The Dominican Republic treats watersports lovers to a wide variety of underwater terrain, with hidden caves, wrecked ships, and splendid coral displays.
A variety of regions, each with their own flavor, compete for scuba divers’ attention. In addition, the clear, turquoise waters of the Caribbean offer excellent visibility, often over 150 feet. The best months for scuba diving here are between June and September, when the water is warm and calm and visibility is at its best. Whether you’re a new diver or have years of underwater experience, there’s plenty to interest you offshore in the Dominican Republic.
Boca Chica
La Caleta National Marine Park, located between Santo Domingo and Boca Chica, is an excellent place for divers of all skill levels. Created in 1984, the park is home to the 38-foot-long “Hickory,” a sunken salvage ship and residence for hundreds of sea creatures. The shallow waters surrounding the wreck make it easy for divers to study the vast amount of marine life here. You can even sit on an underwater sand bar and watch the fish swim by.
Las Galeras
Las Galeras, on the north side of the Samana Peninsula, on the northeastern end of the Dominican Republic, also offers excellent scuba diving. In addition to being home to Rincon Beach, frequently chosen as one of the best beaches in the Caribbean, this area boasts rainbow-colored sponges and large coral reefs, inhabited by such fish as red snapper, morays, grouper, barracuda, and the elusive sea turtle. Las Galeras is also home to the so-called “cathedral,” a massive underwater cave, as well as the offshore wreck of a 1960s container ship that’s now frequented by a colony of big green morays. The Samana Peninsula is a prime whale watching locale and hundreds of humpbacks and accompanying dolphins return here to mate and breed between mid-January and mid-March each year.
Qualified divers can also explore the north coast by joining the North Caribbean Search and Salvage team. This company has a contract with the Dominican government to examine sunken ships and remove any treasures or artifacts from them. There are over twenty wreck to choose from, including the famous fleet of Spanish galley ships, lost in 1563.
Las Terrenas
Also located on the Samana Peninsula is Las Terrenas, along the north coast. This former fishing village is something of a hideaway for foreign nationals living in the Dominican Republic. While it still retains much of its former charm, the living is easy here, with excellent restaurants, hotels, and sports outfitters. The atmosphere is casual in Las Terrenas and the beaches are uncrowded and beautiful. Divers flock to Las Terrenas for the colorful coral found there as well as the abundant marine life. Look for snapper, grouper, morays, and lobsters as well as fascinating cave dive sites.
Playa Dorada
Known as the “amber coast” for all of the deposits of golden stone that have been discovered here, the Playa Dorada has one of the highest concentrations of hotels on the north coast of the Dominican Republic. The waters and the beaches here are somewhat more crowded than you will find elsewhere on the island. A good choice for scuba diving in the area is Playa Luperon, which lies about an hour’s drive west of Puerto Plata. An hour’s drive east of Puerto Plata is the Sosua area, also favored by many scuba divers, and home to over a dozen interesting dive sites, including a shipwreck, an underwater canyon, and a spectacular natural wall dive.
Outfitters
Dive outfitters can be found in all of the major resort and scuba diving areas. Dive packages range from a 3-hour two-tank dive to a three-day certification program. All reputable dive operators include a PADI-certified instructor or dive master. Expect to pay around $30 to $50 dollars for a half-day excursion and around $60 - $100 for a full day. Overnight and certification packages will be more expensive. Every package is slightly different, but most include transportation to the site by boat and land, air tanks, scuba equipment, and the services of a boat captain and a dive master. Full day packages usually include beverages and some sort of meal. Some packages will stop at places of interest for sightseeing on the return trip.
The Dominican Republic is a beautiful country, both on land and offshore. Take time to explore the underwater treasures this country has to offer. The caves, shipwrecks, coral reefs, and herds of whales make the Dominican Republic a unique scuba diving locale. Whether you are just learning or have years of diving experience, you won’t want to miss scuba diving in the D.R.
