Bayahibe: Best Diving In The Country
Bayahibe is a smaller resort town situated on the south east corner of the country, ten miles from the port of La Romana. It features tranquil Caribbean beaches and the best diving in the country. With a variety of dive operations to choose from, its the scuba capital of the Dominican Republic. The diving in Bayahibe is calm and idyllic, with patchy Caribbean reefs lining the coasts.
The marine life featured here is mostly small and macro with eels, shrimp, squid, small reef fish, blennies, and rays. However, there are some sites that are better for wide angle. Caribbean waters around Bayahibe are blessed with an amazing assortment of beautifully shaped, rainbow-colored sponges. Visibility is almost always excellent as the Caribbean Sea is calmer than the Atlantic.
Isla Catalina
The wall and the aquarium at Catalina Island are widely considered to be the two best sites in the Dominican Republic. They are a little more expensive to get to as you must take a dive boat from Bayahibe for a day trip to the island. It is well worth it. The wall features a little current, massive colorful sponges, and schools of fish. The aquarium is similar to Bayahibes other reefs with more abundant and diverse life, as well as better visibility.
Peñon
Saona Island
Saona Island is the most famous island destination in the Dominican Republic. It gets a lot of tourist traffic, but there is good diving and can be visited in conjunction with Peñon.
St. George Wreck
Cave Diving
Guaraguao Parque Nacional Del Este
This dive site is only a 2-minute boat ride from the coast, so its perfect for people who get sea sick or do not want to spend a long time on the boat. It is a shallow dive site with no current, making it perfect for an Open Water Course, or a refresher dive at the beginning of your trip.
- 2-minute boat trip from the shore
- Purposefully sunk historic items from a galley for divers to explore
- Large chance of seeing hawksbill turtles swimming around
What you will see:
There is an artificial archeological site where cannons, ancient muskets, and cannon balls were purposefully sunk for divers to check out while underwater. These items have attracted fish life, and now offer a great photo opportunity for divers. There are also plenty of spider crabs, sea cucumbers, and king crabs crawling around.
When To Go To Punta Cana
Diving is feasible throughout the year at Punta Cana, the best time being from February to November. Sea conditions are rougher during December and January because of the strong seasonal winds. The air temperature averages 77-82F/25-28C and is at its highest in June and lowest in January. September tends to be the wettest month, while August offers the warmest water. Water temperature averages 79-84F/26-29C. Visibility can be up to 150ft/46m at Punta Cana.
What to see
The plentiful marine life includes starfish, porcupinefish, parrotfish and butterflyfish swimming around bright corals, tube sponges, sea rods and gorgonians. Among the larger species of Punta Cana are barracudas, groupers, rays and nurse sharks. There is even a chance of spotting green sea turtles and manatees at this destination.
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Padi Certifications Dominican Republic
Looking to add to your existing diving certifications or just wanting to get started? With SeaPro Divers, you can obtain your PADI certification in Punta Cana or Puerto Plata. Certifications range from Open Water Diver all the way to Divemaster level. Most courses are 3 days joined by our world class instructors. Click below to discover more!
At The Click Of Your Finger
Our resorts offer a wide range of personalized services dedicated to meeting your every need and piquing your every interest. Club Med will take you to one of many exclusive oceanic oases around the world to provide an inside look at the many secrets of the sea. From the shimmering turquoise waters of the Caribbean to the exotic reefs of Bali, Club Med offers the best destinations in the world for a magical scuba diving experience.
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Diving On The Atlantic Side
Believe it or not, there is still pristine, remote tropical coastline left in the Dominican Republic – most of it borders the Atlantic. Many small towns in the north are hardly touched by tourism, and it can be a more involved and immersive part of the country to experience. Puerto Plata being the exception. If you do make it far from the Southern tourism hubs, be sure to visit the Samana Peninsula which is arguably the most pristine and beautiful part of the country other than the almost inaccessible Bahia de las Aguilas.
Open Water Diver Course+ Peak Performance Buoyancy
The PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy course is designed to help divers polish their buoyancy skills beyond the Open Water Diver level. The goal is to enhance the student’s understanding of proper weighting and buoyancy control abilities through knowledge development and skills practice. With a few fun skills, divers notice a vast improvement after this course in the buoyancy on their dives. This course is now offered by CORAL POINT in conjunction with your Open Water Classes.During this course all aspects that affect your buoyancy, such as weights and dive suit are covered, but most of the emphasis will be placed on your breathing. You will soon notice that when your buoyancy control improves, you will dive more relaxed and as a direct result of this, your air consumption will decrease dramatically.
Most people will also be able to dive with less weight and this means that diving becomes much more comfortable because they dont have to carry around those extra pounds anymore.
This course is of interest for all divers who want to improve their buoyancy skills, divers that just bought new and unfamiliar equipment or divers that have not been diving for some time and want to brush-up their skills.
