If you are an avid diver, then Punta Cana is the destination for you. The setting is ideal for both experienced and new divers. Whether you want to drift with the current and watch the colorful sea life or explore a sunken ship, diver operators will find the right dive site for your level of expertise. If you are already an avid diver, make sure to bring your certification papers with you on vacation. If you are a newbie, lessons are available.
Most of the all-inclusive Punta Cana resorts have their own scuba shop in-house. Daily lessons are usually complimentary and are intended to familiarize guests with the sport and are not in depth. The lessons will take place in the resort pool and can be attended by adults and children. If you are still feeling nervous about diving even after your lesson, an open water dive can be arranged. Open water dives are conducted in shallow waters under the close eye of the instructors.
Just off the shores of the Grand Paradise Bavaro resort on Bavaro beach, is the longest coral reef in the Dominican Republic. The vibrant colors of the corals and large schools of tropical fish will be a sight to behold. There are hundreds of varieties of marine life living in the coral reef, some of which have not even been named yet. Larger creatures are not as plentiful but maybe a shark or two will pop up. Just don't 'feed the fish' or go 'chumming'. Feed the fish is divers lingo for vomiting in the water while diving. Some divers call it chumming because it attracts the sharks. Of course chumming is also a method of legitimate shark baiting used by fishermen.
Serious scuba divers may want to consider wreck diving. Go down and explore a submerged ship or other man made structure to see what lovely creatures of taken up residence in the nooks and crannies. Sunken ships often become small reefs themselves, if left long enough. Barracuda are a frequent inhabitant of sunken ships, adding to their mysterious reputation.
Cave diving may be something to try, depending on your own appetite for adventure. This type of diving does require some different equipment, and the scuba shop at your resort will be able to provide everything you need. Underwater caves are a little spooky, but amazing all the same. The rock formations and light reflections can produce a feeling of disorientation, but if you can push that sensation aside and enjoy the architecture of the rock formations, you will have a memorable experience.
In addition to cave diving, Punta Cana also provides some incredible cliff diving opportunities. Isla Saona has a limestone cliff that drops more than 80 feet below the ocean surface. Octopuses love to hide on underwater cliff-faces, changing their color to blend in. So if you think you see a rock move - it wasn't a rock.
Drift diving is something for the baby diver, or newbie. It entails just floating along with the current watching the fish swim by. There is no deep water diving involved as you usually stay close to the surface. This may be a good way for families with children to experience scuba diving.
Any way you slice it, Punta Cana is the place to go for divers on vacation. Even if you are just a guppy, learning to dive in a beautiful place like the Dominican Republic would be a great choice. The warm blue waters and diverse tropical sea life make the learning process that much more enjoyable. Expert divers will be very pleased to find so many tremendous opportunities for adventure dives in the waters off Bavaro beach. Since diving lessons, excursions and equipment can be arranged so easily right at your resort - it is easy to see why diving is one of the most popular activities in Punta Cana.
Most of the all-inclusive Punta Cana resorts have their own scuba shop in-house. Daily lessons are usually complimentary and are intended to familiarize guests with the sport and are not in depth. The lessons will take place in the resort pool and can be attended by adults and children. If you are still feeling nervous about diving even after your lesson, an open water dive can be arranged. Open water dives are conducted in shallow waters under the close eye of the instructors.
Just off the shores of the Grand Paradise Bavaro resort on Bavaro beach, is the longest coral reef in the Dominican Republic. The vibrant colors of the corals and large schools of tropical fish will be a sight to behold. There are hundreds of varieties of marine life living in the coral reef, some of which have not even been named yet. Larger creatures are not as plentiful but maybe a shark or two will pop up. Just don't 'feed the fish' or go 'chumming'. Feed the fish is divers lingo for vomiting in the water while diving. Some divers call it chumming because it attracts the sharks. Of course chumming is also a method of legitimate shark baiting used by fishermen.
Serious scuba divers may want to consider wreck diving. Go down and explore a submerged ship or other man made structure to see what lovely creatures of taken up residence in the nooks and crannies. Sunken ships often become small reefs themselves, if left long enough. Barracuda are a frequent inhabitant of sunken ships, adding to their mysterious reputation.
Cave diving may be something to try, depending on your own appetite for adventure. This type of diving does require some different equipment, and the scuba shop at your resort will be able to provide everything you need. Underwater caves are a little spooky, but amazing all the same. The rock formations and light reflections can produce a feeling of disorientation, but if you can push that sensation aside and enjoy the architecture of the rock formations, you will have a memorable experience.
In addition to cave diving, Punta Cana also provides some incredible cliff diving opportunities. Isla Saona has a limestone cliff that drops more than 80 feet below the ocean surface. Octopuses love to hide on underwater cliff-faces, changing their color to blend in. So if you think you see a rock move - it wasn't a rock.
Drift diving is something for the baby diver, or newbie. It entails just floating along with the current watching the fish swim by. There is no deep water diving involved as you usually stay close to the surface. This may be a good way for families with children to experience scuba diving.
Any way you slice it, Punta Cana is the place to go for divers on vacation. Even if you are just a guppy, learning to dive in a beautiful place like the Dominican Republic would be a great choice. The warm blue waters and diverse tropical sea life make the learning process that much more enjoyable. Expert divers will be very pleased to find so many tremendous opportunities for adventure dives in the waters off Bavaro beach. Since diving lessons, excursions and equipment can be arranged so easily right at your resort - it is easy to see why diving is one of the most popular activities in Punta Cana.
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