scuba or snorkeling?

Diving is big business in Sosua. I have never gone but it is probably just as popular there as men are attracted to women. There are at least a dozen shops.

Brad and Patty own North Coast Diving. Real nice folks that run a real professional business. They are located on the main Street in Sosua. It is also closer to the Puerto Plata Airport than Puerto Plata believe it or not. They do have a website you can visit although I don't know it offhand.

Personally I prefer Sosua to Puerto Plata although I go there every trip and at a minimum have dinner with friends there. While you are at it you should do a day trip to Cabarete. Only 15 minutes from Sosua. They are famous for windsurfing and Kiting. Rougher waters because it has more winds.

You can stay just about anywhere in Sosua and be walking distance to just about the whole town. It really depends what level of service you want. Rooms run from a low of 15 or less per night for a decent clean room with a ceiling fan to 100 dollars a night for lux.

I stay at Villa Chessa in Sosua which is just about out of town but very quiet and very nicely landscaped with a nice pool. I pay 35 a night including a goumet breakfast with all the bells and whistles for a 1 bedroom apartment with 2 full baths. Place is gated with a night watchman at night like most of the places in Sosua.

Hope I answered your questions but if you have more you can continue to ask.

I am leaving for Sosua on Tuesday morning and will be there for a week. I get back on the 4th of December and return again on the 25th of December for 2 weeks. I go about every other month and enjoy the town.

Regards
Scott

El Colibri is the place with the nicest pool about a 6-7 block walk from the dive shops.

As jazzcom indicated, North Coast Diving would be a good choice. They can certify you http://www.northerncoastdiving.com/ Their shop is easy to find, right on the main street of Sosua. There are other options, but North Coast Diving has been in business in Sosua for a long time and has a good reputation.

A small, friendly hotel (not AI) that you might want to consider is Hotel Tropix http://www.tropixhotel.com/

Definatly North coast diving,best equipment and dive masters.
J.H.

Scuba in SOsua

HI,

I did my PADI Open Water Diver Certification with Northern Coast last March and had a fantastic experience. Great staff, good equipment and lots of fun (plus I did learn some too). I would absolutely recommend them over some of the less professional (but perhaps cheaper) schools in Sosua, especially for you course.

Dive Sites in Sosua

As a beginner diver the maximum depth you can dive to is 18m (with PADI Open Water Diver) or 12m (I think) in a resort-dive certification (the 14 day diving certificate you can take in 1 day). Some of the sites I remember diving are 3 Rocks and the Canyon. The Canyon was especially cool, but perhaps not if you are too claustrophobic.

I scuba dived Sosua Bay and it was great! I dove "The Rock" and "Coral Garden" at Maimon. Each dive was with the scuba people at Riu Bachata (AI west of Puerto Plata). I was scheduled to do the Gri Gri Lagoon at Rio San Juan with Northern Coast, but I took sick that day and couldn't make it. I understand that the Gri Gri Lagoon is considered one of the best dives on DR.
Paradise Island is fantastic for snorkelling!!! I'm not sure if there's anyone doing a scuba trip out that way... if there is, it would be a great dive!
Wish I was going!

Jenpiel
Good luck but be careful
If you are not experienced divers and the company in your hotel is not Northern Coast be sure to ask about their safety procedures as there have been several incedents wqith untrained personel at someof these so called dive shops,check with other divers about them dont learn the hard way,also check your equipment to make sure it is good shap? and not worn ou so used that it qualifys for retirement
J.H.

Sorry - missed your original post-hope my endorsement of NorthCoast isn;t too late. Ic ertified there last January, and since it was sooo queit that month the dive instructor was all mine! They are the best in the area....great staff, knowledgeable, professional and SAFE!!!!

Enjoy your trip and go home certified!