|
CARIBBEAN ISLAND WEDDINGS & HONEYMOONS SPICE UP YOUR WEDDING & HONEYMOON author of Beautiful Weddings & Events www.WeddingLinks.com Heading to islands of the Caribbean for a honeymoon or vacation, we find couples are seeking extreme sports including scuba diving, snorkeling and underwater experiences, rain forest hikes and canopy challenges plus fun river rafting. Considering many of the islands specialize in deep dives on exotic reefs, whale and dolphin watching or deep sea fishing, we wanted to include our finds on the captivating mountainous island of Dominica. Regarded as the whale watching capital of the Caribbean, with two marine reserves and a surprising number of Sperm whales that stay year round, (November to March being the best months for viewing). Dominica receives recognition from National Geographic Magazine and the Scuba Diving Magazine reader's choice award as being a Caribbean favorite for diving. The island has it all. Met by Adrienne, part of the family team running The Castle Comfort Dive Lodge, she expressed how her dad and mother had opened a comfortable fifteen-room hotel twenty years ago. It is just a few miles outside of the capital city's Roseau on the shoreline. Castle Comfort Dive Lodge was a timely dream of her father who loved diving and is carried on by the family members. Each member of the family chose to extend their education in various parts of the business strengths that include hotel management, culinary, business and marketing, boat operations and dive safety. The lodge has air conditioning and Internet access, a hot tub, pool with a restaurant serving family-style meals, island drinks and local or international specialties. The islanders love finding their favorite dishes at this popular boutique spot. It has become a preferred lodge for divers and those seeking to experience the waters of Dominica. They completed a certified dive shop and now have five custom-built dive boats with trained and licensed teams to take tourist out on the sea to dive the magical reefs, deep sea fish or whale watch around the island. The hotel delights in hosting guests who want a true diving experience. Their management team includes certified boat captains, PADI professional instructors, all trained in CPR and First Aid with emergency oxygen use. They take enthusiast to Scott's Head Soufriere Reserve, an established Marine reserve with beautiful reefs teeming with sea life, unique fish and sea horses. A must see for any diver. They give dive lessons and connect with people who want a one-day experience from off the cruise ships or those staying at nearby resorts. Their website has some awe inspiring photographs of what you will see. www.castlecomfortdivelodge.com Famous for their Champagne Reef dives, this unique spot is so called because of the myriad of geothermal bubbles that emanate from a large volcanic granite mantle 100 meters off shore to massage luxuriously any intrepid visitor. The owners stated divers also come to experience the well-lit evening dive as an amazing experience of activity around the reef complete with bubbles, beautiful fish in all directions darting in and out of the sponge covered reef. You will see delightful trumpet fish, black-bar soldiers and red-banded parrotfish. There is also a 250-year -old wreck with canons and planking. Roseau is the bustling commonwealth capital of Dominica offering many enjoyable hotels and lodgings, but a very unique hotel and wedding venue is the Fort Young. Built originally in 1720 to defend against any encroachment, this impressive stone fortress was completely remodeled in 1989 as a lovely luxury destination hotel for vacationers and has an impressive event room for wedding or business. The Waterfront Restaurant banquet room still displays numerous slits in the walls for musket fire as well as canon guarding the entrance. With a 5,000 foot dormant volcano peak overhead, there is no doubt Dominica is a volcanic island. Many people come to relax in the hot sulfur baths at the Wotten Waver Sulfur Springs, said to detoxify the body. The pure enjoyment of the rainforest flora and fauna with colorful birds and waterfalls is another happy experience the island offers. Impressed by the unspoiled beauty of the island, Dominica was chosen by Hollywood to film "Pirates of the Caribbean - 2" at four different locations. Dominica's Marne Trios Piton National Park is a UNESCo World Heritage Site and is abundant with natural attractions, such as the Emerald Pool, Trafalgar Falls and Boiling Lake. From native presentations to botanical gardens and many distinct types of hotels and fun restaurants, the island gives couples a versatile view of Caribbean splendor. This is a very well managed island where they are relatively self-sufficient and the island raises most of their population's needs and enjoys "duty free shopping". September 2010, J.R. Publications, Inc. Santa Rosa, CA |