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Experience the Caribbean by Diving Dominican Republic

Experience the Caribbean by Diving Dominican Republic

Written by Leisure Pro Staff
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Published on April 16, 2017

The Caribbean Sea is home to some of the world’s most beautiful reefs and intriguing shipwrecks, and you can see a lot of both when diving Dominican Republic. More than 2 million tourists make their way to this tropical destination each year, but only a fraction of those come to scuba dive, and only parts of the island offer the best diving there is. We’ll take a look at a few of the hot spots for diving Dominican Republic so you can pack your gear and be on your way!

Bayahibe

Located on the southeastern tip of the Dominican Republic, Bayahibe is perhaps the most popular destination for diving Dominican Republic. Its waters are part of the Parque Nacional de Este (National Park of the East), established as a nature reserve in 1975. It includes Saona Island, which is one of the most important nesting beaches for sea turtles. Bottlenose and Atlantic spotted dolphins are regular sights in the Bayahibe region, and divers may catch a rare sighting of humpback, pilot, and sperm whales during their annual migration.

Samana Peninsula

On Dominican Republic’s northeastern side rests Samana Bay and the Samana Peninsula, where it is not uncommon to see manatees surfacing in the harbors. Here, divers are treated to wall dives, with abundant macro life to observe in its crevices. Wrecks are also a popular dive site in Samana Bay, replete with several modern wrecks intentionally sunk to create artificial reefs. The shallower reefs have unfortunately suffered from destructive fishing practices, but deeper waters hold healthier corals in stronger currents, making an advanced certification necessary.

Boca Chica

Boca Chica sits on the southern edge of Dominican Republic, just east of the center of the country, and offers a wealth of interesting diving for all experience levels. A few shore dives can be completed from this location, but most of the dive sites are accessed by boat. This area is also home to Parque Nacional Submarino La Caleta (La Caleta Underwater National Park), an ecotourism park established by the government in 1986. Coral reefs flourish here, and can be found at depths of 10-50 meters (33-160 feet). Two intentionally sunken ships lie in shallow enough waters that new divers can enjoy just as safely as experts, and are covered in healthy, thriving corals.

Check out this video of diving Dominican Republic that was shot just a couple months ago to see for yourself what an incredible dive destination this Caribbean country is!

Leisure Pro Staff

Leisure Pro Staff

Marketing Director for LeisurePro