Channel - Punta Cana
The Channel in Punta Cana offers a drift dive through a sandy channel. We often find nurse sharks resting on the bottom here, and reef fish cruise through the mild currents. It’s a pretty straightforward dive, good for newer divers getting comfortable with a bit of movement.
- Location
- Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 18.664898, -68.365590
- Type
- drift
- Maximum Depth
- 10-25m
Marine Protected Area: Costa Azul
Best Time to Dive in Punta Cana
The warmest water temperatures in Punta Cana occur in January, averaging 26.7°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 26.7°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 26.7°C (air: 24.9°C)
- February: 26.7°C (air: 24.7°C)
- March: 26.7°C (air: 24.9°C)
- April: 26.7°C (air: 25.4°C)
- May: 26.7°C (air: 26.6°C)
- June: 26.7°C (air: 27.3°C)
- July: 26.7°C (air: 27.4°C)
- August: 26.7°C (air: 27.6°C)
- September: 26.7°C (air: 27.7°C)
- October: 26.7°C (air: 27.3°C)
- November: 26.7°C (air: 26.1°C)
- December: 26.7°C (air: 25.4°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Punta Cana
- Acuario - 5-15m (reef)
- Astron
- ASTRON - 2m (wreck)
- Astron Wreck - 10-18m (wreck)
- Atlantic Princess (Wreck) - 13m (wreck)
- Atlantic Princess Wreck (Bayahibe) - 13m (wreck)
- Bavaro (reef)
- Bavaro (reef)
- Bayahibe - 14m
- CHANTAL - 1m (wreck)
- Chorizo (reef)
- Coco Reef - 13m (reef)
- Coral Garden - 5-20m (reef)
- Cuevitas - 10-25m (cave)
- El Peñon - Dominican Republic (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to Channel
Marine Life in Punta Cana
Home to 253 recorded species including 207 reef fish, 28 hard corals, 5 sharks & rays, 4 other, 3 crabs & lobsters, 2 whales & dolphins.
Notable Species
- Parrotfish (Thalassoma bifasciatum) - Reef Fish
- Bicolor Damselfish (Stegastes partitus) - Reef Fish
- Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish
- Yellowhead Wrasse (Halichoeres garnoti) - Reef Fish
- Coney (Cephalopholis fulva) - Reef Fish
- Blackfish (Melichthys niger) - Reef Fish
- Gutong (Sparisoma aurofrenatum) - Reef Fish
- Sammy Johnson (Scarus taeniopterus) - Reef Fish
- Barber (Acanthurus bahianus) - Reef Fish
- Mustard hill coral (Porites astreoides) - Hard Corals
- Clown Wrasse (Halichoeres maculipinna) - Reef Fish
- Lettuce Coral (Agaricia agaricites) - Hard Corals
- Dark Green Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) - Reef Fish
- Fairy Basslet (Gramma loreto) - Reef Fish
- Shark nose goby (Elacatinus evelynae) - Reef Fish
- Graysby (Cephalopholis cruentata) - Reef Fish
- Gutong (Scarus iseri) - Reef Fish
- Sheephead (Microspathodon chrysurus) - Reef Fish
- Hogfish (Bodianus rufus) - Reef Fish
- Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Channel
Based on average water temperature of 26.7°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