Parque Nacional Submarino La Caleta

Shipwrecks and coral reefs at Santo Domingo's doorstep

DifficultyModerate

Area10 km²

Duration2-4 hours (dive trip)

Type

Marine Sanctuary

Entry fee

Free (dive operators charge their own fees)

Difficulty

Moderate

Duration

2-4 hours (dive trip)

Guide

Self-guided OK

Area

10 km²

Best time

Year-round; best visibility April through September

Hours

Daylight hours; night dives by arrangement with operators

Elevation

0 to -55m (underwater)

FacilitiesDive Operator FacilitiesParking AreaSmall Museum Of Taino Artifacts

Key speciesNurse sharkSouthern stingraySpotted eagle rayHawksbill sea turtleQueen angelfish

Key featuresHickory shipwreckEl Limon shipwreckCoral reef wallsTaino archaeological siteEasy access from Santo Domingo

The park

Parque Nacional Submarino La Caleta

The first underwater national park in the Dominican Republic, protecting coral reefs, sunken ships, and a Taino archaeological site just east of Santo Domingo.

Parque Nacional Submarino La Caleta is the Dominican Republic's first and most accessible marine protected area, located just 22 kilometers east of Santo Domingo near Las Americas International Airport. Despite its small size — roughly 10 square kilometers — the park packs an extraordinary amount of underwater interest into a compact area.

The park protects a fringing coral reef system featuring hard and soft corals, sponges, and a rich diversity of tropical reef fish. The main attractions for divers and snorkelers are two deliberately sunk ships — the Hickory (a 40-meter salvage vessel) and the El Limon (a former cargo ship) — that now serve as thriving artificial reefs encrusted with corals and swarming with marine life. The terrestrial portion of the park includes the remains of a Taino cemetery, making it both a natural and cultural heritage site. The proximity to Santo Domingo makes La Caleta the most convenient diving destination for the capital's residents and visitors.

Before you go