2000 Chapbook

Despite the recent flurry of scuba advertisements touting the diving on the large Caribbean island of Hispaniola that the Dominican Republic shares with Haiti, I have yet to hear one report of good diving attributed to the island, the second largest in the Greater Antilles chain (exceeded in size only by Cuba).

Paradisus Punta Cana, April 1999, Rondi Campbell, Summerland, CA. Vis: 30-70 ft., Water: 80-82 degrees. Restrictions in force: Follow the leader. Beautiful all-inclusive resort. All watersports, including diving is included. Caters to resort course and beginning divers. Resort is beyond fabulous but don't go there for the diving. (Paradisus Watersport & Dive Center, Hotel Paradisus, Punta Cana, Bavaro, Dominican Republic; Telephone (809) 688-8150; Fax 688-8150)

R.E.D. Coral Divers/Bavaro Palace, August 1998, Tom Kelly, DDS, Irmo, SC. Vis: 70-100 ft. I've dived at least 20 other islands in the Caribbean and I was disappointed with R.E.D. in Punta Cana. None of the rental gear had depth gauges. The divemaster was the only person with one. Other equipment lacked Octopus and appeared older and worn. On the dives there wasn't any fish to see. The "wreck" dives and the "deep" dives had no underwater marine life either. Where are all the fish? For the "deep" dive the dive boat had to go 8 miles to get to a depth of 100 feet. This may explain why no one had depth gauges. The dive boat was small, narrow and open a rickety ladder. It's a good idea to know Spanish as we had some problems communicating. The Hotel Bavaro Palace is beautiful and the beach with its swaying palms has got to be one of the prettiest. Don't go for the scuba diving. (R.E.D. Coral Buceo y Pesca, Bavaro Beach Resort, Punta Cana; Telephone (809) 686-5797; Fax 686-5859)

Samana Scuba/El Portillo, June 1999, David H. Gouge, Kissimmee, FL. Vis: 50 ft. Water: 80 degrees. Considering the brochures, there was serious misrepresentation: I expected to be met at the airport and transferred to the resort. I found a rep who had no idea what was going on. Three hours later I was flown to Portillo. After waiting an hour I converted my bag to a backpack and walked a mile to the hotel. They offered no explanation. I expected a beach cottage with living room, kitchenette, bathtub/Jacuzzi and open bar as stated on the rate sheet. They put me in a hotel type room at the back. The bathtub had a shower, but no hot water. I expected 12 dives including daily boat dives, one night dive plus unlimited shore diving. I arrived on Thursday. Friday and Sunday the boat was full for Cabo Cabron. I went Saturday to Cuevas. Six divers, two divemasters and a captain in a 26 foot boat. Here's the drill. Meet at diveshop and put on all gear but fins. Wade out to boat. Take gear off and watch divemaster and captain pile it on the floor. Board the boat and sit on aft gunwale. Briefing: "35 feet for 45 minutes. Don't touch anything." Backroll into 2-4 foot seas. All descend together and voilà! There is nothing to touch and few critters. After 45 minutes we surfaced to find the boat a half-mile away. We banged around in those seas waiting a turn to board no tag line of course. Pile the gear on the floor and find a spot on the aft gunwale. Sunday trip to Cabo Cabron had 11 people in the 26-foot boat (8 divers, a divemaster, a videographer, and a captain) plus extra tanks and lunch. One hour ride perched on the gunwales. The 2 tank Cabo Cabron trip is really a three-tank trip because of distance and the provision of lunch (though they include meals in the package). I never took my camera out of the bag because they could not find a rinse bucket. They told me no night dives because they had no lights. I have dived under a myriad of conditions, but this trip took the cake. I sent a letter to Neal Watson's Undersea Adventures outlining the problems and safety concerns of the trip I had booked through them and they sent me a partial refund that was acceptable. (Samana Scuba Diving Center, El Portillo Beach Resort, Las Terrenas; Telephone (800) 550-1869 or (809) 240-6100; Fax 240-6104)