Soufreire Pinnacles - Soufriere-Scotts Head Marine Reserve

Tumbatu Lagoon often gets overlooked for the flashier spots, but we think that's a mistake. The reef wall on the west side of Tumbatu Island is just ridiculously healthy for Zanzibar. You drop in and it’s an immediate hit of hard corals, big plateaus stretching out, a proper landscape rather than just scattered heads. We love drifting along this wall, letting the gentle push of the water carry us past thick stands of staghorn and brain corals, always keeping an eye out for green turtles munching away. It's not about big pelagics here, though a manta ray isn't unheard of. Tumbatu is all about the small stuff done well. We’ve spent whole dives just combing the coral for Snakehead Cowries, their shells glossy and perfect, or watching peacock shrimp dart into their burrows. The maximum depth is only 16m, which means plenty of bottom time and lots of light penetration, making those colours really pop. Visibility averages around 11m, which is good enough to appreciate the intricate reef life. It’s a perfect spot for divers who prefer a relaxed drift and getting up close with the reef's residents, rather than a frantic search for giants.

Location: Soufriere-Scotts Head Marine Reserve, Dominica, Caribbean
Coordinates: 15.232800, -61.364300
Type: reef

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)

Nearest Dive Centres to Soufreire Pinnacles

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 Soufreire Pinnacles

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