I went to Dominica last year. The first thing that impresses you is the dramatic hook the plane takes against the mountain before it lands at Rouseau airport. The airport is located close to the windward side of the island and your first look of the water is of big, crashing waves contrasted by the green of the vegetation nearby. I went to hike and to scuba dive. The diving is easy, calm and pretty. Walls, reefs all within minutes of the island. Not too much in terms of big fish but plenty of life. I stayed at a guest house in Rouseau - Ma Bass Guest House. Ma Bass as every one calls her, is gentle island women who I took an instant liking to. Her place was clean, neat, affordable and convenient. She has a range of rooms which depending on the amenities (attached bath, TV, number of beds) vary in price. I stayed in a large room with a TV and an attached bathroom and paid about $40 a day which included breakfast. The house was warm (not from the weather) and filled with a mix of French and German tourist island hopping between the Guadeloupe and Martinique. Breakfast at the guest house almost always turned into long, languourous meals driven by multilingual conversations about everything while being plied with wonderful fresh fruit, juices and eggs and toast. It rains everyday there irrespective of the season. The rain thunders through and torrential downpours come and go. Nobody stops their activities because of it. The Boiling Lake hike is strenous but well worth it. Guides are plentiful but I recommend the man who took us (whose name I've sadly forgotten). He lives right across from the guesthouse. Fruits, trees, and water abound. The island goes through hyperactivity when the cruise boats come else expect tourists to be a minority. I loved being there and would go back. Pick your seasons carefully though or else you might get too much rain. I went in the middle of December.

Since travel to Dominica is geared towards eco-tourism, hiring a tour guide is recommended. Many of the attractions are off the beaten path and require hiking so a good tour guide is essential for your enjoyment and safety. During my 3 week study abroad in Dominica, all of our tours were handled by Ken's Hinterland Tours and they were wonderfully planned. Look up their web-page and check them out or at the very least, get some good ideas and information on the island for your own adventures.