Diving in Sosua
Sosua, located on the North Coast of the Dominican Republic in the Puerto Plata province, offers an exceptional diving experience that attracts divers from around the globe. This picturesque town is perfectly positioned near the airport and just a short drive from Cabarete, known as the kite surfing capital of the Caribbean. Sosua’s unique geography creates a protected zone ideal for diving, where the calm waters of Sosua Bay offer excellent visibility and a variety of dive sites. This makes it a wonderful diving destination for both beginners and advanced divers.
In Sosua Bay, divers can explore around 20 dive sites, featuring vibrant reefs, dramatic walls, and intriguing wrecks. Popular sites like Airport Wall provide thrilling experiences with pinnacles and tunnels, while sites such as Five Rocks and Coral Gardens display an impressive range of marine life. For those seeking adventure, the Zingare Wreck offers an exciting dive at a depth of 35 meters/117 feet. From December to April, the region offers an added spectacle as humpback whales migrate through the waters, adding a breathtaking element to the diving experience. Sosua is also a hub for dive courses, making it a sought-after destination for those looking to enhance their diving skills or explore new underwater environments.
Dive Activity
Diving in Sosua
Scuba diving in Sosua promises variety, including wall, reef, wreck, cave and drift diving. Sosua Bay is perfect for those who enjoy easy reefs, while sites closer to Puerto Plata can involve exhilarating drift diving. Around two hours inland, the El Dudu Caverns are eerie cave dives in a freshwater lake hosting interesting critters. The Zingara wreck is one of the most famous shipwrecks, while Airport Wall, is a top wall site that’s so big that it consists of three dive sites.
As for logistics, boat diving is common practice in and around Sosua. All the sites are accessible by boat, and most operators use powerful speedboats to reach diving areas.
Top Wildlife Sightings in Sosua
Sosua diving promises the beauty of the Caribbean Sea, which teems with diverse marine creatures. Hard and soft corals, sponges, sea fans and gorgonians decorate the reefs where vibrant fish and reef critters like eels, octopus, stingrays and more, all thrive.
If you like the big stuff, you’ll be excited to encounter manta rays, nurse sharks, barracudas, whale sharks, and of course, the famous humpback whales that come to breed and give birth from December to March.
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 approx.: 200
Alamy-WaterFrame
59 Sightings
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Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography
Green Turtle
33 Sightings
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 27
iStock-Global_Pics
Barracuda
18 Sightings
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 600
iStock/ultramarinfoto
Wrasse
14 Sightings
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Shutterstock-Andrey Armyagov
Hawksbill Turtle
8 Sightings
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 300
Alamy/Reinhard Dirscherl
Octopus
7 Sightings
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 25
iStock/Juliosanjuan
Eagle Ray
4 Sightings
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 100
iStock-burnsboxco
Parrotfish
56 Sightings
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 90
Shutterstock-Rich Carey
Angelfish
50 Sightings
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 130
Shutterstock_Krzysztof Odziomek
Butterfly Fish
45 Sightings
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The best Months to dive in Sosua
The tropical Caribbean climate promises great year-round diving, with 26°C–28°C/79°F–82°F water temperatures. The dry and high season from December to May entails sunnier, drier weather, though the northern coast sees rougher oceans.
June to November is the rainy season, though downpours often pass quickly. During this time, the north coast experiences calm oceans, allowing for better diving conditions. June to November is also hurricane season, so consider taking out travel insurance.
For greater chances of spotting humpback whales, visit between December and March.
