Guidelines for Yachts, Scuba Divers & Fishermen 
In Dominica, we want to avoid user 
conflict in our marine environment, there¬ 
fore various parts of our island have been 
allocated for priority use by particular users. 
Areas are identified as fishing priority ar¬ 
eas, artificial reef sites, fish nursery sites, 
marine conservation sites, recreational ar¬ 
eas and dive sites. Brochures indicating the 
precise location of these sites are available 
throughout the island. 
We strive to make our island a “truly 
unspoiled and natural niche” and do not 
wish to restrict you from being a part of the 
ecosystem. The following guidlines will 
ensure that what you see and experience 
can be shared by others and revisited on 
your next trip to Dominica. 
1. As a yachtsman, you should - 
a. Observe that mooring of your craft is 
not permitted in certain locations. 
Mooring of any craft in what is desig- 
A 
ASTAPHANS 
J. Astaphan & Co. (1970) Ltd. 
With over 55 years in Dominica 
In Dominica, yourbusiness is our business 
Market Leaders in 
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J. Astaphan & Co (1970) Ltd 
65 King George V Street, P.O. Box 75, 
Roseau, Commonwealth of Dominica 
^Tel: (809) 448-3221 / 5 ❖ Fax: (809) 448-3124^ 
nated a marine reserve or protected 
area is prohibited. The Scotts Head/ 
Soufriere Bay area, in the southeast of 
the island is now a marine reserve and 
is off limits for mooring. 
b. On arrival, clear Immigration and Cus¬ 
toms at any of the three designated 
ports of entry, namely; Portsmouth (in 
the north), Roseau (the capital on the 
west coast) and Anse Du Mai (in the 
east). A coast-wide permit must be 
obtained for movement of craft from 
one location to another. 
c. Avoid mooring in areas where indig¬ 
enous fishing activities are carried out. 
d. Avoid engaging in fishing activities 
unless you have sought the permission 
of the Fisheries Development Division 
(FDD). A Sports Fishing Permit can be 
obtained. 
e. Avoid disposal of all forms of plastic 
and non-food waste garbage such as 
paper, rags, glass, metal, bottles, cook¬ 
ery, dunnage, lining and packing ma¬ 
terials in the marine environment. 
f. Facilities are located at the commercial 
jetties at Portsmouth and Roseau for 
garbage that cannot be disposed of at 
sea. 
2. As a scuba diver, you should - 
a. At all times engage in scuba diving 
activities only through an authorised 
dive centre operator. A permit is re¬ 
quired from FDD or any of the three 
authorised dive operations on the is¬ 
land. 
b. Refrain from catching, taking or re¬ 
moving fish or any form of living or¬ 
ganism from the seabed. 
c. Refrain from taking or removing any 
artifacts from sunken wrecks. 
d. Be a holder of a Certified Diver’s Card 
before approaching a dive outfit, un¬ 
less you intend to be engaged in a 
training program conducted by a dive 
authority. 
e. Note that spear fishing is prohibited. 
40 
any 
h a v e 
written about 
diving and 
the marine environment in Dominica. Many 
more will write. Many will come to visit 
while others will wonder what its all about. 
So why not come in person and be part of 
the experience! 
Let me allay your fears that any loss of 
beauty to the marine resources has been 
caused by the large numbers who may have 
visited before you. We have leading guide¬ 
lines and measures which are aimed at 
reducing any negative impact on the envi¬ 
ronment. Come along and explore with 
me. 
The beautiful mountainous island of 
Dominica is surrounded by crystal clear wa¬ 
ters which are home to an abundance of fish 
and coral life all daintily fitted in nature’s 
setting, with sheer steep slopes and gorges, 
similar to those seen on land. This setting has 
been quite appropriately referred to as, “the 
fantasy many divers would like to encounter 
and experience.” 
Dominica underwater life is not spread 
out in vast plains, but the quality is 
unsurpassed. 
The island 
is not en¬ 
dowed with 
a vast conti¬ 
nental shelf, but nature compensates for this 
with the experience of sky-diving under wa¬ 
ter, fascinating and strange, but true. 
At the southern tip of the island, is a 
coastal setting referred to as Scotts Head/ 
Soufriere Bay, an area adorned with many 
features which indicate past volcanic activity 
both on land and sea. The southern-most tip 
of that enclosure is Scotts Head Point, a 
volcanic peninsula which is bounded by the 
Caribbean Sea on one side and the Atlantic 
Ocean on the other. From Scotts Head Point 
along the coast moving in a northerly direc¬ 
tion up to a point commonly known as 
Pointe Giugnard, one will encounter some of 
the most exhilarating dive experiences in 
Dominica and the world. Within this bay are 
all the components usually scattered along 
various locations of the sea floor. 
The pinnacle of Barracuda Point, an ex¬ 
panse of reef, some 200 meters west of 
Scotts Head Point, is a haven for reef fish of 
almost every type. The top of this reef lies in 
10 feet of water and drops off at a very steep 
slope beyond 100 feet in the east. The walls 
41 
