Dominica - Introduction

Rob and Gio invited us to visit them in Dominica. They tempted us with tales of snorkelling, hiking, diving, bird watching, warm nights, lovely people, and welcoming hosts. They did not lie. It is wonderful visiting a place where one knows people, especially people who are involved with the local culture and people. We had an instant knowledge of Friday night BBQs, fernwood mask carvers, painters, bars, restaurants, hikes, snorkelling spots, dive companies, corporate car rentals, ... and hosts who were more than willing to take time off work to lead us to the places that are harder to find.

It is also a hike that one should do if one can.

It is good to have a guide for the first time - the hard bits are finding the trail head and knowing the exit from Desolation Valley - neither impossible without a guide, some route finding skills, patience, and confidence.

We had Rob as our guide - he takes all of his guests there if they are capable of going. Other guides can be found in the town of Laudat.

The Delices Hike follows an old cross-island trail that was used for commerce before there were roads.

Octave and his wife Rahel have a small cottage, The Hide-out, that they rent. It can sleep 6 people. It would make a nice base from which to see the south end Dominica, especially, if one hired Octave as a guide.

The first thing we did after arriving (and eating lunch prepared by Gio and hassling with our lost luggage) was to go snorkelling. Gio took us to Champagne Beach. It is called this because of the underwater volcanic vents that emit small bubbles so that one feels as if one is in a very large glass of champagne, although most such glasses don't have fish swimming around in them.

We used Nature Island Divers in Soufriere for our diving. There are 3 recommended dive companies on Dominica. This is one of them.