Explore Punta Cana

Scuba diving in Punta Cana offers a thrilling underwater adventure, captivating divers with its diverse marine landscapes and vibrant aquatic life. Located where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Caribbean Sea, Punta Cana presents an expansive array of underwater experiences. With its stunning white beaches and crystal-clear waters, the region is home to the longest reef in the Dominican Republic. Divers can explore sensational shallow reefs, colorful coral gardens, mysterious caves, and canyons, all teeming with life.

For those interested in wreck diving, Punta Cana doesn't disappoint. The area boasts several intriguing shipwrecks, including the Astron and Monica, each offering a unique glimpse into history beneath the waves. Beginners and experienced divers alike can enjoy these sites, thanks to the generally shallow depths. More adventurous divers can take advantage of the strong currents on Punta Cana's eastern point, offering exciting drift dives. Dive excursions to nearby islands like Catalina and Saona further enrich the experience, with opportunities for wall diving and exploring vibrant underwater ecosystems.

Punta Cana also features the unique Punta Cana Underwater Museum, where divers and snorkelers can marvel at submerged sculptures celebrating the native Taino culture. This rich and diverse diving environment makes Punta Cana a must-visit destination for any diving enthusiast, offering both natural beauty and cultural intrigue beneath the waves.

Places to Explore

Bavaro Beach

5 Divesites 5 Centers

Located on the eastern coast of the Dominican Republic, Bavaro Beach is a haven for diving enthusiasts eager to explore the vibrant underwater world of the Caribbean. The clear, warm waters, averaging around 27°C/81°F, offer excellent visibility, making it an ideal spot for both novice and experienced divers. The region boasts a diverse array of marine life, from schools of colorful fish to majestic sea turtles and the occasional dolphin sighting. These waters are home to vibrant coral reefs teeming with life, providing an awe-inspiring backdrop to any dive.

Upcoming Events

Diver Level Programs / Courses

Shark Dominican Divers

Open Water Diver

04 Dec 2025

Dieses weltweit anerkannte Zertifizierungsprogramm ist der beste Weg, um als zertifizierter Scuba Diver in ein lebenslanges Abenteuer zu starten. Individuelles Training wird mit Lektionen im Wasser kombiniert, um sicherzustellen, dass du die erforderlichen Fertigkeiten und Erfahrungen hast, um dich unter Wasser wirklich wohl zu fühlen. Du wirst die SSI Open Water Diver Zertifizierung erhalten.

Diver Level Programs / Courses

Shark Dominican Divers

Try Scuba

08 Dec 2025

The SSI Try Scuba program is the best way to try scuba diving for the first time. You will be in confined water and well looked after by your instructor, so you can enjoy those first unforgettable breaths underwater and experience the magic of scuba diving. At the end of this short course, you will have earned your SSI Try Scuba recognition card and undoubtedly want to go diving again. Endless scuba diving adventures are waiting for you and this course is where it all begins. Start today!

Professional Level Programs / Courses

Shark Dominican Divers

Open Water Instructor (Instructor Training Course ITC)

30 Jan 2026

The Instructor Evaluation (IE) is the final step of SSI’s 2-Step Instructor Training Approach Divemasters or equivalent-level professionals will have to successfully complete the Instructor Training Course (ITC) first where you’ll learn how to: • Conduct academic sessions • Lead confined water training • Teach Open Water Diver and various Specialty programs like Enriched Air Nitrox, Diver Stress&Rescue, Perfect Buoyancy and more • Develop student management and communication skills Already an experienced instructor with another agency? You may be eligible for shortened oboarding options where you will only have to complete certain parts of the Instructor Training Course (ITC) followed by passing an Instructor Evaluation (IE). Contact an SSI Training Center near you to learn more. Already certified as an Assistant Instructor with another agency? You could continue your professional journey with SSI. Get in touch with a local SSI Training Center to explore your options.

