Champagne Reef - Soufriere-Scotts Head Marine Reserve
Champagne Reef, off Dominica's southwest coast, delivers exactly what the name promises: warm, effervescent bubbles rising through the reef. It’s a gentle dive, topping out around 15 metres, making it perfect for newer divers or those who just want to chill out and enjoy something a bit different. We’ve seen yellowhead jawfish darting in and out of their burrows here, and the black coral looks particularly striking against the volcanic rock. While you’re unlikely to spot a whale shark, the sheer novelty of swimming through naturally warmed, bubbling water makes this a fun, easygoing dive.
- Location
- Soufriere-Scotts Head Marine Reserve, Dominica, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 15.227000, -61.355000
- Type
- reef
- Maximum Depth
- 3-15m
- Difficulty
- Beginner
Marine Protected Area: Soufriere/Scott's Head
Best Time to Dive in Soufriere-Scotts Head Marine Reserve
The warmest water temperatures in Soufriere-Scotts Head Marine Reserve occur in January, averaging 27.2°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 27.2°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 27.2°C (air: 24.7°C)
- February: 27.2°C (air: 24.5°C)
- March: 27.2°C (air: 24.7°C)
- April: 27.2°C (air: 25.5°C)
- May: 27.2°C (air: 26.6°C)
- June: 27.2°C (air: 26.8°C)
- July: 27.2°C (air: 26.6°C)
- August: 27.2°C (air: 26.9°C)
- September: 27.2°C (air: 27.3°C)
- October: 27.2°C (air: 27.0°C)
- November: 27.2°C (air: 26.1°C)
- December: 27.2°C (air: 25.2°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Soufriere-Scotts Head Marine Reserve
- Addie - 1m (wreck)
- Champagne (reef)
- Condo (drift)
- Craters Edge (wall)
- Danglebens Pinnacles - 15-30m (pinnacle)
- Danglebens Pinnacles (reef)
- Dive Dominica
- L’Abym North
- Lost Horizon (reef)
- Missing Link
- Mountain Top (wall)
- Nature Island Dive
- Point Guirnard (reef)
- RITA III - 20m (wreck)
- Scotts Head Drop Off (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to Champagne Reef
- Nature Island Dive - SSI
Marine Life in Soufriere-Scotts Head Marine Reserve
Home to 271 recorded species including 215 reef fish, 24 hard corals, 14 whales & dolphins, 3 other, 3 sea urchins, 3 sharks & rays.
Notable Species
- Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Bridled Dolphin (Stenella attenuata) - Whales & Dolphins
- Blackfish (Globicephala macrorhynchus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Bornean Dolphin (Lagenodelphis hosei) - Whales & Dolphins
- Rusty Goby (Priolepis hipoliti) - Reef Fish
- Goldspot Goby (Gnatholepis thompsoni) - Reef Fish
- Agassiz's Thread-sail Fish (Chlorophthalmus agassizi) - Reef Fish
- Smallmouth goby (Risor ruber) - Reef Fish
- Masked Goby (Coryphopterus personatus) - Reef Fish
- Long-beaked Dolphin (Stenella longirostris) - Whales & Dolphins
- False killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens) - Whales & Dolphins
- Pallid Goby (Coryphopterus eidolon) - Reef Fish
- Flamefish (Apogon maculatus) - Reef Fish
- Parrotfish (Thalassoma bifasciatum) - Reef Fish
- Species code: Hs (Halophila stipulacea) - Seagrass & Algae
- Sharpnose Pufferfish (Canthigaster rostrata) - Reef Fish
- Slippery Dick (Halichoeres bivittatus) - Reef Fish
- Clown Wrasse (Halichoeres maculipinna) - Reef Fish
- Sand goby (Coryphopterus glaucofraenum) - Reef Fish
- Common False Moray (Kaupichthys hyoproroides) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Champagne Reef
Based on average water temperature of 27.2°C.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 27°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories