Dive Fest 2005
Presented by the Dominica Watersports Association.

Live Updates As it Happens, Right Here

• Second Weekend of Events
  Fort Young Happy Hour | Discover Scuba
  Family Fiesta & Turtle Hatchlings
  
• Mid-Week Event
  Discover Scuba Diving at Sunset Bay

Friday Night, July 1st

The Dive Fest Happy Hour at the Fort Young Hotel was a magnificent event this year. Sponsored by Cable & Wireless and Heineken, the evening began at 6 pm with Happy Hour drink prices all night long.

The Look Us band got things started early on. By the time the Swinging Stars took the stage, the dance floor was jam packed and a cheerful crowd danced the night away. Door Prizes & specials from Cable & Wireless perked things up throughout the evening.

Saturday, July 2nd: Discover Scuba!

Each year, the Discover Scuba event allows anyone aged 10 or over to check out scuba diving and see what it's all about. Discover Scuba took place in two locations this year: the Anchorage Hotel in Castle Comfort and Coconut Beach Hotel in Portsmouth. Meanwhile, kids were trying their hand at snorkeling with the Discover Snorkeling programme being held at Dive Dominica, also in Castle Comfort.

 

This year there was an added dimension to the Discover Scuba activities.

There was a Graduation Ceremony going on upstairs at the Anchorage, the culmination of four months of hard work for 18 young Dominicans who completed the Dominica Marine Tour Guide Craning Programme. Congrats to all the students for persevering through the programme, and to the DWA, Youth Division, CPEC, NDC, PADI, the EDTP, and everyone who made this programme possible.

The morning began at 10 am with a Press Conference explaining the details of the programme. The Press Conference was put on by the Youth Development Division and the Dominica Watersports Association. Also in attendance were the Hounourable Dr. Colin McIntyre Minister for Agriculture, the Honourable Vince Henderson Minister for for Education,
Human Resources Development, Sports & Youth Affairs,representatives from the NDC, the Professional Association of Dive Instructors (PADI) and the local media.

Directly after the Press Conference and Graduation Ceremony, the new Divemasters took to the pool to help the instructors with the Discover Scuba activities, while one or two of the visiting Ministers of Parliament took to the sea to experience scuba diving first hand and to get a small taste of what these students had been through.

Kemai John, Divemaster
with a Perfect Giant Stride Entry

Discover Scuba at Coconut Beach Hotel, Portsmouth.

Triumphant DSDs - Future divers triumphantly exit the water following their first discover scuba diving experience!

Sunday, July 3rd Turtle Day!

All the excitement was on Dominica's east coast today, with the Family Fiesta and Turtle Hatchling events held at Rosalie Beach.

The afternoon began with RoSTI releasing dozens of baby leatherback turtles who had hatched from nests in the sandy Rosalie Beach and were ready to head off for their new lives at sea.

Run for the Sea

More than 400 hundred spectators were on hand throughout the afternoon to watch this incredible wonder of nature...


and to participate in the fun events of Springfield Trading's Family Fiesta.

Wednesday, July 6th Discover Scuba Diving

Last weekend Discover Scuba Diving took place in the north and south, now it was the Central West Coast's turn!

Many kids and young adults turned up at Sunset Bay Club in Coulibistrie for a day of fun & learning about Scuba Diving. Instruction in the pool was followed by Discover Scuba Dives on the reef right off the shore.