Dominica: Culture & Events
Dominica's Culture & Events

Dominica is an up-and-coming sailing & yachting destination.
Conveniently located right in the middle of the chain of Caribbean Islands, Dominica is the perfect way-station for sailing vessels cruising the Caribbean islands.

Coming to Dominica? Check our upcoming Events.

  



Dominica is particularly well suited to families. With plenty of activities to choose from, everyone can find what they like best: snorkeling, scuba diving, hiking, horseback riding, meandering through the rainforest, shopping, dining out or simply relaxing on a beach or near a tranquil river.

Read on for more information about:

Mooring Rules & Regulations
Immigration & Customs
Popular Anchorages
 Family Sailing Trips
Yachting in Dominica

Plans have been underway through the Dive Improvement Program of the EU funded Eco-tourism Development Program, through the Ministry of Tourism, to put special emphasis on improving facilities and moorings for yachts along Dominica's west coast.

Portsmouth is the historic capital of Dominica and has long been the home of yachts and marine-based tourism. Sea farers have visited Portsmouth dating from Christobal Colon to Sir Francis Drake to Admiral Nelson. Today, Portsmouth remains the center of the marine activities in Dominica. Portsmouth curretnly has 30 moorings for yachts employing Manta ray moorings.

Mero is another village with a long history of maritime activities. Yachts have also been a part of the scenery here for decades and there are now 10 moorings for visting ships.

Dominca's capital, Roseau, also has 10 moorings in the Roseau South area.

Stakeholder consultations have been conducted in these areas regarding the implementation of yacht moorings and a management plan to ensure the moorings placed will be locally managed, maintained and policed. This ensures that communities involved are actively participating in maintaining clean and welcoming environments, and of course policing the vessels at mooring to reduce any potential opportunists.

The Cabrits, Portsmouth
The Cabrits. Photo © ImagesDominica.com

Individuals will be trained to manage and inspect moorings, collect monies, also in CPR and First aid. Brochures will be produced in English, French and German for visitors; detailing fees, and areas where moorings are present along the coast. It is hoped that a standardized fee system with money going back into it will help make the product self sustaining and employment. It should also reduce a lot of the conflict between "boat boys" vying for trade.

Sunset, Dominica.
Sunset, Dominica.
Photo © ImagesDominica.com


Dominica has much to offer, whether from yacht, cruise ship or stay over visits, both above and below the waves. It is hoped that effective management, marketing, and maintaining the infrastructure will encourage yachtsmen to visit and spend more time here enjoying the Nature Island of the Caribbean.

The ultimate goal of this initiative is that there will be no anchoring permitted along the west coast of the island. Currently all dive moorings (with a few exceptions are red), and in time all yacht moorings will be white. it is anticipated that 100 moorings will be deployed in all.

Watch this page for more developments.

Jan 2006 Update:

Parliament has approved a 2 weeks stay, for those wanting to do so, in this case the vessel may clear in and out of customs at the same time, eliminating the need to worry about clearance on the way out. Dominica is the first counrty regionally to do this.

Customs and immigration is now combined in Portsmouth (at the Cabrits) and in Roseau (at the ferry terminal) for clearance.

Anse De Mai is also a designated customs port.

There is now a coastwise clearance issued for yachts, it is hoped that all yachts persons will use due vigilance and use the moorings instead of dropping anchor. Exceptions to the coastwise are Cabirts Marine Reserve and the Soufriere Scotts Head Marine Reserve (SSMR).

Port Authority now has duty-free fuel up and running in Cabirts.


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