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If you have been to Dominican Republic before, please share your experiences, ideas and feedback (Hotel, Excursions, General Feeling,…) in the comments section below, by doing so you will help fellow travellers to plan their next trip
Bayahibe, La Altagracia, Dominican Republic photograph by photon_de
Christopher Columbus may have been the first tourist to The Dominican Republic, but the country was slow to become a major tourism destination. It has overcome the slow development and is the third most popular destination in the world for European tourist. It is the home of mega all inclusive resorts providing an environment that includes the lush jungles, beautiful beaches and outstanding water sports.
In this page you will find practical information to plan a scuba diving trip to Dominican Republic:
Table of contents
Where to stay?
I usually use this website to book in advance my hotels in Dominican Republic as they usually have the lowest rates I find. I like it because it's free to cancel and change the dates.
There are three major areas that attracts the majority of the visitors, they are Santo Domingo, Puerto Plata and Punta Cana. Located near these three major cites are outstanding tourism destinations. All inclusive resorts are the most common form of accommodations found for tourist.
Activities and excursions in Dominican Republic
Parasailing Photograph by Joe deSousa
The combination of the lush jungles, the mountainous terrain, extensive coastline and clear waters leads to a wide range of activities available to the visitor. Scuba diving of course is one of the activities that bring people to the area. Beach lovers have hundreds of miles of beaches to select from. Other nature lovers will spend a great deal of their time in the wilds of the jungles. Those who enjoy history will be in heaven here. This island was instrumental in the Spanish era of the Caribbean. Zona Colonial is a historical district that reflects much of the early history. Traces of early Spanish influence are in many parts of the country. The cities and the resorts offer outstanding dining options and there is a lively nightlife.
Best time to visit Dominican Republic
While divers and surfers would need to match the destination in the country with the season, most tourist do not. The country has a stable temperature and rain patterns that the location is of little impact to them.
The hurricane season runs from June to October and should be taken into consideration while making plans. Hurricanes have produce extensive damage and lost of life.
Health and Safety
Health care in the Dominican Republic is both great and terrible. It all depends on where you are and what you can afford. The government system is often cited to be below minimum acceptable international standards. On the other hand, private hospital are often international certified and affordable compared to other international destinations. If you are staying in one of the major cities or one of the tourism destinations you should have no concerns about the availability of suitable care.
Safety can be an issue in the country. There is a concern with crimes against tourism, however, they are less likely than in locations such as Jamaica or Nassau.
If you are planning an upcoming dive trip or travelling to Dominican Republic, it is a really good idea to invest in travel insurance for scuba diving, because you never know what could happen and when you might need it (because accidents do happen!). I recommend this diving insurance as they offer worldwide coverage and focus on providing scuba divers a quality insurance and medical assistance service.
Where is Dominican Republic located in the world?
The Dominican Republic is located on the shared island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antilles archipelago. The Greater Antilles archipelago is the northern border of the Caribbean Sea, making the southern coast on the Caribbean Sea and the north coast on the Atlantic Ocean. The island is shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic. It is a lush tropical island covered with dense jungles.
How to get to Dominican Republic?
The Dominican Republic is a very small country but it has a large footprint in regard to international airports. There are nine international airports including one that caters to a private luxury resort. The three major cities and their international airport have the majority of the long haul flights. Santo Domingo has the country’s major international airport,Las Americas (SDQ), with direct flights to europe, USA and other distant destinations. On the opposite side of the city is a second international airport, Dr Joaquim Balaguer (JBQ), this airport is used more by regional international connections and has the most domestic flights. While booking flights that include both an international arrival and a domestic connect verify the airports being used.
The international airport near Puerto Plata and Sosua, Gregorio Luperón, (POP) is the busiest airport in the country, serving this major tourist destination with direct flights to the US and Europe. It is also a hub for domestic flights. President Juan Bosch (AZS) airport in Samana, is a fairly new airport with a growing number of flights main being charter flights.
Do I need a visa for Dominican Republic?
The Dominican Republic allows citizens of 95 different countries to enter the country using their passport and a tourist card. The tourist card cost 10 USD and can be purchased online or upon arrival at the airport. Citizens of Argentina, Chile, South Korea, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay, Japan and Israel are allowed to enter the Dominican Republic without either a tourist card or a visa. Those who are not citizens of any the above countries are required to apply for a tourist visa unless they are free to travel in the United States, United Kingdom or the EU. Those individuals can show their documentation and enter with a tourist card.
Getting Around
The country has a good transportation network, making traveling between locations easy. Most destinations of interest to tourist are connected or near to an airport. A well maintain network of highways connect the major cities and tourism areas. Buses are frequent and with a reasonable fare between the major destinations. There is also a rail network that connects the different areas. Locally within a city there are local buses and taxi services.
The Dominican Republic is an outstanding destination for scuba diving. It is also great for those who want a dive vacation that balances other ecology orientated activities as well as a varied dinning options and a lively nightlife.
Dominican Republic Photos
Scuba diving
You will find all information about sea life, best time to visit, top dive spots, etc. in our review: Dominican Republic Diving
Diving Reviews for this region
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Cuba
The marine protection programs in Cuba has resulted in pristine coral reefs.
U.S. Virgin Islands
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Cayman Islands
You can dive a different dive site every day for a year!
Bonaire
Bonaire has been voted the Best Shore Dive Destination 22 consecutive times by the readers of Scuba Diving Magazine.
St. Kitts and Nevis
St. Kitts and Nevis has excellent scuba diving that is close to shore meaning short boat rides. Being a small island, dive boats can always find a sheltered dive site in poor weather.
The Caribbean
The Caribbean is one of the most dived destinations in the world. A great destination for beginners as well as experts. With thousands of dive sites it offers something for just about everyone.
Saba
Saba offers Scuba divers site sites that are pristine and loaded with marine life.
Turks & Caicos
The Turks & Caicos Islands provides Scuba divers with a dive experience not easily matched.
Saint Martin
A great selection of wrecks and reefs for divers of all skill levels.
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a lessor known dive destinations with outstanding diving from both the north and south coast. It is also the kick off point to the nearby Silver Banks.
Bahamas
The Bahamas offer a wide range of diving sites. There are sites that are great for learning to dive and others for experienced divers. Cave divers will find many opportunities.
Liveaboard Reviews in Caribbean & Dominican Republic
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There are few more luxurious dive vessel
MV Cayman Aggressor IV
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Jardines Aggressor II
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