Dive Excursions guided by our biologists and naturalists
A naturalist will be on board the boat during most of our excursions answer any questions you may have about the local wildlife.
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Trou Aux Biches & Grand Baie Mauritius
Mauritius is an island In Indian Ocean. Is surrounded by the big coral reef which is full of different fish. But the best conditions for diving are on the north. On the depth there are lots of caves, canyons and tunnels.
Around the island there are 20 wrecks. Turtles, different sharks and barracudas are also living here. But lots of divers are coming to Mauritius for diving with cachalots.
- Best time for diving: September March
- Visibility under the water: 20 m
- Temperature of the water: 25 °C
Welcome To The Dominican Republicdominican Republic
Renowned for its natural beauty, lush tropical scenery, rich wildlife, long white sandy beaches, beautiful marine parks, drop-off´s and coral reefs in excellent condition, dozens of wrecks, as well as an extensive network of freshwater caves and caverns, the Dominican Republic is an ideal destination for families and couples who seek relaxation combined with fun-in-the-sun water sports activities.
Join Pro Dive Dominican Republic to discover the breathtaking reefs and deep walls surrounding Bayahibe. Enjoy diving at wrecks, and in the clear mystical waters of a cavern. Partake in our dive and snorkeling excursions to the famous islands Saona and Catalina, featuring an amazing variety of corals and sea life. And don´t miss our great Liveaboards trips! Swim and snorkel with the Humpback Whales in the Dominican Republic.
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Penon Reef Saona Island
The national park on the Eastern Southern coast of Dominican Republic are the home to an extraordinary variety of wildlife and thriving corals. Penon reef is lesser known than other reefs in the area, however its healthy coral formations and sheer volume of life has made it one of the best dive spots in the country. The name Penon means rock, and comes from the large amount of rocks covering the side walls.
- Exquisitely diverse coral species and marine animals
- Shallow and easy diving
- A resident spotted moray eel enjoys peeping out at divers when they visit
What you will see:
Apart from the spotted moray eel, you will also see large amounts of reef fish swirling around the colorful reef. If you are lucky, you might be able to spot some glowing calamari, hidden away scorpion fish, and sting rays cruising through the blue.
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Dos Cocos La Romana & Saona Island
If you get seasick, then maybe this is the ideal destination for you as La Romana is known to have the calmest waters in the Dominican Republic. From here you also have access to Catalina and Saona Islands which have beautiful fringing reefs, wrecks, and an abundance of marine life.
- Calm waters all year round
- Beautiful and healthy coral reefs
- Fantastic spot to practice your macro photography
What you will see:
These coral reefs are teeming with life, and you can expect to see everything from surgeon fish, butterfly fish, needle fish, camouflaged scorpion fish and more. Above the coral reefs, four of the seven species of marine turtles can be spotted including the leatherback, loggerhead, hawksbill, and green turtle! On your journey to and from the dive sites, keep your eyes peeled for whales and dolphins, as some are curious and come up to the boat to say hello.
Scuba Diving In Punta Cana
Punta Cana lies at the easternmost point of the Dominican Republic. Punta Cana Internacional airport is located there. Punta Cana sports a beautiful lagoon and ocean caves. As this destination is famous for its shallow waters, it is an exciting destination for novice divers. At the same time, the countrys longest reef, oldest shipwrecks, low coral archways and deeper caverns can be fascinating for experienced divers in this part of the Dominican Republic.
Most popular dive sites
The most popular sites for beginners include El Nie, El Parque and the Shallows, La Cueva with lots of diversity at a safe depth. Experienced divers can enjoy Monica Wreck, with its railway cargo, Astron Wreck, a 300ft/120m-long freighter, a St George Wreck, and a freshwater cavern at Laguna Pepe.
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Dive Travel Awards : Top 5 Dive Centres And Resorts By Region
This year DIVE readers nominated more than 750 dive centres around the world as their personal favourite. From Norway to New Zealand, from the Cook Islands to Northern Ireland, dive centres in every corner of the planet have loyal followers. We have sifted through the data and here are the most popular dive centres in ten different regions Indonesia Egypt the Philippines Malaysia Maldives Mexico Fiji, Solomon Islands & Papua New Guinea the Caribbean Thailand and the UK and Ireland.
Punta Cana Diving Options
Scuba diving in Punta Cana is an exciting experience for divers of all levels. The tropical turquoise waters provide a great opportunity to explore the remarkable coral passages and cavern swim through reefs that scatter the coast. Wreck divers will have a variety of shipwrecks a short distance from shore, including the striking Astron Wreck in Bavaro. Home to the longest coral reef in the Dominican Republic, Punta Cana offers quality diving adventures a short boat trip from most resorts.
Enjoy a personalized dive experience with SeaPro Divers, a PADI 5 star dive center trusted by more than 20 resorts in the Dominican Republic. Our dive centers in Punta Cana are conveniently located at the heart of Bavaro Beach and in the protected area in Playa Blanca, close to the airport. With more than 20 local dive sites available, there is something for every diver.
