Fort Young Hotel & Dive Resort

Dominica at Fort Young Hotel

Fort Young Hotel is the perfect destination for family scuba vacations, adventure trips, and Kids Sea Campers. Whether you’re visiting Dominica for a diving getaway, a Caribbean hiking tour, or a conference, our oceanfront location in the historic capital, Roseau, makes us Dominica’s finest heritage hotel.

For families interested in scuba diving, Fort Young is fully equipped with a PADI 5-star Dive Dominica dive shop and a jetty where boats pick you up for diving, snorkeling, or whale watching excursions. Hikers can also arrange a variety of nearby excursions, such as treks to waterfalls in the rainforest and birdwatching trips, through our on-site activities desk.

If you’re looking for traditional Caribbean relaxation, enjoy our rooftop jacuzzi, infinity pool, gym, and spa. Don’t miss the Palisades restaurant, where you can dine while watching the sunset over the sea, along with our vibrant cocktail bar and café.

Prices to come

What’s included

• 7 Nights in ocean-view accommodations
• 5 days of diving – 2 dives daily plus 3-afternoon dives
• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• 1 soda or juice included with each meal
• All rental gear for kids
• Private boat
• Private dive guides
• Privat transfers
• SASY Instructor & crew pack
• Seal Team Instructors & crew pack
• Jr. Open Water instructor, rental gear, BCD, Fins, Mask Snorkel, 9 training dives, + 3 additional days of diving and full KSC package.
• Unlimited shore diving
• Private sunset cruise with sperm whale watching trip
• 1 guided night dive
• SeaLife cameras to use all week
• Dominica sperm whale presentation
• Garifuna cultural dance presentation
• Titou Gorge excursion
• Trafalgar waterfall excursion
• Sasy daily- fins/mask/snorkel for them to KEEP
• Seal team daily- fins/mask/snorkel/BCD for them to KEEP
• PADI, JOW/ Open Water program- fins/mask/snorkel/BCD for them to KEEP
• Airport transfers from DOM to the resort and return on departure day
• Opening orientation and closing presentations and closing slide show.
• Private dive boats
• Marine park fees included
• Treasure hunt for the Seal and SASY teams
• Pizza movie night during the night dive

Not Included:

• International flight to Dominica (DOM)
• Adult rental gear & dive lights for the night dive
• Nitrox $189 week (does not include taxes)
• eLearning for Jr. Open Water, must be purchased and completed prior to arrival- https://www.padi.com/courses?irra=22402
• Continuing Education courses: you must send request at the time of the booking and based on space or available instructor will it be confirmed. Confirmation will not happen till 1-2 months from trip departure and will not exceed a max of 4 students
• Additional non-alcoholic or alcoholic beverages not mentioned above
• Additional tours or dives not mentioned above
• Dive staff gratuities

Programs/Courses

SASY (PADI): Supplied Air Snorkeling for Youth is for kids age five to seven. Essentially, SASY is snorkeling using scuba equipment instead of a snorkel. Once a child completes the SASY program they receive a SASY participant card and wall certificate.

SEAL Team (PADI): This is a confined water scuba experience for ages eight and up. Kids learn basic scuba skills and do “AquaMissions” in a pool where they are limited to a maximum depth of 12 feet (3.6m). Children who progress and accomplish more skills become a “Master Seal” and are then certified to a maximum depth of 20 feet (6m) with an instructor.

JOW (PADI): Children 10 and up can take the full PADI Open Water Diver scuba certification course with specific age limitations for scuba diving. Kids can progress to Junior Open Water diver, which allows them to dive with a PADI-certified parent, guardian, or professional to a maximum of 40 feet.

A general schedule for Dominica

SAT: (ALL DAY) Arrival at DOM airport pickup and transfer to Fort Young resort. Resort orientation and check in to your room. Check-in at Fort Young, get your lockers, equipment, and dive waivers turned in. 6:30 PM: Private dinner reception for Kids Sea Camp families. Welcome from Fort Young GM, Food and Beverage, and Dive Dominica.

