The Sub-Ministry for Coastal and Marine Resources, a division of the Environment
Ministry, has initiated a study in B?varo to determine the importance of the
potential role the dive industry can play in Dominican tourism. According to the
story in El Caribe, the average tourist pays US$160 for the privilege of diving
off the coasts of B?varo. The prospect of adding scuba diving and snorkeling to
the list of tourist attractions of the Dominican Republic is enticing to the
Ministry of Tourism. The NGO B?varo Refound and local dive shops are cooperating
with the government to develop the study on the practicability of diving in the
area, with the selected areas to be protected from damage by the dive operators.
In all, 13 areas are being considered.