Dive Fest 2016
A Successful 1st Year
by Donovan Brown, President
St. Lucia Divers Association – Anbaglo
When the diving is good a week is not enough time to explore and discover all that is good about St. Lucia’s underwater treasures. Dive Fest 2016 was just the beginning. St. Lucia’s first step in inviting groups and individuals to come and experience the Simply Beautiful under water world of the Helen of the west.
Dive Fest 2016 was a low key launch for what will become a wonderful week where divers will get a taste of what our island has to offer and also to see and experience some of our conservation efforts to protect and aid our marine friends.
The St. Lucia Divers Association teamed up with the St. Lucia Tourist Board, the Department of Tourism and the Hotel and Tourism Association to host this fantastic event for an entire week.
Between the opening event at the beautiful Rodney Bay Marina to the closing event at the fabulous Humming Bird Hotel located in the town of Soufriere with a spectacular view of the idyllic Pitons divers were treated to local food and a Lionfish feast at the closing event.
The Lionfish were caught on the eve of the closing ceremony as a joint effort of guest and locals joining forces to help control and manage this invasive, but delicious fish. The guest and locals were treated to Lionfish ceviche, Lionfish chowder, Lionfish and green banana salad, (green figs as the local call it), steamed Lionfish, roasted Lionfish and fried Lionfish.
We had a photographic competition that was launched at the opening ceremony. Below are a few of the photos that were submitted. We had an interactive photography session with Francesca Diaco, a renowned underwater photographer. This interactive session will be a staple at Dive Fest.
There was a treasure hunt but no one found the treasure so we will keep it until Dive Fest 2017, that will take place from the 9th to the 16th of September 2017.
Dive Fest 2017 promises to be greater and planning has already started. All our partners are committed to ensure that all the participants of Dive Fest 2017 will leave St. Lucia wishing they could stay longer.
Donovan Brown President, St. Lucia Divers Association – Anbaglo. 23.09.2016
Dive Industry Association, Inc. 
I came all the way from the UK to be a part of this Dive Fest 2016. I stayed for 9 nights, dived 8 consecutive days with Dive Saint Lucia who were brilliant in ensuring each dive was a different dive site. It was unfortunate that I was unaware of any activities of the fest on land taking place as this would have made my experience of St. Lucia even better. My husband & I would like to come back next year (2017) so would like more information on what is happening, where, how etc. Felt a bit left out, even though we appreciated it was the 1st fest, & a work in progress. The Lion Fish feast sounds amazing & we would have come along had we known about it. Pity