Padre Nuestro - Bayahibe & La Romana
Padre Nuestro is an inland freshwater cenote, a bit of a trek but worth it for something different. You’ll find incredible visibility here, often 30 metres plus, and some interesting stalactite formations in the overhead environment. It’s shallow, only reaching 20 metres at its deepest, making it a good choice for newer divers or those looking to refine their buoyancy in a calm, clear setting. We’ve spotted large freshwater gobies and the occasional chiton clinging to the rock.
- Location
- Bayahibe & La Romana, Dominican Republic, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 18.370000, -68.850000
- Type
- cenote
- Maximum Depth
- 5-20m
- Difficulty
- Beginner
Marine Protected Area: Punta Bayahibe
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 Padre Nuestro
- 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 Padre Nuestro
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