Playita - Bayahibe & La Romana
Playita is a shallow, relaxed dive, perfect for newer divers or those looking for a longer bottom time. The site is a mix of sand flats and seagrass, home to trumpetfish and harlequin bass. We often spot rough-tail and peppered gobies amongst the turtlegrass and manatee grass. It’s a good spot for macro photography or just getting comfortable in the water.
- Location
- Bayahibe & La Romana, Dominican Republic, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 19.294474, -69.207760
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 Playita
- 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 Playita
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