Two More Boats Intercepted With Dominicans Onboard
(The boat from last Wednseday contained 137 people, 94 men and 43 women all still in good health despite their recent trauma of sea and rescue).
In La Romana the people detained mostly originated from Nague and Villa Tapia, most people also having paid between RD$20,000 and RD$40,000 each for their passage to illegal travel organisers.
One woman interviewed, Milagros Pena said to reporters that she had no option left but to risk her life as she had been jobless for 8 months, and just out of sheer desperation saw no alternative but to go on this voyage. She was hoping to pick up work in Puerto Rico.
The 25 foot boat she was travelling on also contained a pregnant woman who was later detained in Mayaguez hospital for treatment.
The second boat contained 75 Dominicans and 2 Haitians and they were all aboard a 30 foot long boat.
Dominican Republic Scuba Diving
Since Jacques Cousteau helped invent one of the first self-contained underwater breathing apparatus, thus SCUBA, people all over the planet have taken up this amazing sport to experience first-hand the wonderful world beneath the sea. In recent years the Dominican Republic has become a popular destination for vacationing qualified divers, as well as those who want to satisfy their curiosity and take up the sport. There are many dive shops to chose from on the island that offer good quality instruction with courses ranging from Open Water (for beginner divers), Adventure Diver, Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver, Dive Master, Assistant Instructor, and Specialty Diving such as Deep, Wreck, Navigation, Photography, and Naturalist. One of the most well known dive destinations on the North Coast is the Sosua area, with a variety of dive spots to choose from, suitable for either those just learning the craft, to the experienced diver. The 3 Rocks is a shallow dive site (just over 50 feet) and great for beginners to view a large variety of fish, as is the Canyon, at a depth of only 35 feet. Both sites are within a short 5-10 minute boat ride from Sosua Beach. The Airport Wall for experienced divers goes to a depth of 80 feet and offers many sponges, hard and soft corals, different species of fish, also lobster and eel that dwell in a small cave. Another dive recommended for those more experienced is called The Caves which are around 50 feet in length at 80 feet deep. The 5 Rocks is a good dive for all levels with good visibility to see the many corals and lots of marine life. The Puntilla is an excellent beginner dive at a shallow depth of 40 feet, and The Garden that reaches 80 feet is self-explanatory in its name and an interesting site for all dive levels. There is also the Mini- Wall, so named as the drop only descends to a depth of 65 feet, nevertheless is a good dive for the less experienced and with excellent visibility. All dive sites are a 5 to 15 minute boat ride from shore.
Travelling east from Sosua will bring you to Rio San Juan/Playa Grande with good offshore waters for both beginning and experienced divers to view a myriad of colorful tropical fish and marine life. Cabrera is a short drive away and offers fresh water cave diving and an inland lake with a 30 foot wall with unbelievable lighting. The Samana peninsula offers varied sites in Las Terrenas with many holes and coral formations to explore, and from Las Galleras beach is the well known Cabron for advanced divers that descends along a spectacular underwater tower to a depth of 150 feet.Wreck diving is offered off the shores of Monte Cristi to the west of Puerto Plata, and another worthwhile trip is to Punta Rucia, also in the western part of the North Coast, which takes you to Cayo Arena (Sand Island) to view incredible coral formations and varied marine life.
Moving on to the south and east coasts of the island, Santo Domingo, Boca Chica and Juan Dolio, Bayahibe, and Punta Cana/Bavaro offer many and varied destinations that include wreck dives, night dives, and fresh water cave diving. One of the most sought out dive sites is La Caleta National Underwater Park located east of Santo Domingo, which covers an area of approximately 10 square kilometers. In 1984 the National Parks Department scuttled an old 130 foot ship called The Hickory, that was used to hunt for treasure from sunken Spanish galleons. This has created a very lively artificial reef of colorful coral formations with thousands of tropical fish and rich marine life. Nearby at a depth of 100 feet lies another ship named Capitan Alsina, 105 feet in length that was sunk in 1989. Both novice and experienced divers can enjoy this wonderful underwater park that can be reached by boat (about 20 minutes) from the resort hotels in Boca Chica.There are many popular dive sites that can be reached both from Bayahibe and La Romana by boat. Catalina Island has one of the best wall dives in the Dominican Republic, in addition to a spectacular shallower 30 foot dive through beautiful gardens with an abundance of fish and sea fans. Nearby Saona Island also has some great dive spots including some areas for good drift diving. The beaches of Punta Cana/Bavaro are protected by an 18 mile long colorful coral reef for shallow dives that is easily accessible by boat from all the resort hotels in the area.
