Cuevitas - Dominican Republic - Bayahibe & La Romana
Home Bay, on the western flank of Great Mercury Island, gets a bit of a bad rap sometimes, largely thanks to those struggling scallop beds. But look past the closed fishery and you'll find a surprisingly chill dive, particularly if you’re after something easy with a chance of bigger stuff passing through. We’ve spent a fair few hours here, drifting over the sand and seagrass patches, spotting southern eagle rays cruising by. Our favourite time to drop in is a calm morning, just after sunrise. The light filters through the 8m average visibility, catching the subtle movement of the tall sea pens. While "The Sisters" reef is popular with spearos, we prefer the quieter drift over the sandy expanses. Keep an eye out for blue sharks further out, or even a striped marlin if you’re exceptionally lucky. It’s a great spot for a relaxed second dive, or for less experienced divers building their confidence, without the pressure of strong currents.
- Location
- Bayahibe & La Romana, Dominican Republic, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 19.329800, -69.568600
- Type
- reef
Marine Protected Area: Bancos de La Plata y La Navidad
Best Time to Dive in Bayahibe & La Romana
The warmest water temperatures in Bayahibe & La Romana occur in January, averaging 26.9°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 26.9°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 26.9°C (air: 24.7°C)
- February: 26.9°C (air: 24.7°C)
- March: 26.9°C (air: 25.0°C)
- April: 26.9°C (air: 25.6°C)
- May: 26.9°C (air: 26.9°C)
- June: 26.9°C (air: 27.6°C)
- July: 26.9°C (air: 27.8°C)
- August: 26.9°C (air: 27.9°C)
- September: 26.9°C (air: 27.7°C)
- October: 26.9°C (air: 27.1°C)
- November: 26.9°C (air: 25.9°C)
- December: 26.9°C (air: 25.0°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Bayahibe & La Romana
- 3. Riff (cenote)
- 3. Riff (reef)
- Almendra (wall)
- Almendra (cenote)
- Aquarium
- Aquarium Boca Chica (reef)
- Aquarium Boca Chica (reef)
- Atlantic Princess (Wreck) (wreck)
- Atlantic Princess (Wreck) (reef)
- Atlantic Princess Wreck (Bayahibe) (reef)
- Atlantic Princess Wreck (Bayahibe) (wreck)
- Bajo Largo (reef)
- Bajos del Caballo (reef)
- Bajos del Catalina (reef)
- Bayahibe (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to Cuevitas - Dominican Republic
- CARIBBEAN DIVERS - ASOBUCA - SSI, CMAS, SEI
- Profundo Blue
- Scuba Libre
- Seaklub Samana - ["PADI"]
- Shark Juan Dolio Diver
- The Dive Academy - NAUI
Marine Life in Bayahibe & La Romana
Home to 181 recorded species including 157 reef fish, 6 seagrass & algae, 6 sea snails & nudibranchs, 3 other, 3 hard corals, 2 whales & dolphins.
Notable Species
- Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) - Reef Fish
- Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish
- Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
- Gutong (Scarus iseri) - Reef Fish
- Barber (Acanthurus bahianus) - Reef Fish
- Gutong (Sparisoma aurofrenatum) - Reef Fish
- Sheephead (Microspathodon chrysurus) - Reef Fish
- turtlegrass (Thalassia testudinum) - Seagrass & Algae
- manatee grass (Syringodium filiforme) - Seagrass & Algae
- Escolar (Lepidocybium flavobrunneum) - Reef Fish
- Coney (Cephalopholis fulva) - Reef Fish
- Allison's Tuna (Thunnus albacares) - Reef Fish
- Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) - Reef Fish
- loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
- Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Dark Green Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) - Reef Fish
- Dorado (Coryphaena hippurus) - Reef Fish
- Graysby (Cephalopholis cruentata) - Reef Fish
- Blue Parrotfish (Sparisoma chrysopterum) - Reef Fish
- Great Barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Cuevitas - Dominican Republic
Based on average water temperature of 26.9°C.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 27°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories