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In general, the Dominican Republic, including
Punta Cana, is not home to the best snorkeling
areas in the Caribbean. If you have travelled to
places such as Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos,
you are most likely to be a little disappointed
by the views during your experience. Many areas
on the Atlantic coast have been damaged over the
years by sports such as diving and of course
fisherman. You may have a good experience in
Catalina or Bayahibe, in the south part facing
the Caribbean Sea, which are better areas for
snorkeling.
On another important and interesting
note, The
Ecological Reefs Foundation of Bavaro
founded and managed by
Hispaniola Aquatic Adventures has a
conservation program that has been working on
restoring its natural habitat. The planting and
building of these artificial reefs to actively
progress marine life began in 2016. The results
achieved have been surprising, managing to make
this activity an
unforgettable experience. During the
tour, there is also almost a 100% chance of
seeing turtles from the catamaran. The Ministry
of Environment has rated our project
one of the 3 biggest coral gardening projects in
the Dominican Republic. This allows a
snorkeler to have a
mesmerizing experience on this part of
the Island.
The tour area in Bavaro Punta Cana is within the reef, which means shallow waters. Due to this factor as well as the direction of the wind, navigation on a catamaran is by motor for at least 50% of the time. Although the conditions are not ideal for sailing, the views of the tour area and the experience offered by Hispaniola Aquatic Adventures is highly recommended. The snorkeling, duration of tour, the food prepared on the kitchen platform and much more, makes up for the tour being motorized.
Many areas in Punta Cana and Bavaro, being on the Atlantic side, have rough waters due to the direction of the current. Hispaniola Aquatic Adventures tour area is located close to Cabo Engano (where the Caribbean Sea starts). That being said, the excursion is done within a reef lagoon, meaning the navigation is protected by a coral reef barrier. In other words, your catamaran ride will be smooth, so no need for sea sickness pills. A perfect ride for the whole family.
The Government of the Dominican Republic has
reinforced protocols to protect Tourists and
Locals from the Virus. With the launch of the
Tourism Recovery Plan, many hotels have opened
their doors, inspiring people to travel again.
The use of masks and social distancing are the
key preventative protocols implemented by the
Country. All hotels are obliged to implement an
area for their employees to remain as a major
part of their day to avoid cross contamination.
The ministry of tourism as well as the ministry
of the Environment will be doing frequent
verifications at the Resorts to make sure all
protocols are being carried through as per the
Government standards. As for excursions outside
of the resort, you are urged to verify with the
Tour operators what protocols they have
implemented. For example,
at Hispaniola Aquatic Adventures, we have
implemented all COVID-19 protocols necessary
for our clients to enjoy their time out on the
water with not a worry in the world.
You can find the
protocols on
our home page.
Most Restaurants and Hotels keep all their seafood frozen, as it is imported. Eating outside of your hotel can be tricky, especially when choosing to eat Seafood. At Hispaniola Aquatic Adventures, our seafood freshly caught locally. We season it carefully with fresh herbs and olive oil and you can enjoy our cooking show on our floating kitchen during your tour with us. This means your freshly grilled seafood will be prepared right in front of you. Our floating kitchen has all the permits and has exceeded all hygiene requirements by the Ministry of Environment.
You can enter the Dominican Republic with no pre-testing of the Covid-19 Virus. However, it is recommended to do a test 3-5 days prior to your trip and bring your results anyway. For example, the Punta Cana Airport (PUJ) does random checks. Your arrival will go much smoother if you already have your results from back home. Here is a quick link to the PUJ airport protocols page: Punta Cana International Airport
Although masks are required in public areas, it is recommended you check with your Resort / Tour Operator if you are required to wear masks on their properties. If you plan to leave the resort, masks are always required in transportations, stores and general public places. If you do an excursion, check with your provider if you will be required to wear a mask. Boat tours do not require you to wear your mask once boarded.
It is strongly recommended to use Private transportation to / from airport to / from your hotel. Using private transportation means no hassles when exiting airport/leaving your hotel, security and most of all your safety and well-being during this Pandemic.
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