dv8 must have checked out the OP's link to his facebook page. The man is absolutely georgous with a capital G. I would invite him for a beer and teach him how to be safe anyday. He will do fine as a surfer in the DR!
All that the the OP wrote in his frist post about his fears is what he read here on DR1. All of those dangerous things and happened and much more in the DR. I suggest he does a search and reads the old thread about tips on how to be safer in the DR. I haven't read it lately but there are some goods tips. Things have changed over the years since I lived there but I am sure the thread will have some updates.
It makes me laugh when the same people writing about the dangers on DR1 get pis*es when someone says it scares them. The same posters then get all defensive and ......................... You can't have it both ways people. It IS dangerous in places and it IS safe in places.
What is an OP please, (Ocean Pacific???) Dulce thanks for your gracious compliment