Five Finger Rock....is situated on the northern side of Cabrits National Park. Like an iceberg, the top of Five Finger Rock can be seen sticking out of the water a few feet, while the rest is submerged all the way down to a 35-40ft sand ledge. The Rock itself as you can see from the drawing looks more like Five Knuckle Rock , made up of huge boulders that tumbled down the mountainside 1000's of years ago.

The dive begins in 15ft , a perfect start as big boulders cover the bottom, providing home to many many Longspined Sea Urchins and encrusting sponges and corals, as impressive as anywhere in the world, like the orange elephant ear sponge that grows enormously right next to the mooring. All the rocks and boulders seem to have melted together over the years providing and excellent place for a reef to exist.

So, from the mooring we descend down the ridge that slopes to a sand patch at 80ft. everywhere you look there is life. Scorpion fish everywhere, camouflaged. Filter feeder heaven as many different shaped sponges twist and wind and mutate into each other while searching for spaces in which to evolve and give their unique touch to Dominica's reef. Huge brown barrel sponges sit like sentinels while Creole wrasse and chromis dance above, silhouetted with the sea whips. Down on the sand slope at 80ft there is often a Spotted Sand Snake hiding, with just his little face and nostrils poking out. With special snake charming techniques we have learned how to entice them out, and you can watch this four foot eel swim slowly away, before tunnelling, tail first, back into the sand.

At Five Finger Rock, along the sandy bottom is one of the best places to see Spotted Eagle Rays gliding effortlessly along, gracefully and languidly followed by it’s flowing tail. We also see Lesser Electric Rays, which pack a pretty nasty shock if you touch one !

Translucent Azure Vase Sponges grow everywhere, with yellow orange feathery tentacles of the beautiful Crinoids protruding out and giving shelter to Yellowline Arrow Crabs, their tiny arms reaching out as they sense you near by. Then we follow the ridge on our left (usually with a slight current ) until we get nearer Five Finger Rock where we make an ascent onto the sand ledge strewn with magnificently encrusted boulders and then the impressive Five Finger Rock looms out of the blue and rises up to the surface. Swim to the Rock and you will see so much life. Boulders completely encrusted with sponges , corals ,crinoids , echinoderms , like a fairy grotto , one can imagine the whole surface coming alive with elves and gnomes and pixies like some fantasy world.

Follow the curve of the rock shallower and on top of the reef where shoals of small fish dance. We head back towards the boat, off-gassing the nitrogen in the shallows while feasting on the colours that cover every boulder.