Atlantic Princess (Wreck)
Protected Area
Punta Bayahibe
Why dive here
With 250+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, humpback whales, nurse sharks, orcas and sea turtles - Atlantic Princess (Wreck) offers some of Punta Cana's richest wreck diving. Water sits around 27°C.
If you’re diving in Punta Cana, the Atlantic Princess is a wreck we always recommend for new divers, or anyone who just wants a mellow, interesting dive. This old cargo ship, run aground and later sunk intentionally, rests upright on a sandy bottom, broken into two main sections. It’s shallow, only about 13 metres, which means plenty of bottom time and lots of light filtering down. We love finning slowly around the stern, where the propeller is still intact, encrusted with sponges and small corals. Look closely and you’ll spot a moray eel peeking from a pipe, or a shy lionfish tucked into a shadowed corner. The interior is largely open and easy to navigate for those with appropriate training, but honestly, the best stuff is often on the exterior; schools of French grunts hang out in the cargo hold, flashing silver, and we’ve seen some surprisingly large barracuda just off the bow. It’s a comfortable, captivating dive, ideal for getting comfortable with wreck penetration, or just enjoying a calm swim through history.
Typical Atlantic Princess (Wreck) Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Safety Notes
Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.
Always perform a 3-minute safety stop at 5m before surfacing.
Atlantic Princess (Wreck) Wreck History
Year Sunk
2008
Vessel Type
passenger ship
Cause
storm
The Atlantic Princess was a small passenger vessel that once ferried tourists along the vibrant coastline of Punta Cana. Its career came to an abrupt end in 2008 when a powerful storm inflicted critical damage. While being towed to Santo Domingo for repairs, the vessel succumbed to its injuries and sank, coming to rest on the sandy seabed just offshore from the popular Bávaro beaches.
Resting at a shallow depth of around 13 meters (40 feet), the Atlantic Princess is one of the most popular and accessible wreck dives in the Dominican Republic. Its easy depth profile makes it perfect for newly certified divers, underwater photographers, and anyone looking for a relaxed exploration. The wreck is largely intact, though broken in a few sections, allowing for easy and safe viewing. Over the years, it has transformed into a bustling artificial reef, attracting large schools of grunts, snapper, and goatfish, as well as providing shelter for moray eels and crustaceans.
Nearest Dive Centres to Atlantic Princess (Wreck)
Dive shops near Atlantic Princess (Wreck)
Coral Point Diving
BLUE DREAMS DIVING
Reef Oasis Viva Dominican
Pro Dive International Catalonia Bayahibe
Reviews for Atlantic Princess (Wreck)
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Atlantic Princess (Wreck)
Atlantic Princess (Wreck) Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Atlantic Princess (Wreck), sourced from NOAA buoy data - nearest station: Open-Meteo grid (18.52, -68.36) (0km away)
August Averages
Sea Temperature
26.7°C
80°F
Air Temperature
27.64°C
82°F
Wind Speed
5.12 m/s
10.0 knots
Atmospheric Pressure
1014.7 hPa
Based on 5 years of monitoring data · Data sources: NOAA NDBC
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