Anyone know who the padi dive operator? in Samana's Gran Bahia El Portillo? What are the must see dive sites? Cany any one recommend them? Whats the aprox cost per dive? How far are the sites from the hotel? Whats the reef like? Any wrecks? Aquatic Life? Any help would be great appreciated
El Portillo is actually in Las Terrenas, on the Samana peninsula. which is very good for wind surfing, but not so much for diving.
I have spent the better part of the last 4 years in Samana (Santa Barbara de Samana), working there finding old shipwrecks. (which would be a pile of rocks to most people who don't know what they are)
There are a couple of modern shipwrecks to dive, where there is some sea life.
The reefs are horribly covered with silt and mud, as the bay receives a lot of wash from rain storms, and the surrounding hills, and the water in Samana Bay is mostly greenish, with generally 10-40 feet of visibility.
In short, Samana is not a great place to dive.
If you're dead set on diving... I would recommend you take the short drive over to Las Galeras (about a 25-30 minute ride from Samana, and maybe 45 minutes to an hour with the new roads they have from Las Terrenas) and dive over there. In Las Galeras, there is blue water, and decent reefs.