Diving Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic’s undersea world has excellent reef diving, good visibility, warm waters, wrecks, caverns, and marine life offering a wealth of diving experiences around the island. Travelers mostly head to Sosúa for diving. Sosúa is centrally situated along the coastline and hosts the majority of the diveable reefs. The dive sites are home to hundreds of tropical fish and plant life, amongst them the grouper and porcupine fish are frequently spotted, as well as the magnificent and brightly colored fan coral. Common visitors to the area are whale sharks, mantas, and the occasional dolphin.
Best time to dive
February through March
Visibility
Visibility is generally 50 to 100+ feet.
Water temperatures
The water temperature ranges from 76°F to 82°F.
Weather and climate
The Dominican Republic has year-round tropical climate. Temperatures average in the 80s °F all year. May through November are regarded as the rainy season.
Language
Spanish is the official language, but English is widely spoken in popular tourist areas.
Passport/Visa requirements
U.S. and Canadian citizens can enter with a valid passport or government-issued birth certificate. Citizens of all other nations need a valid passport. All travelers should have a round-trip or onward ticket.
Currency
Dominican Peso – Get exchange rates at http://www.xe.com/ucc/
Electrical current
110 to 120 volts, 60 cycles AC and compatible with American appliances. It is recommended to use surge protectors with sensitive equipment.
Capital
Santo Domingo
General information
The Dominican Republic is the Caribbean’s second largest island and it is comprised of Haiti on the left side of the island and the Dominican Republic on the right. The island is flanked by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and the Caribbean Sea to the south. The coastline varies from rocky cliffs to sandy beaches with reefs and ancient wrecks surrounding much of the shoreline. The capital of Santo Domingo is the New World’s oldest capital. It has many fine examples of 16th century Spanish architecture and many fascinating structures that have survived over 500 years. The oldest cathedral in the Americas is in Santo Domingo. The Cathedral of Santa Maria la Menor was founded in 1540 and is part Gothic and baroque.