Both the north and south coasts of the Dominican Republic have a variety of dive sites from wrecks to reefs as well as a number of cavern and cave dives. The area of Sosua is popular on the north as well as sites around Cayos Siete Hermanos. On the south coast, the sites around Pedernales and the coastline of Parque Nacional del Este offer great reef diving.
Diving in DR
Most people hear of the humpack whales of the Silver Bank off Dominica Republic as their first introduction to the undersea worlds off this mountainous country that dominates the eastern half of Hispaniola. The whales come every year from December to April and fill the water with their intriguing and haunting whalesong. But keep heading toward land. The DR, as it’s called has several regions for diving.
Sosua, which is on the north coast, has the most dive shops and a large number of dive sites for divers of all levels. Wreck aficionados will love the 148-foot, intact and upright cargo ship, the Zingara, which is in 90-120-feet of water. A great place for caverns and swim-throughs is the Pyramid, which is nicely covered in hard and soft corals. The Dominican Republic is noted for it large schools of soldierfish and other schooling fish, especially on the wrecks and other artificial reefs. Nurse sharks and sea turtles frequent the area, too.
La Semana off the eastern cape area is well known for its shipwrecks. In Semana Bay, you’ll find wrecks from the 16th to 18th Century all the way through time to the wreck of the modern Cayo Levantado Ferry. It’s not uncommon to see cannons from Galleons, anchors and reef in the same day. Viz can vary quite a bit here with the rains, but wreck divers will not mind at all.
Another wrecky place off Juan Dolio on the southern coast, you’ll find the piles of wrecks, the most written about are the Hickory and Limon, which are always covered in marinelife, and frequently dived in the same day.
The shallow waters off Punta Cana, also have plenty of artificial reef action, with the Monica topping the list, but the caverns and swim-throughs at La Cueva are also must dives. Winds make this a season place and it’s best to avoid December to January.
Visibility off the DR can vary from 40 to 150-feet, sometime one day to the next, with the best visibility during the dry season from December to April.
Dive Primer
- Water Temp: 80°
- Visibility: 60-100′
- Wetsuit: 1.5mm to 3mm
Best Time to Travel
- Year-round
Favorite Dive Sites
- La Caleta Underwater Park
- Wrecks of Limon and Hickory
- Cabrera Caverns