Snorkeling in DR (Punta Cana)

[Regina]

My husband & I will be travelling to Punta Cana in Jan '01(first time), We are staying at the Paradisus. Can anyone recommend a reputable snorkeling tour operator to go out with in that area,& or what specific reefs are worth visiting(alive not dead & overexposed)Unfortunately, my husband punctured his eardrum twice and we cant dive. We did some great snorkeling in Jamaica & Cozumel and I would love to hit up a great tour either 1/2 or full day without getting "ripped off". Im sure I wont be able to constructively communicate as too what Im looking for in a snorkel trip since we dont speak much spanish. Can anyone help me?? We plan on visiting Isla Soana, Im sure we'll hit some good spots there, but I could snorkel 24, 7. Im thanking you in advance- Regina

 

[Bob in Milw.]

We will also be in Punta Cana (Iberostar Punta Cana) the last
week in Jan. There will be 10 ppl. in our group and all love
to snorkel. Myself and one other guy in our group are scubadiving
fanatics. From the researching I've done it seems the reefs in
Punta Cana are only mediocre being they have been over fished
by the locals. However there is a shipwreck right in front of our
hotel that our dive shop (Dressel Divers) does dive trips to. It
appears you can snorkle to it from shore being it is only a
couple hundred yards off shore.(providing you're a good swimmer
and the waves are not to big). You mentioned going to Saona Isla
on a day trip. There's the great place to dive/snorkel. Another
great place to go is Catalina Isla just west of Saona off the
coast of La Romana.We are doing day trips to both Islands with
our dive shop. You leave the hotel at 8 AM and return at 7 PM.
The cost is $75 and includes bus, 2 dives or snorkel, lunch
and drinks. Feel free to email me. Have a great trip and
remember when in the water we "Take only pictures and leave
only bubbles" Peace, Bob in Milw.

 

[Regina]

Thanks so much, We stayed at the Iberostar in Cozemel last January, nice resort(it had just opened so there was allot of bugs that needed to be worked out)thatched roofs beautiful scenary but the beach was crap(coral rock), talk about some great snorkeling/diving though, absolutely unreal in Cozemel, I could have snorkeled forever, the water was the most incredible blue color and the visability was unreal, I never saw such reefs/sealife anywhere. Its funny you made a comment about taking only pictures, I just bought a Minolta underwater camera yesterday for my husband for this trip(surprise), cause last year he actually used a dispoable with a "baggie" rapped around it.I just dont know about boys & their "toys".We'll be in DR Jan 12-19th, you said your going the end of January so we'll probably just miss one-another, I will post a message on what I was able to come up with when I return.Take it easy--