the largest and most mountainous of the Windward Islands, encompassing an area of nearly 290 square miles. Of volcanic origins with mountains reaching heights of nearly 5,000 feet, rainforests that are considered among the latest true oceanic rainforests in the world, more than 365 rivers, waterfalls, the second largest Boiling Lake in the world and pristine coral reefs, Dominica´s natural diversity is truly unique. Dominica is also home to the last remaining settlement of Indigenous Peoples of the Caribbean – The Carib Indians. A place where man and nature live in harmony, adventurers and nature lovers alike will revel in the Island´s eco-tourism options which include scuba diving, snorkeling, mountain biking, kayaking, horseback riding, nature tours, hiking/trekking, whale, dolphin and bird watching, sailing and fishing.
Dominica continues to be recognized for its attributes and responsible tourism efforts, including being the first country in the world to receive Benchmarking designation from the prestigious eco-tourism organization Green Globe 21. National Geographic´s Center for Sustainable Destination ranked the island as the top sustainable island in the Caribbean and among the top ten in the world. Most recently, Dominica was recognized by Islands Magazine and was included in its 2007 Blue List for being a leader in responsible tourism and ensuring an environmentally and culturally sound island for future generations. Most recently Travel + Leisure announced Dominica as one of the most compelling destinations to visit in their 100 Greatest Trips 2008 edition.
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