GRAND FINALE Kubuli Carib Canoe Race

This year’s Grand Finale event in Soufriere topped last year’s – and that had been the biggest crowd yet! Thousands of people turned out for this signature event, the closing of Dive Fest 2008.

The day got off to an early start with beach fun and bumper boat rides from Green Island Adventures. The vendors were set up early and the scent of fish broth wafted along the bayfront, tempting revellers to delicious red snapper broth and other sumptuous offerings from this popular fishing village.

Under clear skies and Dominica’s brilliant sunshine, the Races kicked off at 2:30. A fun-filled afternoon saw eighteen teams compete. Dominica’s business houses were well-represented as the battle to become “Champion of the Seas” got underway.

Defending Champs Cable & Wireless came out in full force. Although they had some tough competition, they were able to retain their status and claim the trophy once again in 2008. Congratulations to 1st Place Winners Cable & Wireless and to all the brave rowers who participated in this year’s event.

That makes two years in a row for them! Only Dominica Brewery & Beverages (Kubuli) has ever won the Championship three years running.

2008 Winners: Cable & Wireless

Can they become the second Corporate Team to “threepeat”?

Find out at next year at Dive Fest 2009 – July 10th to 19th, 2009!

Sealife Camera’s Divemaster Fish ID Photo Competition

Shortly after the Kids Snorkel Treasure Hunt at Irie Safari, local Dive Instructors and Divemasters had a chance to prove their expertise and win a brand new Sea Life Camera. Participants were given a list 20 fish and marine creatures that they had to photograph underwater during a 45-minute dive.

Divemasters Prepare for Fish ID Competition

Congratulations to the winners… and thanks to SeaLife, Oceanic & Irie Safari!

1st Place: Kian Benjamin – SeaLife DC800 Pro Set Underwater Camera
2nd Place: Jamie – SeaLife Mini Underwater Camera
3rd Place: Erick Thomas – Oceanic Geo Dive Computer

Dive Fest Students Certified!

The idea was conceived during the Discover Scuba event held at Sunset Bay Club & Seaside Dive Center during Dive Fest 2007. Frederique Huard thought, “LET’S DO IT!” So with complete involvement of hotel-owner Marcella Cools, four teenagers from Mero were given the opportunity to do a PADI Open Water Scuba Certification Course.

Now she is proud that they made it through the course, with the help of Arun Madisetti who was their Dive Instructor. Ms. Huard says:

It was challenging, and as they are still teenagers, they will be part of a special program for this year 2008 – 2009. They will dive once each month and next year will be ready to dive worldwide!

Left to Right: Jose, Tommy, Nora , and Karel (all from Mero village).
Dive Instructor Arun Madisetti at back.

Snorkel Treasure Hunt at Irie Safari

This event gave snorkelers a chance to test their treasure hunting skills and win some great prizes! The children competed in two age groups (8-11 and 12-16) in this event. Teams armed themselves with mask, snorkel, fins and a treasure hunters bags and searched the sandy bottom near Champagne for coloured stones tied to balloons.

Prizes awarded included: snorkelling sets (compliments 4-D Ag Center), Dive Certification courses (compliments DWA), free snorkeling (Irie Safari), MP3 players (Cable & Wireless), Gift Baskets (Springfield Trading Limited) and cases of soft drinks (Belfast Estates).

Awards Ceremony for SeaLife Cameras Underwater Photo Competition

Friday evening all the divers who had been trying out the Sea Life Underwater Cameras during the course of the week gathered at ALDive’s Sea Lounge in Loubiere.

A brilliant slideshow displaying gorgeous underwater photos of Dominica was followed by the presentation of Awards for the top photos.

1st place: Sue Heiter
Photo: Shrimp in a Sponge
Prize: Sealife DC800 Camera Pro Kit

2nd Place:Carmine Genovese
Photo: Christmas Tree Worm (pictured above)
Prize: Sealife Mini Camera

3rd Place: Julie Taylor
Photo: Diver & Crinoid
Prize: Oceanic Pioneer Dive Mask & Dive Fest 2008 shirt

Honourable Mention: Marie Noelle Lamys
Photo: Barracuda
Prize: Oceanic Pioneer Mask

Thanks to the sponsor of this event SeaLife Cameras and also to Oceanic for contributing prizes.

And thanks to Izzy Madisetti over at the FaceBook Dive Fest event for the details!

Sealife Camera – One-Day Photo Shoots

At Cabrits Dive Center on Monday, Sunset Bay on Tuesday, at Nature Island Dive on Wednesday, and at Dive Dominica on Thursday, divers got to try out the newest camera from Sealife cameras the DC800 an 8 megapixel camera. Each diver got some tips and advice from David Hall ( a rep from Sealife) on the camera and general advice from Barry Guimbellot of Dive Training Magazine.

Diver for the Sealife Camera Photo Shoot at Cabrits Dive

So divers from North to South took some great shots and have a chance to win a camera on Friday night for the Photo Exhibition at The Sea Lounge.

The small size of the camera allowed shots of creatures in tight spaces

Jewellers International and Victorinox/Swiss Army Underwater Treasure Hunt!

The 2008 Underwater Treasure Hunt was held at East Carib Dive in Salisbury this year. It was a gorgeous Dominica day!

Fourteen divers competed in teams of two, by searching for rocks hidden in the sea. The goal was to find as many of the special Dive Fest rocks as possible within the 32 minute time-limit.

Congratulations to the winners:

1st Place: Team Serendipity – Karen & Jake each won a Victorinox/Swiss Army Dive Watch!

2nd Place: Team Fig Mi – Mathew & Ginger – each won a Geo Dive Computer by Oceanic!

3rd Place: Team Monty – Allen & Monty – each won a brand new Pioneer Dive Mask from Oceanic!

All participants in this year’s Treasure Hunt received a Victorinox/Swiss Army T-shirt AND a swiss Army knife!

Congratulations to all the participants, sponsors and organisers for putting on another great Dive Fest event.

Jewellers International & Victorinox/Swiss Army Cocktail Party

Dive Fest sponsors Jewellers International and Victorinox/Swiss Army hosted a Cocktail Party for the local dive industry Saturday evening at the Jewellers International store on the Bayfront.

Victorinox/Swiss Army Sales Representative Emily Kiefer was on hand to display their line of dive watches.

The Jewellers International staff were enthusiastic promoters!

Jewellers International Staff

Minister of Tourism takes the plunge!

Dominica's Minister of Tourism Goes Diving!

This year’s event at the Anchorage Hotel had a very special feature: Hon. Ian Douglas, the Minister of Tourism, participated in ‘Discover Scuba Diving’ and saw first-hand the beauty of Dominica’s underwater world.

Escorted on his dive by Dive Instructor Kian Benjamin, the Minister was amazed at the creatures and beauty he saw beneath the sea. Based on his post-dive enthusiasm, it won’t be long until the Minister himself becomes a regular feature of Dominica’s underwater world!

This year about 60 participants took the classroom instruction, followed by dive lessons in the pool.

Pool Lessons

Discover Scuba Diving at Purple Turtle, Portsmouth

Cabrits Dive Centre introduced 25 Dominicans and visitors to the underwater world at the annual Discover Scuba Day event at Purple Turtle.  Many of the new divers were nervous at the beginning but then we could not get them out of the water!!!!!!