That’s it dear readers. Home to the longest coral reef in the Dominican Republic, Punta Cana is interestingly not one of the top snorkeling/diving destinations in the Caribbean, neither in the country itself. If you’ve been in places like Virgin Islands, Curacao, Mexico, Turks and Caicos, then forget a similar experience. Its location along the Atlantic Coast explains it all. Punta Cana waters are rougher than those along the Caribbean coast, especially in winter.

Also most coral reefs have been damaged over the years from un-eco friendly water sports (diving) and fisherman. That’s the main reason why snorkeling and diving in Punta Cana is not a memorable experience like other places in the Caribbean. This doesn’t mean snorkeling is out of the question, but you will have to reconsider your expectations to avoid to get disappointed.

Some local sites to consider include the wreck site of the Monica, or the shallows near the resort Club Med. Casual snorkeling from shore is also NOT possible in many places (specially alongside Bavaro Beach) due to heavy boat traffic; swimmers are confined to designated areas. 

A good choice would be the section at Cabeza de Toro Beach, without boat traffic, in resorts like Catalonia or Serenade that offer a decent snorkeling from shore. As a general practice, most resorts and hotels in the area offer their guests free snorkeling gear as part of their stay. Most agree that the better option will be to sign up for a snorkeling tour by boat to reach the best reefs (check out our suggestion, the Full Package Snorkeling, Snuba & Parasailing tour).

Off Punta Cana the best snorkeling/diving excursions are around 90 minutes away in Caribbean waters, around Catalina Island. Many dive centers send their snorkelers to Catalina or Bayahibe, in the south part facing the Caribbean Sea, much calmer with clear waters. The “Wall” reef is one of the best reefs in all the country. We offer 2 differnt tours leaving from Punta Cana, both including snorkeling and lunch at the island:

– Catalina Island Day Trip with Altos de Chavon
– Catalina Island VIP with Playa Grande and Rio Chavon

As many say, Punta Cana is just good to relax and get wet, but not that good for snorkeling.