Anyone Diving in the Dominican Republic on 1-24-09?

[bbianchi]

Ill be Diving near Santo Domingo if anyone else is around would be cool to have a mini SB meetup.

 

[CNicoll]

Hi bbianchi,

Sorry, we'll be there a month before you, but I'm having difficulty finding a dive Op that I am comfortable with. Who are you diving with there?

Thanks! Chris

 

[bbianchi]

Chris,

I spoke with the owner here on the phone, and have corresponded with him via email. Seems good to me: Golden Arrow Technical Diving Center

 

[CNicoll]

Will check them out. Also talking to Dressel and Diving DR. Let me know who you choose. Cheers, Chris

 

[barefootek]

We were there 2 years ago this week. We were in Juan Dolio and dove out of Neptuno Dive Center. We were sceptical after reading a lot of negative things about diving in the area, but we had an absolutely fantastic time. It might not be the best diving in the Caribbean but it is in a completely different league from anything I have done in the States. We had experience from my brother in law who has his DM, to my son (13 at the time) who had 20-30 dives but would get distracted and not pay attention to what he was doing at times, to my father in law who only had about 10 dives. All of us had a great time. I would recommend spending a little extra money and going to Catalina Island off La Romana, as well as the cave dive near Santa Domingo.

You will not find any nicer people if you are staying around Juan Dolio. My daughter still talks about one guy who literally left us the key to his bar. We were wanting to watch a football game that was on a channel we did not get where we were staying. It was Sunday and the owner generally left early. He left us the key and just asked us to leave money for whatever we drank and to be sure everything was locked up when we left. Have a great time.

 

[Robert van Brussel]

Hi,
I would be glad to show you the diving area around Bayahibe our dive center is located at hotel Catalonia Gran Dominicus in Bayahibe/Dominicus. The dive sites here are known as the best of the Dominican republic.
Nice Dives,
Robert

 

[CNicoll]

We are kind of anchored in Punta Cana based on a very quick, hey, we have a week, can we get somewhere warm and find accomodations, etc. I'd have preferred to have been closer to the Caribbean side (south) of the country but we really did not know anyone who had any experience with the island.

Seems like outside of a few resorts, not many travel agents know the Dominican Republic very well and it generally gets trashed as a dive spot on many of the message boards to people who prefer Coz or Belize, etc. But we snorkeled at the Club Med in Punta Cana several years ago and had a great time. Its still one of the kids (now 14 and 11) favorite vacations. Thanks for your reply and will post a trip report when we get back. Happy holidays!! Chris

 

[CNicoll]

If we get back there for more advanced diving, I would definitely look up this operator. This trip the focus is on getting my 11 year old his 4 OW dives to complete his certification, and for all of us to get underwater, have a good time and simply log some fun dives where the water is not 55% with 15' visibility!

 

[DRsharky]

We are kind of anchored in Punta Cana based on a very quick, hey, we have a week, can we get somewhere warm and find accomodations, etc. I'd have preferred to have been closer to the Caribbean side (south) of the country but we really did not know anyone who had any experience with the island.

Seems like outside of a few resorts, not many travel agents know the Dominican Republic very well and it generally gets trashed as a dive spot on many of the message boards to people who prefer Coz or Belize, etc. But we snorkeled at the Club Med in Punta Cana several years ago and had a great time. Its still one of the kids (now 14 and 11) favorite vacations. Thanks for your reply and will post a trip report when we get back. Happy holidays!! Chris

Have a great vacation, looking forward to read your report. Hope to see you on our side of the island in the near future

Happy holidays

 

[CNicoll]

We leave today, yea! Have a happy holiday and safe new years everyone, see you in 2009!