The ship docked at 9 am and as soon as the captain gave the announcement that we were clear to leave, we headed off the ship to find our tour, Roseau Valley Treasures, with Bumpiing Tours.
The ship docked right in town and our designated meeting place was just across the street from the pier.
This tram drove by as we were waiting...
Once everyone in our group had arrived with went with our guide, Levi, to a waiting van. I think there were probably a dozen of us altogether. Our first stop was at Champage Reef to snorkel. Some photos from along the way...
The email we received with info on the tour:
Champagne Reef: (1st stop) One of the most unique snorkeling areas in the eastern Caribbean. Take a short 5 minutes walk to the end of the stony beach, until you get to a cliff where you will gear up, walk in and begin a very different under water experience. You will be swimming in bubbles like you were in a giant aquarium.The walk to the beach wasn't long or difficlut, but getting into and out of the water at Champagne Reef was not easy. The shore was covered with rocks and once I took off my shoes to get into the water, it was very difficult to walk. There were rubber mats leading into the water, but they were slippery and with the waves, I found it very hard to keep my balance.
Levi provided life preserver belts for any who wanted and once our group was in the water, we headed for the area with the “champagne bubbles.” On the way I spotted this fish. I’m not sure, but I “think” it it is needle fish.
The bubbles in the water are due to volcanic gasses bubbling up through the ocean floor and only were located in one small area.
Here is also a video that I took:
We continued to snorkel and Levi would often dive down and point out interesting things…he even showed us a cannon from an old ship!
We were out quite a distance from shore and the bottom of the ocean just “dropped off” into blue nothingness.
Altogether we were probably in the water for almost an hour. When I got back to the shore, I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to get out. There was a large step up to get to the rubber mats, and each time I would try and get out, a wave would knock me down. I finally made it but had to crawl on my hands and knees to get out (not a pretty sight.) Some kind woman was able to find where I had left my shoes under a tree and brought them to me so I could walk across the rocks.
The Emerald Princess off in the distance...
More snorkeling photos...
Some of the sights as we made our way to the next stop...Titou Gorge.
The road was unbelievably steep and twisty...
...and just kept getting narrower and narrower until it turned into what looked like two sidewalks!
Here is an excerpt from our tour description...
Titou Gorge: One of the most unique areas on the Island and it's also a spot where part of Pirates of the Caribbean 2 was filmed. Like just about all fresh water swimming areas on the Island, the water at Titou Gorge is cold. To enjoy the gorge you would have to take the short swim (about 2 minutes) up a cave like area(opened top, you can see the sky while swimming, you do not swim under water). The swim is about 200 feet and the water is about 15 feet deep at its deepest point. Once you get to the middle of the cave-Like area there is a ledge you can stand on. That’s the only place you will be able to stand before you get to the end of your swim. There is a small waterfall one can swim to, if the water is not flowing too heavy. If you are athletic you can climb the waterfall (4-5 feet) to get to another waterfall but anyone jumping has to be very athletic since you have to jump about 6 feet out into the water on your way down to avoid a ledge in the water. This part is not for everyone and is optional even if you can make the jump. There is 5-7 minutes rocky walk to Titou Gorge. We provide swim belts to all our guests.Levi timed it so we arrived at Titou Gorge after the ship’s tours had left.
The walk to the gorge was not difficult. At one point we walked on a bridge across a small creek.
On the way we saw wild poinsettias…how appropriate since we were visiting during Christmas season!
There were steps leading down to a small pool area at the opening to the gorge. Levi required that we all get into the water and go in until the water was chest deep. Anyone who couldn’t do this would not be going any further into the gorge.
To say the water was cold was an understatement! I just forced myself to get in quick, but Bob likes to be a little more dramatic.
I laugh every time I look at this photo…
The entrance to the gorge.
Once inside the gorge you had to swim against the current. There were openings at the top of the gorge which let in small slivers of light but it was still dark enough that I wasn’t able to get good photos.
At the end of the gorge was a small waterfall. Off to the side was a little cave like area where we were able to squeeze together and stand and get out of the water. Those that wanted were able to climb up the waterfall and then jump back into the water. Because there was a ledge at the base of the waterfall, you had to be careful and jump “out” and away or you would hit it. (Levi told us that the ship’s tours do not let people jump.)
Of course Bob and Kent both HAD to give this a try. There was actually a second waterfall that the guys saw when they climbed past the first one, but it wasn’t visible to the rest of us.
Here is a video of the guys jumping...
After they were all done, Levi climbed to the top of the cliff and dove HEAD FIRST into the gorge. I just about had a heart attack watching him!
Back at the entrance to the gorge there is a pipe coming out of the side of the hill with natural hot spring water flowing out of it. Bob and some of the others took advantage of this to get warmed up after their chilly swim.
More to come in Dominica - Part 2
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