La Altagracia
Explore La Altagracia ProvinceLa Altagracia Province, situated on the east coast of the Dominican Re
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
Alamy-WaterFrame
Moray Eel
1.1k Sightings
J
122
F
90
M
100
A
41
M
84
J
67
J
102
A
72
S
68
O
96
N
135
D
107
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 27
iStock-Global_Pics
Barracuda
451 Sightings
J
31
F
46
M
48
A
33
M
37
J
45
J
46
A
23
S
20
O
37
N
49
D
36
Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography
Green Turtle
417 Sightings
J
46
F
39
M
46
A
33
M
39
J
22
J
48
A
25
S
13
O
23
N
44
D
39
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 25
iStock/Juliosanjuan
Eagle Ray
155 Sightings
J
18
F
26
M
11
A
3
M
21
J
5
J
20
A
12
S
2
O
10
N
11
D
16
Shutterstock-Ed Jenkins
Hawksbill Turtle
134 Sightings
J
14
F
10
M
4
A
5
M
13
J
8
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
iStock/ultramarinfoto
Wrasse
119 Sightings
J
13
F
20
M
21
A
1
M
2
J
6
J
6
A
20
S
6
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
iStock/cinoby
Lionfish
1.6k Sightings
J
184
F
130
M
125
A
67
M
125
J
132
J
137
A
116
S
102
O
109
N
197
D
178
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 80
iStock/Extreme-Photographer
Stingrays
1.4k Sightings
J
153
F
120
M
130
A
58
M
94
J
104
J
99
A
97
S
75
O
95
N
162
D
177
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 100
iStock-burnsboxco
Parrotfish
1k Sightings
J
95
F
75
M
102
A
46
M
85
J
101
J
116
A
102
S
72
O
56
N
103
D
79
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 3
Shutterstock_Leo Lorenzo
Trumpetfish
913 Sightings
J
123
F
83
M
68
A
32
M
82
J
70
J
75
A
80
S
50
O
68
N
88
D
94
