Jackson Sunken Island - Sosua & Puerto Plata
Manta Ridge is exactly what it sounds like. We’re talking a consistent cleaning station for both reef and oceanic manta rays, especially between December and May, though we’ve seen them hang around much earlier some years. You drop onto a shallow ridge, usually around 15 metres, find a comfortable spot to hold steady against the current, and just wait. Often, it’s not much of a wait at all; the mantas come right over, circling the cleaning blocks. While the mantas are the main event, keep an eye out for blacktip and whitetip reef sharks passing through, and you might even spot an eagle ray if you’re lucky. This site is perfect for photographers or anyone who just wants to spend their dive watching these graceful giants.
- Location
- Sosua & Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 19.297400, -69.665700
- Type
- reef
Marine Protected Area: Gran Estero
Nearby Dive Sites in Sosua & Puerto Plata
- 3 Rocks
- Airport Wall - 8-25m (wall)
- ALSATIA - 5m (wreck)
- Canyon - 15-30m (wall)
- Canyon - 12-30m (reef)
- Canyons - Dominican Republic (reef)
- Cinco Metros, Las Ballenas (wreck)
- Coral Gardens - Dominican Republic (reef)
- Five Rocks
- Jet Ski (reef)
- La Piedra Prieta (reef)
- La Puntilla - 5-20m (reef)
- Laramar
- MECOSTA - 2m (wreck)
- NUESTRA SENORA DE LA CONCEPCION - 32m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to Jackson Sunken Island
Marine Life in Sosua & Puerto Plata
Home to 238 recorded species including 212 reef fish, 6 sea snails & nudibranchs, 4 hard corals, 3 other, 3 seagrass & algae, 3 whales & dolphins.
Notable Species
- American eel (Anguilla rostrata) - Reef Fish
- Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish
- Gutong (Scarus iseri) - Reef Fish
- Sheephead (Microspathodon chrysurus) - Reef Fish
- Gutong (Sparisoma aurofrenatum) - Reef Fish
- Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
- Barber (Acanthurus bahianus) - Reef Fish
- Coney (Cephalopholis fulva) - Reef Fish
- turtlegrass (Thalassia testudinum) - Seagrass & Algae
- Dark Green Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) - Reef Fish
- manatee grass (Syringodium filiforme) - Seagrass & Algae
- Eastern Mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) - Reef Fish
- Giant goby (Gobiomorus dormitor) - Reef Fish
- Graysby (Cephalopholis cruentata) - Reef Fish
- Baleares Conger (Ariosoma balearicum) - Reef Fish
- guppy (Poecilia reticulata) - Reef Fish
- Common False Moray (Kaupichthys hyoproroides) - Reef Fish
- Carrot Cone (Conus daucus) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Mulet (Mugil curema) - Reef Fish