When you put your face in the water at Champagne Reef, you see trails of silver bubbles rising from the sandy bottom in streams and columns. The bubbles are carbon dioxide gas coming from the same underground volcanic activity that heats Boiling Lake. Because of the warm water and the gases, the sea floor here looks almost alive — constantly fizzing and dancing.
The reef is very shallow in places — sometimes just one or two metres deep — which means even young snorkellers can experience it. The warm, mineral-rich water is home to a surprising amount of sea life: bright parrotfish, seahorses, sea turtles, and many types of coral grow here despite the unusual conditions.
The name 'Champagne Reef' came from the way the bubbles reminded visitors of the bubbles in a fizzy drink. It has become one of the most famous snorkelling spots in the whole Caribbean. Because Dominica protects its waters carefully, the reef stays healthy and full of colour.