Anchorage· Dominica· Leeward Islands
Soufriere Bay Moorings (SSMR, permission only)
15° 13.8′ N · 61° 21.8′ W · approximate
The marine-reserve moorings off Soufriere village under the Scotts Head ridge - an extraordinary setting inside a volcanic crater, but yachts may use them only with express permission, so most cruisers visit the bay by dive boat or road from Roseau.
Practical
Position approximate: set about 300 m off the OpenStreetMap shoreline in front of Soufriere village - no published yacht-mooring position was found. Rules (SSMR/LAMA): mooring or anchoring in the reserve requires express permission from the Fisheries Division; the Customs coast-wide cruising permit does NOT cover the SSMR; LAMA wardens collect user fees and maintain the reserve moorings; no jet skis, spearguns or taking anything. A CSSN report (12 February 2019) describes a visiting aid yacht that had special permission to use a mooring off Soufriere and was broken into while the crew were ashore - lock up and do not leave the boat unattended after dark. Ask the Fisheries Division in Roseau or the SSMR office in Soufriere before going; otherwise use the Roseau / Castle Comfort moorings (about 4 nm north) or the Pointe Michel anchorage just outside the reserve. Wardens' fee: US$2 per person per site for divers/snorkellers (2026); a mooring fee for yachts was not published - verify locally. Exposed to the west and to swell wrapping round Scotts Head.
Best for
A permitted night inside the crater bay
Season
Settled trade-wind weather only; untenable in westerly or northerly swell
Nearby
- Soufriere Dive FestRight here
- Soufriere-Scotts Head Marine Reserve0.1 NM away
- Bubble Beach Spa (Soufriere)0.2 NM away
- Waitukubuli Sea Trail & Soufriere Outdoor Centre0.2 NM away
- L'Abym Wall (Soufriere Bay)0.4 NM away
- Danglebens Pinnacles0.7 NM away
- Crater's Edge (Soufriere Bay)0.8 NM away
- Pointe Guignard & Coral Gardens0.8 NM away