I've been looking for a relatively affordable place where I can eventually buy an oceanfront condo -- located not too far from the U.S. (In my opinion, there is really no longer any both affordable & desirable oceanfront property in the U.S.) In the course of my search, I've looked at Mexico (already too expensive and the aftermath of the recent Presidential election disturbed me), Central America and the Caribbean -- all of which are not right for me for one reason or another. (I should point out that I've spent many weeks in Mexico over the last 40 years, and have visited about a dozen Caribbean islands -- including a week in Haiti, two weeks in Jamaica and several days in Santo Domingo & Puerta Plata.)
I spent all day Sunday researching Dominican Republic (CIA website, this Website, online real estate offices, etc.), and was really surprised at the degree to which the DR is being developed -- particularly the north shore.
Since I love to swim in the ocean every day when I'm in a tropical beach resort, a good swimming beach is essential. (I was raised in the surf of Southern California, but prefer protected waters for swimming and snorkeling.) Therefore, I would appreciate it if you could answer some questions.
1) All Caribbean islands that I've visited have a windward and leeward side. Typically all the development is on the leeward side, where reefs are more easily formed to produce placid (good snorkeling) lagoons. In the latitudes in which DR lies, I would expect the prevailing winds to be northeasterly (bending to easterly). If that?s true, that would make the north shore the windward side of the island. (In many of the Web?s real estate photos of north shore beaches, I can see the swell and its related shore break.) Yet in reading this forum, I saw a comment that said the north shore has the best snorkeling. Can someone please explain? I would expect the windward side to have murky water.
2) If the north shore is indeed the windward side, and if DR is mountainous, what is the affect on sea breezes on the south shore? (A fresh breeze is so nice in the tropics.)
3) If the wind blows across the island, does that mean that one of the shores has bugs blown onto it ? like the west coast of Florida?
4) Is the north shore better protected from a hurricane, since for most of the season, tropical storms form off of Africa and move to the northwest?
5) I assume that the island of Espa?ola is a big enough land mass that it causes a diurnal affect with wind ? that is, the wind dies down at night, unlike smaller islands where it blows almost constantly? Is this true?
These considerations may seem trivial to some, but they?re important to me in determining where to start looking for a rental, so that I can spend a few months seeing how I like it.
All input will be appreciated.
I spent all day Sunday researching Dominican Republic (CIA website, this Website, online real estate offices, etc.), and was really surprised at the degree to which the DR is being developed -- particularly the north shore.
Since I love to swim in the ocean every day when I'm in a tropical beach resort, a good swimming beach is essential. (I was raised in the surf of Southern California, but prefer protected waters for swimming and snorkeling.) Therefore, I would appreciate it if you could answer some questions.
1) All Caribbean islands that I've visited have a windward and leeward side. Typically all the development is on the leeward side, where reefs are more easily formed to produce placid (good snorkeling) lagoons. In the latitudes in which DR lies, I would expect the prevailing winds to be northeasterly (bending to easterly). If that?s true, that would make the north shore the windward side of the island. (In many of the Web?s real estate photos of north shore beaches, I can see the swell and its related shore break.) Yet in reading this forum, I saw a comment that said the north shore has the best snorkeling. Can someone please explain? I would expect the windward side to have murky water.
2) If the north shore is indeed the windward side, and if DR is mountainous, what is the affect on sea breezes on the south shore? (A fresh breeze is so nice in the tropics.)
3) If the wind blows across the island, does that mean that one of the shores has bugs blown onto it ? like the west coast of Florida?
4) Is the north shore better protected from a hurricane, since for most of the season, tropical storms form off of Africa and move to the northwest?
5) I assume that the island of Espa?ola is a big enough land mass that it causes a diurnal affect with wind ? that is, the wind dies down at night, unlike smaller islands where it blows almost constantly? Is this true?
These considerations may seem trivial to some, but they?re important to me in determining where to start looking for a rental, so that I can spend a few months seeing how I like it.
All input will be appreciated.