Snorkel· Isla Catalina· Other Caribbean
Isla Catalina Anchorage & Snorkel
18° 22.2′ N · 69° 1.4′ W
A low coral island 1.5 miles off La Romana with powder-white beaches, sandbars and some of the southeast coast's best diving: the Catalina Wall (over 100 ft), the Aquarium, and the 'Living Museum of the Sea' around Captain Kidd's wreck.
Practical
Waypoint from the Virgintino DR guide (~2015): small anchorage protected N through SE, 10 ft close to the beach over sand, but rolly. It is a cruise-ship stop (Costa Cruises has a private beach), and the beach is mobbed when a ship is in. The remains of Captain Kidd's Quedagh Merchant, found in December 2007, lie in about 70 ft (21 m) off the island and form an underwater museum (Wikipedia; GoDominicanRepublic). The island is part of a protected area: anchor in sand only. Dive operators run from Casa de Campo and Bayahíbe.
Best for
Wall diving, Kidd's wreck and a lunch stop near Casa de Campo
Season
Best on days without a cruise ship