Punta Cana Local Dives
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Welcome To Go Dive Bayahibe Your Dive Center In The Caribbean
Go Dive Bayahibe is located in the port of Bayahibe village. From there, our boats take you directly to the most beautiful dive sites in the Dominican Republic.In the Caribbean Sea you will have the chance to see rays, turtles, lobsters, morays and many other aquatic species as well as beautiful wrecks. The Dominican Republic is also well known for its famous cave dives.
The List Of Great All
As the summer has begun, we’ve updated the list of the great all-inclusive dive resorts all over the world where the high-level apartments are combined with the best diving. It is going to be useful for those divers who are traveling with family or non-diver friends, who are looking for the perfect match of all-inclusive service and rich marine life.
Let see what to choose as your next vacation stop.
Important: Given the still difficult travel situation in the world in 2022, check separately the possibility of going to a particular country, its regions, and local outdoor spots for you before the trip on the official tourist and other sites.
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Dive Shops Airports & Logistics Of Diving In Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic has seven major airports and more than 20 minor airports. The most popular include Santo Domingos Las Americas International Airport , Punta Cana International Airport , Puerto Platas Gregorio Luperon International Airport , and Santiagos Cibao International Airport. They receive daily flights from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, South America, and other Caribbean Island Nations.
All-inclusive resorts are popular in the DR with more than two-dozen properties to choose from . Usually including accommodation, food, drinks, airport transfers, and entertainment, all-inclusive resorts are a great way to have all the details taken care of for the most relaxing trip. Dive operators maintain a presence on one or more resort properties and the resorts can always recommend a nearby dive shop.
Some of the more popular dive shops inside all-inclusive resorts include Dressel Divers Club, which operates at the three Iberostar Hotels and Resorts locations around the country and has an international presence on other Caribbean islands and Spain. They offer dive training through PADI, from discover scuba diving to more advanced classes.
Found at Hotel Dreams and Hotel Catalonia, Gri Gri Divers offers diving on the south east coast of the DR. Gri Gri also offers technical dive training and trips for experienced cave divers to the DRs three popular freshwater cave systems.
How To Dive The Dominican Republic
You can find many dive resorts that provide scuba diving as an option. Several Caribbean liveaboards move to Samana during whale season to offer whale expeditions to the Silver Bank, which is 60-70 miles off the north coast of the Dominican Republic, and is where thousands of migrating humpback can be seen every year. Since it’s not near the coast nor subject to low visibility due to run-off, this is probably the best place in the world to see these magnificent creatures.
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Beyond The Resorts: Diving In The Dominican Republic
Situated in the between the rugged Atlantic Ocean and the placid Caribbean Sea, the Dominican Republic is as diverse and history rich as it is famous for mainstream tourism. Normal tourist haunts such as Punta Cana, Puerto Plata, and Boca Chica can make it seem like one big party on the beach with huge cruise ships passing by, and all-inclusive resorts as far the eye can see. But as with all mass tourism, theres a lot more to be found behind the glitz and glamour. Despite being a tropical Caribbean destination, the Dominican Republic is blessed with deserts, mountains, colonial cities, jungle, caves, and, of course, clear blue water.
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Diving In The Dominican Republic
With nine distinct ecological regions, the Dominican Republic attracts scuba divers, hikers, spelunkers, birders and culture hounds. The famed offshore region of the Silver Bank fills with the melody of whale song, as humpback whales come to calve.
Underwater environments in the Dominican Republic include mangrove forests, deep wrecks and a vast reef structure featuring cavernous swim-throughs and extensive coral formations.
Many of the dive sites are suitable to beginners and will feel most comfortable on the southern coast where currents are calmer. Advanced divers can explore both coasts as well as the deep wrecks and walls.
The Dominican Republic enjoys a hot and humid climate year-round with the summer months bring the calmest seas to the northern coast.Air temperatures during the summer months range from 77-85°F while water temperatures are 79-83°F . Air temperatures during the winter months range from 70-80°F while water temperatures are 75-79°F .In addition to great topside conditions for the southern coast, December to March is the best time to dive while listening to humpback whales migrate. As the males are there to impress their females during this season they are incredibly active and often present a spectacular show of splashing and rearing.
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Continuing Your Diver Education
If you already hold a certification through PADI, SSI, NAUI or any other agency recognized by the RSTC & would like to continue your diver education then you can sign up for an SDI Advanced, Specialty, Rescue or Divemaster Course with us at Superior Dive Sosua. All major dive agencies work under the standards set out by the RSTC & there is nothing stopping you from holding different licenses with multiple agencies. A diver can have an Open Water license through PADI then take an Advanced certification with SSI then a Rescue Diver course via SDI should they wish. All of the dive certifications issued by us at Superior Dive Sosua under the SDI Scuba Diving International banner are recognized & accepted worldwide.