Top Dive Sites Map

★★★★☆ Astron, wreck

This wreck sits in 40-50 feet of water just offshore from Punta Cana and is a true shipwreck. The 300-foot Russian ship sank in 1979 while delivering a huge amount of corn to Cuba. It sits right offshore and thus can be done as a shore dive, with part of the ship still sitting above water.

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Mares

★★★★☆ Manolo Cave

A fun reef dive with small cave/cavern to explore and fun swim-throughs. Lots of healthy reef life and multicolored hard and soft corals. Look for nurse sharks hiding under ledges.

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Aqualung

★★★★☆ Punta Cana

Punta Cana shares the country’s longest reef system and is littered with amazing dive sites consisting of artificial reefs and healthy coral reefs full of marine life.

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★★★★☆ Paradise - Dominican Republic

Paradies Reef is just that, an underwater paradise and a must-see dive off the coast of Punta Cana. The reef sits in 26 feet to 105 feet of water so there is something for every level of diver. A great night dive location as well to see the Dinoflagellates glow in the water at night.

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Scubapro, Stephen Frink

★★★★☆ Park Reef

Sitting just off Punta Cana, this is a great dive site for new open water divers. Park Reef features interesting rock formations overgrown with corals and populated with abundant marine life.

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Scubapro

★★★★☆ Bavaro

Bavaro shares the country’s largest reef system with Punta Cana and is home to great dive sites full of coral gardens and underwater passageways.

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★★★★☆ Chorizo

Ten minutes away by boat from Bahia Principe Hotel Bavaro, nice coral reef with white sandy bottom at 10 mts of depth. Good site for beginners and advanced divers.

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Diving in Punta Cana

Boat diving is common practice in and around most of Punta Cana. Night diving is a popular activity, as is wreck diving on Punta Cana’s several accessible sunken vessels. There’s the Punta Cana Pewter Wreck, the Astron Wreck and the Monica Wreck which are a must for any diver visiting the region. 

Cave diving is also possible at Cueva Taina Macao, which is a short drive from the Bávaro resort area. This otherworldly cavern features impressive stalagmites and stalactites, all in crystal clear water.

Reef diving is also exceptional, especially along the longest reef in the Dominican Republic which is ideally situated in this beautiful diving destination. To gaze at walls that plunge into the endless abyss, head to Catalina Island where wall diving fanatics are in their element.

The best Months to dive in Punta Cana

Though diving is great year-round thanks to a tropical climate that maintains 26°C-28°C waters, the best time to dive in Punta Cana is from March until July, when seas and calm and visibility is at its clearest. Furthermore, on a daily basis, Punta Cana enjoys clearer and calmer waters in the afternoon, making a relaxing afternoon dive a popular activity.

June to November is the rainy season, though downpours are often short. This is also the hurricane season, so consider taking out travel insurance. As it’s the low season, you’ll find great deals on diving, accommodation and flights, and you’ll likely enjoy uncrowded dive sites. 

December to May is the dry season, when the weather is hot and sunny. The northern coast can experience rougher seas and currents, however, this is offset by the amazing chance to spot migrating humpback whales. They come from the North Atlantic to Bavaro, and then give birth in Samana. The males often put on impressive spectacles to attract females.

Statistics

Historical data and trends

Dive Activity & Environmental Conditions

Centers Map

Shark Dominican Divers

Av Espana plaza mayoral local 211, 23000 Bavaro, DOM

Pelicano Sport Divers

HOTEL VIK ARENA BLANCA (acuatica ), 23301 Bavaro - PUNTA CANA - LA ALTAG, DOM

Dolin Dive Center

Hotel Gran Paladium, 23301 BAVARO, DOM

Grand Bay of The Sea

Calle marlin azul plaza tropical local #5, 23000 HIGUEY, DOM

Klub Aquatic

Avenida Alemania A-B 108 El Cortecito, 23000 Punta Cana, DOM