La Romana Province Diving
La Romana Province entails prolific fringing reefs, breathtaking wreck diving, along with the calmest waters in the Dominican Republic. With easy access to Saona and Catalina Islands, where even more reefs, drifts and pelagic encounters await, it’s truly a diver’s paradise.
Diving in La Romana Province
Scuba diving in La Romana Province promises warm, calm Caribbean waters that hosts varied underwater environments, including cliffs, walls, wrecks, seagrass beds, mangrove forests, coral gardens, swim-throughs, tunnels and freshwater caves.
Diving is suited to all levels. Beginners relish the shallow reefs, while seasoned divers marvel at deep wrecks, walls, and enjoy energetic drifts. With such varied dive sites, it’s no wonder that dive centers and dive resorts here offer an abundance of dive courses year-round.
There’s no bad time to dive here, thanks to warm waters ranging from 24-28C, though the best time to dive is normally the dry season from December to May. Topside conditions are usually more favourable during this time, and what’s more, you might even hear the songs of migrating humpback whales.
The La Romana Province diving scene typically involves boat diving, though some resorts have excellent house reefs accessible by shore. All the Caribbean favourites can be found, from vibrant reef fish species and rainbow-hued hard and soft corals, to sea turtles, barracuda, the occasional reef shark, and a few lucky encounters with passing pelagics at exposed sites.
From La Romana City, you can visit Saona Island, which has a wonderful west side with shallow reefs. Its east side can experience strong currents, attracting larger fish. There’s also Catalina Island to check out, which is an uninhabited, protected national park where pelagics can be spotted.
Wreck enthusiasts should not miss the St George's Wreck, which is around 85-meters in length and sits at about 40 meters-deep.
If you have time, try heading to the East National Park, where plenty of magnificently healthy reefs await. The mouth of the Chavón river is equally an interesting spot to explore.
Best places to dive
La Romana Province is home to roughly 22 dive sites, with more being discovered all the time.
A local favourite is the Saint George wreck, which houses a plethora of life. There’s also the Atlantic Princes.
For unforgettable reefs, be sure to dive Dreams Shallow and Bajo de la Mina. Along the Parque Nacional del Este (East National Park), there’s Tortuga, Aquarium Profondo and Dos Cocos to enjoy, where fringing coral reefs are just the beginning.
Catalina Island has two famous sites, named The Wall and The Aquarium. Intense coral gardens and colorful fish thrive here. Furthermore, there's a chance to gaze at pelagics.
Don’t forget to visit Saona Island’s Shark Point, El Faro, and La Parguera for even more exhilarating fish action, action-packed drifts and exciting species of varying sizes.