Sea turtles, sharks and shipwrecks
The Dominican Republic is a true paradise for diving and snorkeling enthusiasts with different diving areas, each with its own characteristic, we highlight a few for you.
Explore the marine life of the secluded Playa Palmilla Beach where you can see starfish on the bottom or go snorkeling at Isla Catalina where you have a chance of seeing sea turtles and reef sharks in addition to a variety of colored fish.
The waters of the bay of Boca Chica, located about 30 kilometers from Santa Domingo, is very clear and there is no current which makes it very suitable for the novice diver. Snorkel or dive and admire octopuses, crabs, lobsters and nudibranchs on the reefs to rays, starfish and flatfish on the sandy bottom, among other things. The two most famous dive sites are El Letrero and Coral Garden. You will dive here with great visibility and should you want to take underwater photos look out for batfish and small sharks.
Both novice and advanced divers can adventure in Bayahíbe, formerly a small fishing village, today one of the best diving destinations in the country. Diving takes place in the Cotubanamá National Park, an area of calm water, good visibility and abundant marine life. The dive sites are almost all located less than 30 minutes by boat from the diving schools. You will find caves like the Cueva el Padre Nuestro as well as colorful coral reefs like Viva Shallow with depths of only four to 10 meters. You don't have to dive deep here to admire impressive animals like moray eels, groupers, turtles, rays and octopuses. Experienced divers can visit the 73-meter wreck of St George, located at a depth of 31 to 44 meters.