Those who want to travel off-the-beaten-path should head for Barahona in the southwest of the island near the Haitian border. As this area is still basically untouched by tourism, divers have only recently discovered this unexplored paradise. There is an abundant of sites to visit with an astounding variety of marine life and unlimited visibility in these pristine waters.
Where to Stay in the Dominican Republic
First of all a huge big Welcome to the Dominican Republic. Bienvenidos (welcome) as we say over here to one of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean. After checking into your hotel and getting your bearings somewhat you may want to discover what is in fact beyond the boundaries of your hotel reception and golf course. A country of contrasts from the deliciously lush north of the island to the flat and dry landscape of the south, there are so many places to go to and activities to participate in it can get quite mind boggling. Below are some brief descriptions of places to visit, from mountain ranges, virgin beaches, fresh water rivers, deserts, tropical sugar cane fields, white water rapids, jungles and architecture with a city seeped in mystery and history – to but a few!!
If you are staying on the north coast Culture enthusiasts will enjoy the town of Puerto Plata. It has some great places to visit and walk around. Inside this old colonial town you will find the Amber Museum, San Felipe Fortress and the Brugal Rum Bottling Plant and the church by the beautiful antique Parque Central. A great malecon (sea front/promenade) to walk along and lots of souvenir shops too.
The picturesque bay of Sosua on the north coast offers swimming, sunbathing, snack bars and a long line of souvenir shacks on the beach market, where no price is fixed and all items are great reminders of your stay here in the island. The village also has a great variety of bars and restaurants and Jewish museum.
Centrally Jarabacoa also known as the Dominican Alps is found by making your way through the breathtaking scenery of the Cibao valley. Defiantly the centre for adrenalin pumping sport enthusiasts the area offers white water rafting, tubing, canyoning; don't worry if this all seems a little too energetic then there are some marvelous walks, beautiful waterfalls to explore, horseback riding to take in with the cool atmosphere surrounding you in the Dominican Alps.
Nearby Santiago is the second largest city in the Dominican Republic has some interesting monuments and churches to view and wonder around in. A huge area for the tobacco industry it is worth popping in to a cigar factory and watching cigars being hand rolled. Great shopping too.
Santo Domingo is the nation's cosmopolitan capital – retrace the steps of Christopher Columbus in the first city of "the new world". Visit the National Aquarium, the underground lakes and caverns of the Tres Ojos Caves (three eyes), the new Columbus light house and nestled in the colonial quarters the oldest cathedral in the Americas. Great shopping too in the El Conde and Mercado Modelo where bartering for a bargain is the order of the day.
Playa Grande is the largest beach on the north coast and one of the most unspoilt and beautiful treasures you can find. Miles of golden sand are lined by coconut palms and local shacks offering the favourite pina colada cocktail served in a whole pineapple! Boogie boarding is a popular pastime or jumping the waves as they wash across the spacious bay. Gri Gri Lagoon is minutes away where a short motor boat ride will take you through the naturally formed tunnels of the Mangrove Swamp out to the Atlantic ocean where on a calm day Swallow Cave can be visited. Fantastic golf course at Playa Grande too (See the Real DR golf excursion planner for courses all around the country).
Saona Island on the south east coast is the epitome of paradise and no words in the English language can describe the beauty of this island. First of all stroll around the famous cobbled streets of Altos de Chavon, the replica of an old European style village with its huge amphitheatre and view the Chavon river (where one of the Rambo movies were filmed). Craft shops and restaurants. By boat you will reach Saona Island traveling across the warm crystal clear waters of the Caribbean Sea. The uininhabited island offers beautiful snorkeling, swimming and sunbathing of course.
Catalina Island is another great little island to hop too for those who want to try snorkeling at one of the best locations on the south coast. You can take a leisurely cruise over on a glass bottomed boat, have a few drinks, top up your tan and swim and snorkel off the reef.