Sunday to Thursday:  Diving for adults and kids begins early at 8 am after breakfast, 2 tank morning dives, afternoon dives, or excursions. One night dive will be provided with a Pizza movie night.  Presentations and slide shows throughout the week in the evenings. Whale watching & Sunset Cruise. Seal Team courses, Jr. Dive Master courses, Jr. Open Water courses, UW Naturalist courses, and digital photo courses being run. If you purchased a course you are already signed up and if you are interested in a course please email or call us to let us know and we will sign you up based on availability. Max 4 students per course.

Friday: Family day diving, graduation, and final slide show and poetry presentations and prizes.

Saturday: Say goodbye and see you again soon. Post and share your photos of your amazing time at Kids Sea Camp.

A detailed schedule is subject to change with excursions, dinners, and tours that will be provided in your documents package.

Rooms with an awesome view

Ocean Front Suites: Our finest accommodation. Each of our suites is named after a key figure from Dominica’s past and is fit for those appreciating a bit of grandeur today. All suites combine spectacular views from the bedroom and balcony with a giant double bed, a walk-through dressing room, along with two bathrooms, featuring both a whirlpool tub and shower. And for those wishing for some privacy to entertain in their exclusive quarters, the dining room table seats eight.

Ocean Front Rooms: Combining breathtaking views (some with wraparound balconies offering 270-degree vistas), there’s nothing but sky separating the balconies of our oceanfront rooms from the turquoise seas below. Families are well catered for, as four of the rooms interconnect, and every room comes with a bath with shower, cavernous cupboards to store your clothes and possessions, coffee making facilities, and a color TV.

Amenities and Features

• Air conditioning
• Balcony or patio
• Bathrobes
• Blackout drapes/curtains
• Cable TV service
• Ceiling fan
• Coffee/tea maker
• Connecting/adjoining rooms available
• Daily housekeeping
• Desk
• Free WiFi
• Free bottled water
• Free toiletries
• Free wired high-speed Internet
• Hairdryer
• In-room childcare (surcharge)
• In-room climate control (air conditioning)
• In-room massage available
• In-room safe
• Iron/ironing board
• LCD TV
• Non-smoking
• Phone
• Premium TV channels
• Private bathroom
• Rainfall showerhead
• Refrigerator
• Room service (limited hours)
• Turndown service

Be the only dive boat on the water

By the time you are driven across the island from the airport to the hotel, you will be awestruck by the sheer rugged beauty of Dominica. These overwhelming sensations of The Nature Island are just a precursor to your introduction to the best part of Dominica: the underwater world! The dramatic mountains you traverse are mirrored in the topography of our dive sites. Cliff faces plunge into the Caribbean Sea, descending straight down 1,500 feet (460 meters), while pinnacles rise almost to the surface from the surrounding depths, and volcanic ridges slope off into deep blue water.

These dive sites feature thriving coral reefs and schools of midwater fish, including Chromis, Creole Wrasse, and Sergeant Majors. Larger pelagics patrol the outer edges of the reefs, and barracudas, turtles, and stingrays frequently swim through dive groups, creating delightful photographic opportunities.

Our reefs consist of volcanic formations with ledges, crevices, and swim-throughs that provide refuge for a myriad of small critters often considered rare in other destinations. Divers on a week-long package can expect to see seahorses and frogfish frequently. At the same time, rarer encounters with batfish, flying gurnards, yellowhead jawfish, upside-down jellyfish, and flamingo tongue snails can also be found with careful searching.

Dominica’s reputation for colorful diving stems from the abundance of sponge life and crinoids. First-time divers in Dominica will be amazed by the variety of colors, including yellow tube sponges, azure vase sponges, pink vase sponges, green finger sponges, lavender rope sponges, and crinoids of every hue.

You might expect Dominica’s many rivers and lush interior to lead to limited visibility, but once again, Dominica defies logic. Thanks to our very deep waters close to shore and sediments from our volcanic sands, our visibility averages over 80 feet (24 meters) throughout the year. After heavy rains, sediment settles within hours, allowing you to return to the water with good visibility.

