>

Dominican Republic

Divesites
50
Centers
8
Courses & Events
33
Wildlife
35
© iStock/danilovi

Explore the Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is a diver's paradise, offering a rich tapestry of underwater experiences set against the backdrop of the Caribbean's vibrant marine life. With year-round warm waters, this tropical destination boasts some of the Caribbean's best reefs, making it a haven for divers of all levels. From the vibrant coral gardens that teem with colorful fish to the dramatic wall dives that plunge into the deep blue, the variety of dive environments here is impressive. Notably, the country offers exceptional opportunities for exploring both natural and artificial shipwrecks, each telling its own story beneath the waves.

For those new to diving, the Dominican Republic's calm southern coast is perfect for discovery dives, providing a gentle introduction to the underwater world. More advanced divers can venture into challenging caves or deeper sites, rich with marine life like eagle rays, turtles, and the occasional reef shark. The Dominican Republic also stands out for its abundance of dive centers and resorts, catering to every preference and certification level. Whether you're looking to start your diving journey or pursue advanced courses, this island nation offers it all. Liveaboard options abound, allowing divers to explore even the most remote sites with ease, making the Dominican Republic a truly special dive destination.

Power Plug Type
A, B
Payment Method
VISA, MC, AMEX, DIS
Tipping
10% / Service Staff / Tipping is included in most restaurant bills, but an additional 5–10% is appreciated for good service.
Currency
DOP
Dial Code
+1-809, +1-829, +1-849
Electricity
110V / 60Hz
Time
UTC−4

Places to explore

Courses and Events

Dive Centers

Dive Sites

Top Wildlife Sightings in the Dominican Republic

The highlight of diving and snorkelling in the Dominican Republic is the congregation of humpback whales that come to the shores of Bavaro and calve in the bay at Samana. As they come to mate, the males put in epic snows for the females to gain their attention, often splashing and reading in the water. To see this spectacle, visit between December and March.

At most of the country’s beautiful dive sites, you’ll find a multitude of colorful tropical life, including eels, yellow stingrays, parrotfish, trumpetfish and so much more all among vivacious corals species, sponges and sea fans. Everyone’s favourite, the adorable sea turtle, is also a common creature to encounter here.

Pelagics can be found at various sites too, such as reef sharks, and in particular, nurse sharks, that sometimes frequent La Cueva in Punta Cana. Even manta and eagle rays can be seen, especially at the Luperon Wall, where they sometimes pass by.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 200

Moray Eel

1.1k Sightings
J
112
F
92
M
118
A
40
M
84
J
61
J
102
A
70
S
62
O
94
N
128
D
105

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 27

Barracuda

432 Sightings
J
23
F
41
M
51
A
33
M
37
J
43
J
46
A
23
S
17
O
35
N
49
D
34

Green Turtle

423 Sightings
J
45
F
41
M
56
A
31
M
39
J
22
J
48
A
25
S
13
O
22
N
44
D
37

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 25

Eagle Ray

156 Sightings
J
18
F
24
M
15
A
3
M
21
J
5
J
20
A
12
S
2
O
9
N
11
D
16

Hawksbill Turtle

138 Sightings
J
13
F
12
M
9
A
5
M
13
J
6
J
24
A
18
S
16
O
8
N
12
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 600

Wrasse

110 Sightings
J
10
F
21
M
16
A
1
M
2
J
6
J
6
A
20
S
4
O
16
N
3
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 12

Lionfish

1.6k Sightings
J
170
F
141
M
167
A
64
M
121
J
130
J
127
A
113
S
92
O
105
N
184
D
175

