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Diving
Specialties: Big Animal Encounters (Humpback Whales),
Live-aboard Diving.
Hispaniola is the Caribbean’s second largest island and it is
comprised of Haiti on the left side of the island and the
Dominican Republic on the right. The island is flanked by the
Atlantic Ocean to the north and the Caribbean Sea to the south.
The coastline varies from rocky cliffs to sandy beaches with
reefs and ancient wrecks surrounding much of the shoreline.
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Silver Banks
The Silver Banks are located 80 miles north of the Dominican
Republic in the Atlantic, southeast of Turks and Caicos Islands.
In 1986 the Dominican Republic declared the Silver Banks a
whale sanctuary. The Silver Banks is one of the few places in
the world where snorkelers are allowed to enter the water and
interact with humpback whales in their natural environment.
The Silver Banks is a 75 square mile shallow coral reef area
(only 20 to 75 feet deep) which derives its name from large
amount of Spanish gold and silver lost in shipwrecks in the
1600's. The "banks" are an underwater plateau of limestone. The
coral heads which break the surface provide protection for the
whales and their young from the ocean swells. It is estimated
that between 3,000 to 5,000 humpbacks pass through Silver Banks
between December and mid-April each year, making it the largest
breeding and calving grounds in the world.
The Silver Banks is reached only by live-aboard boats that have
obtained a special license issued by the Dominican Republic
Whale Commission. Only a few boats hold this license which
allows travel and mooring in the waters of this sanctuary. These
boats must adhere to strict guidelines of non-invasive travel
near the whales.
Best
Diving Months: February through March.
Water
Temperature: The water temperature ranges from about 76°F to
82°F. A 3mm wet suit and skin for layering are recommended.
Underwater
Visibility: Averages 50 to 100+ feet.
Airport
Info: Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
Documents
and Customs Regulations: A passport is required. All
travelers should have a round-trip or onward ticket.
Language:
Spanish is the official language. English is frequently spoken
around tourist areas.
Health:
Imported pharmaceuticals are available but expensive. Some
water is drinkable in hotels but as a rule, drink bottled water.
Climate:
Temperatures along the south coast average 82°F in winter and
95°F in the summer.
Government:
A republic.
Electrical
Current: 110-120 volts, 60 cycles AC and compatible with
American appliances.
Current Weather:
Get current weather from Weather.com
Currency:
The Dominican Peso (DOP). Get
current exchange rate from XE.com
Current Time: The
Dominican Republic is on Atlantic Standard Time (GMT -4).
Get current time from WorldTimeServer.com
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