Anchorage Dive Center, March, 1995. "Pleasant, low key diving. Uncrowded dive sites. Almost never saw another dive boat. Fished out of large fish. Need to install permanent moorings at most sites. . . . Pleasant hotel, food so-so; not lavish, but comfortable rooms with a/c, large showers, balconies overlooking water. Nice bar and pool. Request second floor room to get view. Dive operation - fairly inexperienced but anxious-to-please dive master. Regular divemaster was sick and not around most of week. Island is fascinating, friendly, unspoiled. Good tours." Curt & Nancy Koch, Cincinnati, OH

Anchorage Dive Center, May, 1995. "The motto of the hotel must be: 'The guest is always a nuisance'. . . . The dive operation was great, in that you could dive your computer, but they tried to make you follow the group the first few days. Great coral, no big fish." Steve Weinman, New Paltz, NY

Anchorage Dive Center, July, 1995. "Great spot for families. Our 14 year old got certified and our 10 year old snorkeled near the shore during second dives. We enjoyed hiking to water falls through lush jungle, swimming in hot geyser­fed pools, and cooling off in cascading mountain streams. It is a hassle getting there; if you like off the beaten path (no large airport; 17-20 seat props only) with friendly people and beautiful surroundings, it is worth it." Robin Miller, Portland, OR

Anchorage Dive Center, July, 1995. "Check your luggage each segment of flights, not all the way through. There are two airports: insist on flying into Rosseau if that is where you are staying. Do explore the island. It is beautiful and swimming under the waterfalls was great fun. Easy diving with lots of small critters, schooling juveniles, and five species of moray." Wendy Miller, Portland, OR

Dive Dominica, Castle Comfort Guest House, November, 1995. "The healthiest reef system I've seen in the Caribbean. Tremendous bio-diversity. . . Though no large pelagics, there are huge schools of soldier fish and grunts, along with all the coral and unusual reef fish. Staying at Castle Comfort is like staying with family. Derek and Ginette are gracious hosts and the hotel staff is efficient and friendly. The hiking options provide a nice supplement to diving." Tom Lopatin, LK Hopatcong, NJ

Dive Dominica, Castle Comfort Guest House, May, 1995. "Great operation - clean, comfortable rooms, good service, great food. Shore diving right off pier - at first it doesn't look like much, but we saw more critters there than on boat dives. Huge seahorses, trumpetfish, flying gurnards, batfish, peacock flounders, squid, pufferfish, orange ball anemones, huge arrowcrabs and featherdusters and crinoids, spotted snake eels and many tropicals. Wall dives full of crinoids and soft corals. . . . As photographers, the 'follow the divemaster' at breakneck speed didn't work for us. We just asked to do our own pace and area and they let us along - much better. . . . One dives in the morning and spends the afternoon with a guide exploring Dominica's natural wonders of waterfalls, boiling lake, rain forests or one could grab a tank anytime day or night to shore dive. . . . LIAT (Luggage In Another Terminal) Airlines did lose our dive gear for one day on the return trip. Avoid LIAT." Peggy Goldberg, Citra, FL

Dive Dominica, Castle Comfort Guest House, May, 1995. "I have been to Dominica three times in charge a group of 20 divers (I am a dive master with Sea Ventures in Fairfax, VA). Each time we stayed at Castle Comfort. I love that place ­-it is a first class operation. The owner and his wife make you feel like a part of their family. And the dive masters are the best. The hotel is great. This time the food was not as good as it has been, however. I highly recommend Dominica. If you like diving and like nature this is Heaven." Seglii Patrick, Fairfax, VA

Dive Dominica, Castle Comfort Guest House, June, 1995. "Derek Perryman and his family are great hosts. Their establishment serves wonderful food, most of it local dishes. The rooms spacious and well kept. Service efficient and accommodating. . . . The diving is nice, easy, with photo opportunities on every dive. Dive crew accommodating; they will even give you your own boat. Hiking to several waterfalls is magnificent. See them all. Tours guides were beneficial with a wealth of knowledge to keep us busy every minute. Trip to Valley of Desolation and Boiling Lake strenuous and dangerous but worth every minute. Don't miss any of it. . . . People on this island are friendly. Easy to get around on public transportation vans ­­ cheap and readily available. . . . The bad: small fish, lots of locals fishing for food using traps. Too much silt on wrecks. Don't waste your dive on them. LIAT Airlines not real cooperative. Excess charges can really hit you for up to $100 plus. Stay away from the hospital -­ it's a nightmare." Ray Fealko, Cortland, OH

Dive Dominica, Castle Comfort Guest House, Dive Dominica, July, 1995. "Excellent Caribbean reefs. Dive operation well-run. Plenty of room on boats for cameras, rinse buckets. Hugely diverse ecosystem above and below. Good family site for a variety of easy to strenuous activities beyond diving. Not for the beach lover. Local population welcoming and relaxed. Lots of uncommon reef critters: flying gurnards, frogfish, and seahorses, chain morays, etc. Want to return next year, but may stay at the slightly more upscale Evergreen Hotel next door because of the pool and setting." Gayle Jamison, Woodstock, NY

Dive Dominica, Castle Comfort Guest House, August, 1995. "Great food, best Caribbean flavor yet, nice people, clean and delightful. . . . Dive Dominica professional and competent. Our divemaster was great. Mr. Perryman is very nice. The diving is pristine and relaxing. Lots of interesting things to see, like two big frog fish on the same dive. Water 83 degrees, depth 60­80 feet " Bob and Janis Pederson, Bayview, ID

Dive Dominica, August, 1995. "Second trip ­­ still loved it. Staff is friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. I enjoy macro photography, and had a great time finding 'shrimp and other bugs.' The island is definitely on the undeveloped site. If you are looking for large hotels, beaches, etc., Dominica is not the place to go. Flying in and out is exciting by itself ­­ local airport can't support jets. We left just before Tropical Storm Iris hit, and they closed the airport later that day." Phyllis Robinson, Silver Spring, MD

Copyright 1996 by DSDL, Inc., publishers of Undercurrent. All rights reserved. No portions of this report may be reproduced in any way, including photocopying and electronic data storage, without prior written permission from the publisher. For more information, contact DSDL, Inc., P.O. Box 1658, Sausalito, CA 94966.