Punta Cana, DR Recommendations

[EyeScuba13]

I realize Punta Cana isn't a great location for diving, however I am going with family and friends and still want to get under the water. I'm staying at the Hard Rock Hotel in Punta Cana. Can anyone recommend a dive operator and/or dive site recommendations?

 

[Ray and Pam]

I realize Punta Cana isn't a great location for diving, however I am going with family and friends and still want to get under the water. I'm staying at the Hard Rock Hotel in Punta Cana. Can anyone recommend a dive operator and/or dive site recommendations?

Bayahibe, about 45 minute drive from Punta Cana, is supposed to be the best diving in that area now.
Will know more about it this April.
ScubaFun and Coral Point dive shops will pick you up in Punta Cana.

 

[Badger7]

You're right, Punta Cana isn't an awesome location for diving. But I guarantee the water will be warmer than Gilboa this time of year, and any diving sounds better than sitting on the beach the whole time. If you're looking to get away for a quick dive or two to just go get wet, there is a Dressel Divers operation at the Iberostar resort about 10 minutes down the beach from where you're at with a decent boat and friendly DMs if you want to be back at your resort at a reasonable time. Their dive sites are prescheduled by time and day, but they will mix it up a little depending on conditions to try to find a dive site with better visibilty if the surf is high.

If you'd like a better quality dive, definitely look into Bayahibe options, but you'll be making a full day of it.

 

[Ontwreckdiver]

I realize Punta Cana isn't a great location for diving, however I am going with family and friends and still want to get under the water. I'm staying at the Hard Rock Hotel in Punta Cana. Can anyone recommend a dive operator and/or dive site recommendations?

You are right, Punta Cana doesn't have good diving. The best diving is out of Bayahibe on the south Caribbean Sea side of the island and it has very good diving. It is only about 50 minutes from the Punta Cana airport. There's reef diving, wall diving, wreck diving and even a cave dive if you are so certified. I have been diving with John from Scuba Fun since 2016, he runs a small local dive shop in the village of Bayahibe, most of his staff are long term employee's (which is unheard of down there) and they will store and rinse your gear for you. They have dive packages for divers staying at resorts in the Punta Cana area that include transportation. Diving in Bayahibe with ScubaFun
Tell John that Steve from Canada sent you.

 

[Jafo19D]

I realize Punta Cana isn't a great location for diving, however I am going with family and friends and still want to get under the water. I'm staying at the Hard Rock Hotel in Punta Cana. Can anyone recommend a dive operator and/or dive site recommendations?

I dive with ScubaFun in April and had a great experience. Communication is one of my pet peeves with DCs and these guys aced it. Very well organized and they asked be what I wanted to do; I replied Lionfish hunting and they hooked me up.

I showed up at the DC and it was packed and I got worried - I was envisioning large disorganized dives but no, different groups went on different dives. I ended up on a boat with just the DM and a German couple. And the boat was the most comfortable boat I have ever dived off. For a large portion of the dive I could hardly see the DM and the other divers as I was doing my own thing and I loved it.

These guys and others in Bayahibe will pick you up from any hotel in Punta Cana which I hear is really bad for diving.

 

[EyeScuba13]

Thank you for this. I messaged them a few days ago and still haven't heard back. So waiting on that.

 

[Ontwreckdiver]

Thank you for this. I messaged them a few days ago and still haven't heard back. So waiting on that.

That's unusual for Romy
This is the email I use info@scubafun.info

 

[Jafo19D]

Thank you for this. I messaged them a few days ago and still haven't heard back. So waiting on that.

I’m surprised, I did everything via WhatsApp and comms were excellent

 

[EyeScuba13]

I’m surprised, I did everything via WhatsApp and comms were excellent

Ah, I didn't use WhatsApp. I'll try that.

 

[drcustals]

I have been living in Punta Cana for a few years now. Take into consideration that there are to different environments, Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. I prefer the Caribbean side which has more marine life. You can talk to Seapro divers in Punta Cana, they are great people. Ask for Jennifer Vitali. Let me know if you need any help and I'll be glad to lend a hand.