Las Terrenas - Bayahibe & La Romana

New Reef, or Dom Te Te if you're talking to the locals, is a dive we always try to squeeze in, especially for a morning wake-up call. It's just a quick fifteen-minute ride from Soul Scuba, meaning you're often the first boat there, gliding over those coral bommies as the sun gets higher. The reef itself starts shallow, around five meters, but we love dropping to the max twenty-two to catch the start of the show. This site is ridiculously fishy. We're talking schools of fusiliers so thick they momentarily block out the light, then parting to reveal tuna or barracuda cruising through. It’s a great spot for spotting those smaller, more unusual characters too – we’ve found Slender Snake Eels poking out of the sand and once spent an entire safety stop watching a Bluestone kambingan dart between corals. The current is usually gentle here, a nice drift, allowing you to really soak in the vibrant corals towards the end of the dive. That top reef, around five to eight meters, is just bursting with colour, a perfect slow finish to a great dive. We think it’s ideal for photographers or anyone who just wants to immerse themselves in a dense, active reef without a fight.

Location: Bayahibe & La Romana, Dominican Republic, Caribbean
Coordinates: 19.322400, -69.538800
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)

Nearest Dive Centres to Las Terrenas

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 Las Terrenas

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