Walt Stearns of Scuba Diver Magazine, recently wrote this about the Punta Cana area:
Considered the longest continuous reef tract in the region, the Punta
Cana reef system occupies nearly the entire easternmost end of the second
largest island in the Caribbean. Its majestic expanse, starting just beyond
the shore and extending as much as a mile out, is that of a well developed
spur and groove formation with a max. depth of 60 feet before meeting a wide
sandy plane. Beyond this broad breadth of white sand, the bottom is peppered
with numerous patch reefs adorned with large, colorful gorgonians. Going
still further out, at depths reaching 100 feet, the bottom begins to drop
away to the deeper reaches of the Mona Passage, where on occasion, divers
will find cruising reef sharks.
Close to the DR's southern coastal Province of La Romana and the
country's East National Park are the two islands of Saona and Catalina.
Lying a short distance off the coast, in easy reach for day boats, they both
offer some of the finest shallow water reef systems in the DR. The most
unusual is the drop-off fringing the north side of Catalina Island. Starting
a mere 20 feet below the surface, dropping straight down to 120 feet, the
wall at Catalina is adorned by numerous colonies of sponges and soft corals
in rich pastel hues. Between the two, underwater clarity averages 80 and 100
feet throughout the year with currents so light they are seldom noticed.
