Dive Ops in Santa Domingo, DR (near Be Live Hamaca, Boca Chica area)?

[Torontonian]

We are considering going to an AI resort (Be Live Hamaca, in Boca Chica area) of Santa Domingo, Dominica Republic, over the New Year time.

The resort listed a Dive Op on site, but no info. I can't find reviews of Dive Ops in Santa Domingo area.

It'll be me and my daughter diving. Both AOW. My wife might come to snorkel if it's suitable.

Can anyone help?

 

[Ontwreckdiver]

If you haven't already booked, I would stay a little farther East in the Bayahibe area. They have wreck dives, wall dives, reef dives and even a cave dive if you are so certified. I dive with John from ScubaFun | Dive Center Bayahibe or if you want private diving contact Denise at Buceo Republica Dominicana | Tauchen Dominikanische Republik | Diving Punta Cana Dominican Republic We stay at Welcome to Dreams La Romana Resort & Spa (not Dreams Dominicus La Romana) It is a 10 min walk to the village of Bayahibe. Resorts on the other side of Bayahibe include Iberostar Hacienda Dominicus, Dreams Dominicus La Romana, Catalonia Gran Dominicus, Be Live Collection Canoa, Viva Wyndam Dominucus Beach and Viva Wyndham Dominicus Palace.

 

[Torontonian]

The resort finally got back to me that they do have a dive shop, and provided a pic of the posted price. Not cheap.

We haven't booked. But are now thinking to go next Feb., during my daughter's university reading week. The Bayahibe area do seem to have better options for diving. Thanks Ontwreckdiver. In addition to those resorts you mentioned, there are also Weare Cadaques Bayahibe and Whala Bayahibe.

We are also looking at the Punta Cana area. There are many more resorts and prices are higher. Among the cheaper ones we are considering IFA Villas Bavaro Beach Resorts among others. But this is early in the search.

 

[Ontwreckdiver]

I looked them both up on google earth. The Cadaques Bayahibe is the farthest a way from Bayahibe and is very isolated, so that is something to consider. The diving in the Punta Cana area is really bad.

 

[Torontonian]

We'll look into Weare Cadaques Bayahibe more. We actually had a cruise port stop at La Romana in 2013 and dove with ScubaFun. They were decent.

Diving in Punta Cana area is really bad? I thought it was ok, especially after seeing a magazine featuring a bunch of photos by a diver there. But of course that seemed to be more advertising than dive commentary.

 

[Don Rogers]

Just got back from DR, dives off of Punta Cana are just that "OK". Atlantic side of island, rough seas when the trades are blowing. All dives are from small boats and have to run out beyond reef for the most part. The couple I was with chummed most of the way out and back.
The rest of the trip we went to Bayahibe and LaRomana to dive Catalina, much nicer. Scubafun sent a taxi to pick us up and took us directly to their shop. About an hour from Punta Cana.

 

[Torontonian]

We ended up booking mid-Feb. at La Romana, with Be Live Collection Canoa Resort. We'll dive with ScubaFun for 3 days. Thanks for all the help.

 

[mbelvadi]

We ended up booking mid-Feb. at La Romana, with Be Live Collection Canoa Resort. We'll dive with ScubaFun for 3 days. Thanks for all the help.

I'm looking at Be Live for May - can you give us a quick review from scuba perspective? I'm thinking in terms of possible shore diving, facilities to take care of my equip (I'm bringing everything except tank and weights), convenience of resort relative to ScubaFun eg pickup etc. Thanks!

 

[Ontwreckdiver]

For convenience, the closest resort to Bayahibe is Dreams La Romana (not Dreams Dominicus La Romana)Welcome to Dreams La Romana Resort & Spa It is about a 10 minute walk from the village. We are returning for our second trip to Dreams this May and will be diving with John again. Scuba Fun will pick you up and drop you back at your resort and they will look after your gear. There are reef dives, wreck dives, wall dives and even cave dives if you are so certified. There isn't any shore diving though.

 

[JahJahwarrior]

The diving off Catalina should be nice. The ocean can be rough in Jan and Feb, they closed the beaches on the north coast to swimming for a week recently due to the winds, creating some huge waves.

The south coast is more protected, but the beaches there aren't super amazing. Punta Cana is a town created just for tourism, and the diving there is not spectacular, you would be much better off in Bonaire, for example.

On the north coast there is also some good diving, like in Sosua, but I wouldn't ocean dive there in Jan and Feb.

The beaches on the north coast are amazing but you need to rent a car and go exploring. But if you know where to go, you can find a beach where you will see almost nobody. For example, Encuentro, the surfing beach by Cabarete. Or Rincon by Samana. But those beaches aren't good for diving. The visibility tends to be mediocre.

Please do let us know about the diving in Catalina! I might book a trip there too if it's nice! So far I have just done cave diving in the DR.