Dive Review of
Nature Island Dive/Gillette Cottage in
Dominica/Soufriere

 [Unspecified] 

Dive Conditions

Surfice with 500 psi  

The boat had a nice large carpeted area for cameras or small gear (masks,
sunglasses, etc).  

Overall Rating

This was one of the best dive vacations we have taken. Dominica is a very
beautiful island with some of the healthiest reefs we have ever seen. If
urchins are a sign of healthy reefs, Dominica is REALLY healthy. We saw at
least 50 - 100 urchins every dive, including the red heart urchin. We saw
the usual Carribean fish, corals and creatures, such as arrow crabs the
size of our fist. We also encountered large schools of squid and barracuda,
scorpion fish, juvenile drum fish, juvenile trunk fish, flounder, flying
gunnards, parrot fish and queen angel fish. One cleaning station had an eel
being cleaned. There were many eels, including green morays, spotted eels
and a sharptail eel that looked like an old rope. The best dive of all was
a muck dive that they called Champagne Sand Dive. There we saw 3 sea
horses, 2 bat fish, 3 flounder, grape cluster nudibranch, flying gunnards,
garden eels, a juvenile ell about 2" long, French angerfish, conch,
green feather algae (which looked like yellow feathers growing out of the
sand), red-lipped blenny, 2 leech head shigla slugs and bumble bee shrimp
covering a sea cucumber (not even found in Hunan's book).
Nature Island Divers is one of the best operators I have experienced. The
boat was very roomy, especially when it was only the 2 of us on 4 dives.
Our dive master was Tony -- very knowledgeable, friendly and accommodating.
Don't worry about being on time for the first dive of the morning - 9 a.m.
means 9:30 or so Island Time. The boat ride was never more than 15 minutes
to any of the sites. We had cruise ship passengers join us for a couple of
days - they entertained us with heated debates over the World Cup
tournament which was taking place in the islands that week.
Since there is no hotel or resort in Sourfiere, Nature Island Dive owns
Gillette Cottage, which is a duplex situated about 1/2 mile south of the
dive shop and 1 mile from Scott's Head (where the road ends). The upper
unit is the best with a deck running the entire length of the house and
facing west over the bay. Fantastic sunsets and billions of stars every
night. The cottage is very clean and nice with everything you need. We had
a bike to ride back and forth, but one day they needed them for a cruise
ship excursion. Nature Island Dive arranged a driver to pick us up at the
airport and stop at a grocery store in Rouseau to stock up on food and beer
for the cottage. We found Tony's Restaurant in Soufriere and ate lunch or
dinner there every day. The choice is limited - no menu needed. Either
chicken drumstick or mahi-mahi with your choice of french fries or rice.
The food was so good we didn't even search for the one other restaurant in
town. There were vendors in town selling "Bakes", which are deep
fried bread stuffed with tuna, cheese, or just plain. Delicious. Four
"Bakes" and two cans of pop - less than $4.00. Everything in
Soufriere is closed on Sunday, so we walked to a restaurant in Scott's
Head, but the food was not fresh and very disappointing.
Dominica is definitely on our list for a return trip. 

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