Soufrière Scotts Head Marine Reserve

The Soufrière Scotts Head Marine Reserve (SSMR) is Dominica's most important marine protected area and one of the finest dive destinations in the Eastern Caribbean, stretching along the island's southwestern coast from the village of Soufrière in the north to the headland at Scotts Head in the south. Established to protect an extraordinary concentration of marine biodiversity in a geothermally active zone, the reserve encompasses a variety of underwater habitats including volcanic pinnacles, steep wall dives, sloping coral gardens, and sandy plains dotted with hydrothermal vents. The reserve's centrepiece dive sites include Champagne, where volcanic gases bubble up through the seafloor creating the famous underwater champagne effect in shallow water; Dangleben's Reef, a series of rocky pinnacles rising from 40 metres and densely coated in sea fans, sponges, and black coral; Scotts Head Drop-off, a dramatic wall beginning at 5 metres and descending beyond 45 metres with outstanding visibility; and Swiss Cheese, a site characterised by a volcanic formation riddled with holes and crevices harbouring moray eels, lobster, and resting nurse sharks. Marine life within the reserve includes spinner dolphins, hawksbill sea turtles, spotted eagle rays, frogfish, seahorses, flying gurnards, large schools of creole wrasse, and occasional sperm whale sightings close inshore. Snorkelling is accessible at the Champagne site directly from the beach. All other featured dive sites require access by boat from local operators. The reserve entrance fee of approximately USD 2 per person is collected through dive operators and supports ongoing reef monitoring and enforcement. Dive operators based in Roseau, Soufrière, and Castle Comfort run daily guided dives to SSMR sites.