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 80

Stingrays

1.3k Sightings
J
143
F
137
M
147
A
54
M
89
J
100
J
90
A
94
S
66
O
91
N
145
D
167

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 100

Parrotfish

1k Sightings
J
95
F
79
M
131
A
42
M
85
J
95
J
111
A
102
S
68
O
55
N
96
D
73

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 90

Angelfish

911 Sightings
J
70
F
91
M
121
A
26
M
82
J
88
J
103
A
90
S
58
O
49
N
68
D
65

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3

Trumpetfish

908 Sightings
J
116
F
90
M
91
A
30
M
80
J
67
J
72
A
78
S
47
O
67
N
80
D
90

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 130

Pufferfish

888 Sightings
J
98
F
91
M
105
A
21
M
87
J
76
J
84
A
67
S
47
O
56
N
81
D
75

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 130

Butterfly Fish

705 Sightings
J
76
F
70
M
82
A
14
M
50
J
65
J
92
A
69
S
37
O
56
N
51
D
43

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 85

Surgeonfish

652 Sightings
J
48
F
51
M
86
A
17
M
38
J
56
J
70
A
84
S
50
O
52
N
45
D
55

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 150

Sweetlips and Grunts

408 Sightings
J
43
F
39
M
48
A
12
M
25
J
50
J
43
A
48
S
30
O
32
N
18
D
20

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 350

Damselfish

373 Sightings
J
37
F
43
M
49
A
7
M
31
J
31
J
36
A
44
S
24
O
41
N
18
D
12

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 25

Boxfish

352 Sightings
J
24
F
37
M
34
A
3
M
36
J
52
J
20
A
35
S
19
O
31
N
29
D
32

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 7000

Crab

348 Sightings
J
62
F
32
M
48
A
7
M
48
J
21
J
15
A
32
S
13
O
20
N
23
D
27

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 60

Soldierfish

326 Sightings
J
35
F
35
M
21
A
6
M
31
J
33
J
26
A
47
S
16
O
33
N
32
D
11

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 90

Goatfish

293 Sightings
J
30
F
21
M
37
A
8
M
32
J
30
J
26
A
32
S
17
O
39
N
10
D
11

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 55

Lobster

230 Sightings
J
41
F
29
M
22
A
19
M
9
J
19
J
29
A
8
S
6
O
16
N
14
D
18

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 250

Grouper/Basslets

229 Sightings
J
28
F
21
M
15
A
2
M
15
J
35
J
10
A
24
S
20
O
20
N
32
D
7

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 110

Snapper

206 Sightings
J
17
F
10
M
19
A
4
M
13
J
31
J
13
A
31
S
21
O
22
N
16
D
9

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 40

Triggerfish

176 Sightings
J
8
F
7
M
22
A
8
M
4
J
42
J
6
A
9
S
20
O
29
N
19
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 60

Spiny Lobster

163 Sightings
J
13
F
18
M
17
A
4
M
8
J
24
J
18
A
15
S
4
O
10
N
11
D
21

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 40

Jackfish

153 Sightings
J
10
F
17
M
15
A
3
M
10
J
26
J
24
A
3
S
11
O
17
N
7
D
10

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 8

Bannerfish

152 Sightings
J
8
F
9
M
13
A
2
M
15
J
19
J
7
A
24
S
17
O
26
N
8
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 20

Porcupinefish

145 Sightings
J
6
F
15
M
17
A
1
M
12
J
21
J
6
A
10
S
9
O
13
N
9
D
26

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 120

Flounder

123 Sightings
J
9
F
6
M
21
A
2
M
0
J
5
J
14
A
4
S
18
O
14
N
16
D
14

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3400

Shrimp

120 Sightings
J
21
F
8
M
8
A
2
M
16
J
2
J
11
A
13
S
3
O
20
N
8
D
8

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 60

Squirrelfish

119 Sightings
J
12
F
12
M
13
A
1
M
17
J
24
J
2
A
9
S
8
O
5
N
8
D
8

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 2

Nurse Shark

116 Sightings
J
14
F
16
M
13
A
4
M
2
J
14
J
16
A
4
S
5
O
8
N
9
D
11

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 28

Clownfish

101 Sightings
J
7
F
10
M
4
A
0
M
3
J
8
J
26
A
3
S
20
O
3
N
9
D
8

Common Seahorse

94 Sightings
J
6
F
4
M
6
A
6
M
8
J
16
J
23
A
10
S
3
O
7
N
0
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 250

Scorpionfish

94 Sightings
J
7
F
17
M
10
A
1
M
16
J
3
J
15
A
2
S
4
O
15
N
3
D
1