Patato - Punta Cana
Patato is a relatively shallow site off Punta Cana, good for less experienced divers or those looking for a relaxed second dive. You’ll drift over a sandy bottom interspersed with small coral heads, home to schooling snapper and grunts. Keep an eye out for southern stingrays resting in the sand and the occasional green moray eel tucked into a crevice. It’s a pleasant, easy dive.
- Location
- Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 18.714910, -68.435130
- Type
- reef
- Maximum Depth
- 10-20m
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)
- CHANTAL - 1m (wreck)
- Chorizo (reef)
- Coco Reef - 13m (reef)
- Coral Garden - 5-20m (reef)
- Cuevitas - 10-25m (cave)
Nearest Dive Centres to Patato
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 Patato
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