CHANTAL - Punta Cana
Chantal isn't your typical Caribbean deep wreck, and that's precisely why we love it. This isn't a dive to tick off depth records; it’s a dive for pure, unadulterated exploration in an incredibly shallow setting. The old motor vessel ran aground back in 1978, trying to make it from Cap Haitien to Aruba. Now, it’s broken into several large sections, spread across the sandy bottom, barely meters deep. We’re talking maximum 5 meters here, which makes Chantal perfect for extended bottom times and really soaking in the details. You can spend an hour weaving through the ribs of the hull, poking your head into what used to be the engine room, or peering into the shadowed holds. Schools of juvenile snapper dart in and out of the rusted plating, and we've consistently found moray eels peeking from crevices. Our favourite part? The way the sunlight dances through the water, illuminating the vibrant sponges and soft corals that have taken hold on every surface. It feels like swimming through a sunken sculpture garden. Best to hit it mid-morning when the sun is high for the clearest light and warmest water. It’s a fantastic spot for photographers or anyone who just wants to take their time with a wreck without the pressure of depth limits.
- Location
- Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 18.711666, -68.440000
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 1m
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
- Channel - 10-25m (drift)
- Chorizo (reef)
- Coco Reef - 13m (reef)
- Coral Garden - 5-20m (reef)
- Cuevitas - 10-25m (cave)
- El Peñon - Dominican Republic (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to CHANTAL
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 CHANTAL
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