Snorkelling and Diving in Sosúa

Of all the towns on the north coast, Sosúa is the one divers know. The reef that shelters the bay also makes it the easiest place on the coast to get in the water — snorkelling from the beach, boat dives a few minutes from shore, and dive centres within walking distance of our apartments. Here is how to make the most of it, whether you have never worn a mask or you are logging your hundredth dive.

Snorkelling straight from the beach

You do not need a boat. At either end of Playa Sosúa the rocks drop into clear water with coral heads, sergeant majors, parrotfish and the occasional ray. Go in the morning before the boats and the wind, wear reef shoes for the entry, and stay inside the bay. Masks and snorkels can be rented on the beach, or bring your own — they weigh nothing.

Dive sites around Sosúa

The dive centres run boat trips to a dozen sites, most of them ten to twenty minutes out. The ones guests talk about most:

• Airport Wall: a drop-off that starts shallow and falls away into the blue, with sponges, gorgonians and larger fish along the wall.

• The Zingara wreck: a cargo ship sunk deliberately as an artificial reef, sitting upright at around 35 metres — an advanced dive that is now covered in coral and fish life.

• Three Rocks: shallower coral formations that suit beginners and photographers.

• Coral gardens along the reef inside the bay for the first dives of a course.

Learning to dive

Several PADI and SSI centres operate in Sosúa, and a Discover Scuba session or a full Open Water course is one of the most popular things our guests do in a week. Courses start with the calm water of the bay, which is exactly why Sosúa is a good place to learn. Book a day or two ahead in high season.

Conditions and the best months

Water temperature is 26 to 29 °C all year, so a shorty or a 3 mm suit is enough. Visibility is best in the calmer months from May to September; winter trade winds can stir up the surface but the bay itself stays diveable most days. Humpback whales pass along the coast between January and March, and lucky divers hear them underwater.

What to bring

• Your certification card and logbook if you are certified.

• Reef-safe sunscreen — the reef is the reason you came.

• A rash guard for snorkelling: sunburn through the water is the most common holiday mistake.

• An underwater camera; the dive shops also rent them.

Where to stay

Divers usually take an apartment at Rizz Suites: the dive centres, the beach and the boats are a few minutes on foot, and there is a pool and a gym for the afternoons. For an oceanfront base right by Playa Alicia, look at Infiniti Blu. If you would like us to book a dive centre or a course for your dates, let us know.