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All you need to know that no one else will tell you...

ADVICE ON DIVING IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

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Dominican Republic diving map
Our area of operation from Punta Cana to La Romana map

You can find dive centers all around the country, especially in the Punta Cana and La Romana/Bayahibe areas, the most popular holiday destinations of the island.

 

There are many iconic dive sites such as the Catalina Wall, the St George and Astron wrecks, Saona island... But you need to know when and where to go to fully enjoy your underwater adventures there. 

 

So as any decent host would, let us show you around and explain the local specificities so you can make the best out of your stay, avoiding some tourist traps along the way!

DIVING IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
SEASONAL CONDITIONS OF THE ATLANTIC OCEAN SIDE (PUNTA CANA)
AND THE CARIBBEAN SEA SIDE (BAYAHIBE/LA ROMANA)

December to April - The High Season

 We recommend not booking your dives too much in advance on the Atlantic Coast. 
Good conditions happen regularly during this period but keep on changing from a week to the following one, so you have a 50% probability of ending up with a disappointing dive, a voucher, or heading for a Saona or Catalina excursion the following day after having wasted a precious holiday morning going to the dive center to realize conditions are bad and you decide not to go.

So on this side of the island at this busy time of year, it's always a good idea to check a marine weather app before booking, forecasts up to a week ahead are quite reliable.
Windfinder is our recommendation as it's user-friendly and relatively accurate for the area.  And no, we don't have a promo code, and we don't get a commission, it's just us working on our Karma...
Even though Windfinder's weather accuracy is poor, the wave height isn't, and it's the best way to know what to expect underwater.

This rule of thumb only applies to this part of the Dominican Republic (Punta Cana).

Don't use this technique as a general rule, and don't apply it to other places in the world. Tides, topography, currents, season, and many more parameters determine the underwater conditions and not only your potential enjoyment but most importantly, your safety! 

Keep on reading for more insider tips and how to understand the app's data to avoid disappointment and a waste of time and money.

Second tip... We're still talking about the Punta Cana area. Be careful of early booking discounts (and payments) of some companies for the reason we just explained above. Just show up at the desk of any dive center with a handful of cash (USD or EURO), and you'll get the same discount 99% of the time, though having the peace of mind to book fully aware of the expected conditions.

The Cotubanamá National Park, where Saona and Catalina Islands are located, offers good to very good conditions almost every day during this period. So we recommend not to book at the last minute, especially if you stay during the school holiday.

April to July - Our Favorite Season
 
Most of the time, conditions remain good to very good around Saona and Catalina but can deteriorate on some days unexpectedly due to the change of season. Spring is when the famous Trade Winds start fading, the currents change direction, and it's the time of year to enjoy the Atlantic coast of the country. The ocean becomes flat as a lake, the water gets really warm, visibility increases dramatically (60 to 90 feet), and it's the best (and only) season to enjoy great and steady conditions in the Punta Cana area, almost daily.
It's the only time of the year we organize diving trips there, too.
 
August - The Russian Roulette Month

Even if the hurricane season officially starts at the end of June, it's usually only from August that the weather and the diving conditions start deteriorating... All around the island, only the Marine Reserve, due to its topography, still offers quality diving experiences when the Atlantic starts being affected by the season change.
So we advise you not to book your diving anywhere in advance. It's low season as well, so there will always be an open spot for a last-minute dive in any dive shop. If you want to use our private service at this time of year, we can be extremely reactive and accommodating, even more than usual!
 
September to November - The Tricky Season

September and October are the heart of the hurricane season. November is the official end of it, but during these months, it rains a lot, warm rain, lots of sunny days too, and low season prices.
Even so, it's been years since the Dominican Republic hasn't been hit by a major storm; the Atlantic coast diving conditions are usually bad when you’re in luck.
 
The Saona and Catalina area can still be an option as there are quite a lot of beautiful days during this season. Unless it's hit by a storm coming from the south, which isn't uncommon at this time of year.
It usually hit the south coast no more than once or twice during this period, but it can get ugly, with boat operators having to cancel all activity.
Some will still go out until the last minute before the harbor closing time set by the coast guards. So always check for weather warnings during this season, and don't take a chance with a reckless company.
 
Once the storm goes away, it will then take at least a few days for the sand and debris to settle before being able to enjoy decent diving conditions again. 

Here's the trick to optimize your chances of enjoying great dives in Punta Cana.

Waves' height forecast is usually reliable up to a week and a good indicator of what to expect.

Screenshot from Windfinder app

Wave Height // Conditions

1 meter // Great

1m to 1.2m // Good

1.3m to 1.4m // Average +

1.5m to 1.6m // Average -

1.7m to 1.8m // Bad

 > 1.9 Meter // Cancel!!!

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