L’Abym North - Soufriere-Scotts Head Marine Reserve
Forget the picture-postcard reefs. Muelle abandonado, a stone’s throw from Lima’s Embajadores beach, offers something grittier, and frankly, more interesting for a certain kind of diver. This isn't a deep dive, maxing out at about 10 meters, but it’s packed with atmosphere. We love slipping into the cool, green water around the old dock pilings, watching the kelp sway and hide all sorts of small, curious creatures. Visibility here averages about 3 meters, which means you’re diving close, noticing the details. It's a fantastic spot for macro enthusiasts, or anyone who enjoys the hunt. We’ve spent whole dives just combing the rocky crevices and the kelp for nudibranchs, or trying to spot a cleverly camouflaged frogfish. Pacific speckled crabs scuttle along the bottom, and you’ll see schools of anchovies, sometimes so thick they form glittering walls. It’s perfect for new divers getting comfortable with their buoyancy, but also genuinely satisfying for experienced eyes looking for something beyond the usual. Our favourite time to dive here is early morning, before any boat traffic stirs up the sediment too much.
- Location
- Soufriere-Scotts Head Marine Reserve, Dominica, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 15.235300, -61.367000
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)
- Champagne Reef - 3-15m (reef)
- Condo (drift)
- Craters Edge (wall)
- Danglebens Pinnacles - 15-30m (pinnacle)
- Danglebens Pinnacles (reef)
- Dive Dominica
- 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 L’Abym North
- 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 L’Abym North
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