Champagne Reef Snorkeling: Volcanic bubbles in Dominica

Volcanic thermal springs bubble up from the ocean floor where you snorkel.

Snorkel Champagne Reef in Dominica, a two-hour guided activity among underwater volcanic thermal springs that rise from the seabed. You descend into plummeting reef cliffs and towering volcanic formations while encountering octopus, rays, parrotfish, hawksbill turtles and seahorses among sponges named pink azure, red rope and yellow tube. Snorkeling equipment and a beach chair are included. A marine park fee of 2 USD is paid at the entrance.

The experience

Two hours in the water at Champagne Reef means you move through a landscape shaped by Dominica's volcanic geology. The thermal bubbles rising from springs on the ocean floor are what give the reef its name, and they're visible as you descend: a phenomenon most snorkeling sites don't have. The reef's structure of plummeting cliffs and towering rock formations creates pockets where different species congregate, so the variety of what you encounter shifts as you move through the site. A live guide in English, German or Dutch leads the group and points out the details: the sponges in their specific colors, the small creatures like frogfish and trumpet fish that blend into the reef, and the larger animals like rays and turtles that move through open water.

Your SSMR Marine Park Fee ticket, included in the tour price, gives you access to Champagne Beach for the whole day, so you can arrive early or stay after the snorkeling ends. A beach chair is part of your booking. The 2 USD marine park fee for reef maintenance is paid separately at the entrance when you arrive. This is a Government Approved Tour (Safe in Nature), which means it runs even when cruise ship passengers are in port and looking for activities that fit a ship's schedule.

What’s included

• Snorkeling equipment.
• beach chair use.
• full-day access to Champagne Beach with your marine park ticket.
• live guide in English, German or Dutch.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: the first at 10:30, the last at 14:30

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (18 to 70 years) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish, German and Dutch

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Paid on siteUS$ 2

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by PH Whale Watch Dive & Snorkel in Dominica

Is this one for you?The tour starts at Champagne Beach itself, so you don't need a car or transport to reach the water: walk straight from the sand into the reef. If you're staying nearby or arriving by cruise ship, this eliminates the need to arrange a separate ride to a snorkeling departure point.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, German and Dutch.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (6 to 11 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What kind of sea life will I see while snorkeling at Champagne Reef?

Champagne Reef holds octopus, rays, trumpet fish, parrotfish, frogfish, batfish, hawksbill turtles, seahorses and eels. The sponges come in distinct varieties (pink azure, red rope, yellow tube and purple vase), and you may also spot the remains of a 17th-century Spanish shipwreck on the reef floor.

How long is the snorkeling activity and what's included?

The guided snorkeling lasts two hours. Snorkeling equipment and a beach chair are included in your booking. Your marine park fee ticket gives you access to Champagne Beach for the whole day beyond the tour time.

What happens with the marine park fee I've heard about?

A 2 USD marine park fee for reef maintenance is paid at the entrance when you arrive. It is not included in the tour price. This fee supports the upkeep of the protected reef.

Can I do this tour if I'm arriving by cruise ship?

Yes. This is a Government Approved Tour (Safe in Nature), so it operates on days when cruise ship passengers are in port and can book activities that fit the ship's schedule.

What's special about the bubbles at Champagne Reef?

The bubbles rise from volcanic thermal springs on the ocean floor, a feature created by Dominica's volcanic geology. They're visible as you snorkel and are what give the reef its name: a phenomenon most snorkeling sites don't have.