The Caribbean island nation of Dominica has earned widespread acclaim from the global diving community, picking up 11 distinct recognitions in Scuba Diving magazine’s highly anticipated 2027 Readers Choice Awards. Among its most notable achievements, international recreational and professional divers voted the island into the Top 5 of the Caribbean and Atlantic region for Health of Marine Environment, marking a substantial jump in its standing from the 2026 awards cycle.
In addition to its top-five regional ranking for marine ecosystem health, Dominica secured Top 10 placements in three other competitive categories: Macro Life, Best Value, and Wall Diving. The 2027 results represent clear progress from the previous year’s awards, when Dominica ranked 10th for marine environment health and 14th for Best Value. The remaining seven recognitions place the island among the region’s top destinations for Best Overall, Beginner Diving, Advanced Diving, Underwater Photography, Big Animals, Shore Diving, and Snorkeling.
Now entering its 34th year, the Scuba Diving Readers Choice Awards is one of the most respected accolades in the recreational diving industry. Rankings are determined entirely by ratings submitted by the magazine’s subscribers and visitors to its official website, with participants only allowed to score destinations they have personally visited. Final rankings are calculated based on average user ratings, and only destinations that meet the minimum required number of responses qualify for inclusion, ensuring results reflect genuine diver sentiment.
Denise Charles-Pemberton, Dominica’s Minister for Tourism, welcomed the new set of honors, attributing the recognition to the island’s unrivaled natural marine attractions and the hard work of local stakeholders that sustain the diving sector. “Dominica continues to make waves on the international stage,” Charles-Pemberton said. “These accolades speak to the quality and diversity of our marine tourism product: our dramatic walls, vibrant marine life, pristine waters and the incredible experiences we offer both first-time and experienced divers.”
She extended gratitude to the global diving community that voted for the island, widely known as the “Nature Island” for its commitment to conservation, and offered congratulations to local dive operators, tour guides, hoteliers, fisherfolk, and all industry stakeholders. “They work every day to protect our marine environment and deliver memorable experiences to all visitors,” she noted. “As we look ahead to the opening of Dominica’s international airport, these international recognitions become even more significant. Dominica is ready to welcome the world, above and below the surface.”
The 2027 awards come amid years of targeted policy and conservation work by the Dominican government to protect its unique marine biodiversity. In 2025, the country’s parliament passed the Sperm Whale Reserve Bill, formally establishing the world’s first dedicated marine reserve for sperm whales. The protected area spans approximately 1,231 square kilometers along Dominica’s west coast, a prime migration and feeding ground for the threatened marine mammals. Further south, the Soufrière-Scotts Head Marine Reserve already protects several of the island’s most popular and ecologically important dive sites.
According to the Dominica Diving Association (DDA), the latest set of diving honors adds to a growing list of international travel accolades for the island. In August 2026, readers of Travel + Leisure magazine ranked Dominica as the number one island in the Caribbean and number nine worldwide in the publication’s annual World’s Best Awards.
“Diving is central to Dominica’s marine tourism, with volcanic formations, reefs and walls suited to every level of diver,” the DDA concluded. Looking ahead, the association noted that construction is well underway on Dominica’s new international airport, located in the island’s northeast. The government projects the facility will be completed in 2028, with design specifications to accommodate both wide-body and narrow-body aircraft. Once operational, the airport will enable direct flights to Dominica from key source markets including North America and Europe, opening the island’s world-class diving sites to a far larger global audience.