Water temperatures vary from a high of 84 degrees Fahrenheit (29 degrees Celsius) from July through December to a low of 76 degrees Fahrenheit (25 degrees Celsius) from January through June. The windy season occurs around April, while the rainy season is in the summer months from July to September. Despite the possibility of tropical storms during these months, the weather is often characterized by calm seas, sunny skies, and perfect diving conditions!

In reality, there is no bad time of year for diving in Dominica. With good visibility, warm seas, excellent marine life, uncrowded dive sites, and skilled dive staff, most divers find themselves eagerly wanting to return.

Scott’s Head Pinnacle: Recently listed as one of the top dive sites worldwide by Scuba Travel in the UK, few would disagree with this assessment. Most dive staff would dive here every day if it weren’t for the sometimes challenging winds and currents. On those days when conditions are perfect, divers are in for a special treat. This pinnacle sits on the edge of a volcanic crater, and you can actually swim through the crater wall into the interior. The wall is covered in gorgonians, giant barrel sponges, and whip corals, often patrolled by pelagic fishes like horse-eye jacks, barracudas, turtles, yellowtail snappers, and ceros. The challenge with Scott’s Head Pinnacle is knowing where to look! This site is better suited for intermediate and advanced divers unless conditions are perfect.

Champagne Reef: This site is another reflection of the sheer volcanic power simmering just out of sight. In shallow water, just 15 feet (5 meters) deep, volcanic vents release hot water and bubbles, creating the effect of diving in champagne. The surrounding reef is well-known for critters like seahorses, frogfish, reef squid, and lobsters, and it also makes an excellent night dive. You will usually explore Champagne Reef first and then enjoy the bubbles during your safety stop. Keep an eye out for the resident reef squid, and expect to see snorkelers above you! This dive is suitable for all skill levels.

Nose Reef: This sloping reef, located in the central part of the West Coast, is named for its three protruding ledges, which resemble a nose. The deepest ledge sits at 120 feet (36 meters), while the shallowest is at 40 feet (12 meters). However, the best diving is at around 80 feet (24 meters), on top of the deeper ledge. This ridge extends into the current and is thus home to thriving sponges of every color and size. The dense coral and sponge life here make it a favorite spot for divers, as well as a popular hangout for turtles and pelagic fishes!

Real Caribbean dining

Palisades Restaurant: Discover the ultimate dining experience in Roseau at Palisades Restaurant. Our establishment seamlessly blends the finest local cuisine with innovative twists on international classics, offering a fusion of traditional and contemporary flavors. Indulge in delicious Caribbean dishes, including locally caught seafood and our signature pumpkin and ginger soup, all sourced from the best local farms. You can also enjoy our take on a Dominican classic—hearty Provision Pie. With breathtaking views from every table on our terrace, and the only air-conditioned dining area in Roseau for those who prefer a cooler environment, Palisades Restaurant is truly an unforgettable place to dine.

See more KSC D0minica images (See link)

It just got easier than before

Direct Flights: American Airlines offers direct flights from Miami. United Airlines also provides direct service. 

Connecting Flights: You can connect to Dominica (DOM) through a larger Caribbean hub. Common hubs include: 

• San Juan (SJU) in Puerto Rico,
• Barbados (BGI),
• Antigua (ANU),
• St. Lucia (SLU)
• Guadeloupe (PTP) 

Costs: The round-trip fare from SJU is approximately $400 to $600, and from SXM, $300 to $500. You can check on www.hopper.com and another good source is www.cheaptickets.com. Winn-Air is the best source from SXM http://www.fly-winair.sx/contact-us.html.

Take the Ferry: Ride with the locals across from St. Lucia! It will take a little longer (3 hours), and yes, you are traveling across the Caribbean Sea. So on a bad day, you may run into a few rollers and white caps. But the trips only cost about $50 per person.

Please give us a call if you need some help at 803-419-2556

A perfect balance of land and sea

• Waterfall hikes
• Deep-Sea fishing
• Whale watching
• Bird watching
• Canyoning
• Hiking

Please note these are add-ons and not included in the KSC package.