Diving In The Dominican Republic: The Perfect Caribbean Trip

Few things can bring a Caribbean trip to life like a couple of weeks’ diving. And right across the Caribbean there are not many places that can compete with the diving in the Dominican Republic. The island’s coastline is dotted with unusual caves, stunning coral atolls and even the wrecks of spanish galleons.

On a practical level, diving in the Dominican Republic can cater for all ability ranges: from absolute beginners to time-served experts. Safety levels are good and prices are favorable, and there are a number of great dive sites that are within (fairly) easy access of some of the major resorts.

Cabrera
On the northern side of the island, Cabrera is one of the more unique dive sites in the Dominican Republic. Advanced level divers can swim through freshwater tunnels to emerge in an inland lake. As you come up, the light show playing on the roof of the caves is simply sensational.

Punta Rucia
Another spot on the north side of the island (also not far from the resort of Sosua), the whole area of Montecristi provides some of the best (varied ability) diving in the Dominican Republic. Punta Rucia, though, is a bit special, with an atoll – Cayo Arena – alive with multicolored coral and fish.

Really experienced divers can volunteer to help the North Caribbean Research Company with the salvage mission of the famous 1563 sunken fleet of Spanish galleons. Of the three ships that sunk, only one was found, and the sea still holds a king’s ransom of gold, jewels and silver.

La Caleta National Park
Not far from the capital, Santo Domingo, (down on the south coast), the vast, sprawling dive site that is La Caleta National Park is studded with some of the best Dominican Republic diving. There are a variety of dive schools to help divers explore the remarkable reefs and handful of wrecks, including that of the treasure-hunting boat, The Hickory.

Catalina Island
Just a short boat ride away from the La Romana resort, Catalina Island is perhaps the best place on the island to see some of the larger fish like grouper and barracuda amongst the reefs flickering with almost impossibly colorful marine life.

Punta Cana
Out to the east of the island, meanwhile, Punta Cana (one of the island’s most popular resorts), is also conveniently surrounded with some of the best beginners’ diving in the Dominican Republic. Many of the hotels offer guests diving certification courses – and there could be no better way to spend a Caribbean trip than learning how to gain access to the wonders of the ocean!

By: pc_traveling

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Paul Collins is an English travel writer who spends as much of his time as possible diving in the Dominican Republic, and the Caribbean generally. Rather than setting off from the UK, he often uses his Spanish to save as much money as possible on his beloved viajes Caribe (or Caribbean trips).