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I'm just back from a lovely week diving Bayahibe, Dominican Republic. If you are considering diving in the DR, the southeast coast around La Romana & Bayahibe is considered by many to be the best diving in the country. The storms have taken their toll on the region, but as time passes, the reefs will return to their normal vibrant selves.
I dove with Vlad at divingdr dot com and it was a real treat. For slightly more than the bargain basement dive shops but considerably less than the resort shops, my buddy and I had Vlad, his boat Sharky and a captain all to ourselves. There are few places that you can have a qualified, friendly, personal dive guide with a nice boat, who will discuss your interests and tailor a dive itinerary just for you...all for the same price as packing like sardines and going on one of the 'cattle' boats to dive the worn out/over used sites. I'm spoiled now!
Vlad picked us up for the airport..took us out for a beer to plan the week. Picked us up each day at the hotel and kept us laughing the entire trip. He also offers courses at great prices (my buddy took his advanced course) when booking a dive package and is one of the few, if not only, experienced cave divers who can take you to into the fresh water caves around Bayahibe. We also had a great night dive as well as 2 trips to the St. George wreck.
I'm a frugal...ok..I'll say it..cheap...guy..and I really appreciate good value. Diving with Vlad was excellent value...and you'll likely consider him a friend by the end of the week.
If you have any specific questions about Bayahibe (not that I'm an expert) or the dives I did, feel free to write. Otherwise, visit divingdr dot com and Vlad and Denise can certainly answer any questions you have.
Hey Joe,
Sorry for the late late replay, but had some issues with the internet here. You know, Dominican republic, sometimes things are not perfect
It was pleasure to have you and Chris here, you know where to find us if you ever want to come back - I know you don't go diving to the same place twice
That's why we started the dive op here, doing something different that all dive shops do, so the divers (and their families too) can enjoy their vacation and the diving. Thank you for the great comments.
What are recommendations for cheaper hotels in the area (especially non-inclusives)
Any ideas?
If you come after April 30th, when the high season officially ends, most of the independent hotels have much lower prices, but some all inclusive have special deals too.
Look here to find most of the hotels in the area Hotels Bayahibe. We had clients staying at Bayahibe hotel and Villa Iguana in Bayahibe, and also in Cabanas Elke in Dominicus (5 min drive from Bayahibe). Send me a PM if you need help with the accommodation.
What are recommendations for cheaper hotels in the area (especially non-inclusives)
Any ideas?
I'd peg Hotel Bayahibe as the best value in town. Room 307 has the best view. The service was also impeccable, but maybe that was just down to our luck. It is after all a pretty sleepy beach town.
And the Cafecito Cubanito as the best restaurant. There's really no comparison, both for price and quality. It's pretty slim pickins' so it's easy to win this race.
I also dove with Vlad, and got my Padi open water certification. My wife was extremely nervous about diving and Vlad gave her just the attention she needed (under water) to keep her calm and enjoy herself. Since I only dove with Vlad and have ever only dived with Vlad I can't really honestly say if he's better than anybody else. But we were happy with the course. He got us new gear if we whined about the stuff we got. He has his own speedboat which is nice and gives added flexibility. He is a good teacher, and focused a lot on safety, which I think is a good thing. ...and yes.... he certainly is a character.
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Originally Posted by naga
