Discovering Paradise
Discovering Paradise
Type
Water Sports
Difficulty
Beginner_to_advanced
Duration
3-5 hours (2-tank dive)
Price
$80-150 USD
Min Age
10+
Group Size
4-8 per guide
Best Season
Year-round, best visibility April-September
Fitness
Moderate
Rating
4.7/5
Physical Req.
Bayahibe offers sites for all levels. Discover Scuba courses for beginners take place in shallow, calm waters. Certified divers can explore the St. George wreck at 40 meters or wall dives at Catalina Island. Currents are generally mild.
Bayahibe is the scuba diving capital of the Dominican Republic, offering warm, crystal-clear Caribbean waters with visibility regularly exceeding 30 meters (100 feet). This small fishing village on the southeast coast sits at the gateway to some of the country's best dive sites, including famous walls, coral gardens, and wrecks along the coast and around Saona and Catalina Islands.
The area boasts more than 30 marked dive sites suitable for all certification levels. Highlights include the St. George shipwreck (a 240-foot cargo vessel intentionally sunk as an artificial reef), the dramatic drop-offs of Padre Nuestro with its freshwater caves, and the vibrant coral walls of Catalina Island where spotted eagle rays, nurse sharks, and sea turtles are regular visitors.
Diving in Bayahibe is relaxed and accessible, even for first-timers:
A typical dive day includes two tank dives in the morning, returning to shore by early afternoon. Many operators also offer afternoon single-tank dives and night dives. Non-certified visitors can try Discover Scuba Diving programs, which include pool training followed by a supervised ocean dive.
Bayahibe has numerous PADI- and SSI-certified dive centers, all offering full equipment rental:
Reputable operators include ScubaFun, Dressel Divers, and Casa Daniel. Look for shops that maintain small group sizes (6-8 divers maximum per guide), regularly service their equipment, and employ multilingual dive masters.
Scuba diving in Bayahibe is generally very safe, but respecting the ocean and your training is essential:
Ensure your travel insurance covers scuba diving to your planned depth. DAN (Divers Alert Network) insurance is recommended as a supplement for all diving travel.
Difficulty
Beginner_to_advanced
Duration
3-5 hours (2-tank dive)
Price
$80-150 USD
Best Season
Year-round, best visibility April-September
Meeting Point
Bayahibe dive shops (main pier area)
This activity is in
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