Dominican Republic
Scuba Diving Resorts
Only recently discovered by American divers, the Dominican
Republic has been a long-time favorite for vacationing Europeans and Canadians.
The Dominican Republic offers a unique blend of culture, hospitality and diving
diversity - all at very attractive prices. Located on the Caribbean's second
largest island, the DR occupies two-thirds of Hispaniola. The capital city of
Santo Domingo is the Western Hemisphere's oldest settlement and features more
than 500 years of Spanish history and tradition.
The DR is rimmed by 1,000 miles of coastline, much of it pure white-sand beaches
bordered by magnificent resorts with surprisingly low prices.
As for diving, the DR offers high-quality coral reef systems with good
visibility. Thanks to an extensive underwater parks system and strict
enforcement of restricted areas, visiting divers are greeted by a diverse
abundance of fish life.
Most marine park areas along the south coast offer shallow- to medium-depth dive
sites with healthy coral reefs and lots of fish. The country also has an active
artificial reef program and has sunk a number of large, steel-hulled vessels.
Add to this program an equal number of wrecks sunk by natural causes and you
have more than a dozen sunken ships that can be explored.
An
entirely different type of diving can be found off the Samana Peninsula on the
DR's north coast. This rocky coastline with high cliffs leads to an exciting
underwater world of sheer drop-offs and pinnacles that rise from 165 feet to
within 15 feet of the surface. Underwater visibility in this region can range
from 100 to 150 feet. During the winter season, humpback whales can be seen and
heard underwater as they migrate toward Silver Shoals. Puerto Plata on the north
coast is a favorite base of operations for live-aboard dive boats that sail out
to the Silver Bank to follow and photograph the whales.
Dive operators also are discovering new dive sites along the nation's
undeveloped coastal regions where encounters with large animals can take place.
Visitors are likely to see a nurse shark at most every dive site. Manatees are
also plentiful but very shy. Snorkeling rather than scuba is the best means for
approaching them.
Still another aspect of DR diving is the country's "inland sea." The
island's limestone base is honeycombed with a system of freshwater caves,
caverns, tunnels and underground rivers. Several dive operators are now offering
freshwater cavern dives in addition to their regular menu of coral reef and
shipwreck trips. The popularity of fresh water cavern diving is growing rapidly
and the Dominican Republic could soon become a cave-diving mecca much like
north-central Florida and Mexico's Yucatan.
With the low cost of diving and all-inclusive hotel packages, the Dominican
Republic is one of the best vacation bargains in the Caribbean.
