Snorkeling In Punta Cana: A Guide For Family Fun

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Snorkeling In Punta Cana: A Guide For Family Fun

Punta Cana’s Caribbean coast with white sand beaches, and clear turquoise waters make it a snorkeler’s playground. With an average water temperature of 79-83 degrees Fahrenheit and plenty of marine life to explore, snorkeling in Punta Cana is an activity the whole family can enjoy at any time of the year.

On a recent vacation in Punta Cana, our family rented one of the glass bottom boat tours that guided us off the Bavaro Beach coast and took us snorkeling at a nearby reef. Admittedly, more experienced snorkelers and divers may not find Punta Cana snorkeling as thrilling as other places in the Caribbean such as Belize, but it is home to the longest coral reef in the Dominican and is very beautiful with an abundance of spectacular, colorful fish. For us as a family and beginners, snorkeling was such a great experience and truly was a highlight of our Punta Cana vacation.

If you’re planning a family beach vacation to Punta Cana, snorkeling is a must-do activity. Read on to learn everything you need to know about snorkeling in Punta Cana, from the best snorkeling spots to what to pack for your trip.

Some Background on Snorkeling

One of the best ways to experience the beauty of the coral reef and underwater life is by snorkeling. Snorkeling is a great activity for all ages and swimming ability levels. It’s perfect for both beginner and experienced swimmers alike. All you need is a mask, snorkel, and fins (flippers) to explore the underwater world.

If you’re not a strong swimmer, snorkeling is still a great option. Most snorkeling spots have areas where you can stand or touch the bottom, so you don’t have to be swimming the whole time. And, if you get tired, you can always float on your back and take in the views or use a life jacket to help keep you afloat.

Punta Cana is home to some of the best snorkeling spots in the Caribbean. With the clear visibility of the water and abundance of marine life, snorkeling in Punta Cana can be an unforgettable experience.

The Best Places For Snorkeling Around Punta Cana

Now let’s talk about the best places for snorkeling in Punta Cana. You can have a fun and unique experience on your vacation during a half-day or full-day tour that can be booked through a tour operator. The tour company will provide trip transportation from your hotel and take you on a fantastic snorkeling tour. The tours can be on a speed boat, catamaran cruise, a party boat, or a glass bottom boat that takes you from the mainland to your snorkeling destinations, and a few fun stops along the way. The trips usually last a few hours and include a stop in a shallow water area where guests can swim and explore a natural swimming pool. Some tours may also include food and unlimited drinks. I will provide a list of tours and tour operators below. Here are some of the more popular tours and best destinations for snorkeling in Punta Cana and the nearby region:

Saona Island

Saona Island (Isla Saona) is one of the top places tourists go for snorkeling and to enjoy the beautiful island scenery. With its crystal-clear waters and abundance of marine life, snorkeling in Isla Saona is an unforgettable experience. The island is a fun 45-minute to 1-hour boat ride from most of the all-inclusive resorts. Check out Saona Island Excursions Here.

The best snorkel spots on Isla Saona are located around the island’s south coast. Here, you’ll find a variety of tropical fish, coral, and other marine life. Keep your eyes peeled for moray eels, barracuda, sea turtles, and dolphins.

Isla Saona is well known for its many sandbars, which are large areas of accumulated sand that bring the ocean depth to just a few feet, creating a natural pool. Visitors can enjoy these waist-deep transparent waters hundreds of meters from the island’s shoreline. Standing in the middle of the Caribbean Sea with waters just below your waist is quite the experience and a fun part of your Isla Saona excursion.

The starfish is one of the biggest draws to the natural pool area. These harmless sea creatures are indigenous to the region and make for a great photo opportunity. However, the conservation of the starfish is taken seriously by the Dominican government. Visitors are only allowed to take photos with the starfish before releasing them back into the water.

Isla Saona is a great place for both beginner and experienced snorkelers. With its easy-to-access snorkeling spots, Isla Saona is sure to please everyone. So, if you’re looking for a snorkeling adventure in Punta Cana, be sure to add Saona Island to your list.

Punta Cana Marinarium

If snorkeling with humans is getting too crowded for you, then head to the Punta Cana Marinarium. Here, you can snorkel with stingrays and nurse sharks in a controlled environment. The Punta Cana Marinarium is located in a protected cove, so the water is calm and clear. This makes it the perfect place for both beginner and experienced snorkelers. They also offer snorkeling lessons here for beginners.

During your snorkeling adventure, you’ll get to see stingrays, nurse sharks, and a variety of other fish up close. You may even get the chance to feed the stingrays.

Bay of Samaná

The Bay of Samaná is located on the northeast coast of the Dominican Republic, and it’s easily one of the best places for snorkeling near Punta Cana.

The bay is sheltered by a coral reef, which means that the water is typically calm and clear, making it ideal for snorkeling. You’ll find plenty of marine life here, including colorful fish, sea turtles, and dolphins. Plus, the bay is surrounded by beautiful scenery, making it a perfect place to relax after a morning of snorkeling.

There’s also a sunken ferry here that you can snorkel around, which is a really cool experience. However, you’ll have a hard time finding any organized excursion that will take you snorkeling here. The best way to visit the Bay of Samaná is to rent a car and drive yourself or hire a private driver or you can find a few tours leaving from Punta Cana. 

Bávaro Beach

One of my favorite snorkeling excursions was the glass-bottom boat excursion that takes you right off of Bavaro coast in front of the Melia resorts. I like it because it was a quick 2-½-3 hour excursion for a smaller group that we were able to squeeze in before checking out on our last day of vacation. I also liked being able to the underwater world from the moment you step into the boat. The guide was very friendly and provided us with snacks and some snorkel gear. I wasn’t as prepared on that trip for snorkeling, but next time I will bring my own snorkel mask and underwater camera. We made a few stops including a nearby reef where we were able to get in the water and see some beautiful fish. Then we were able to go spend time during our boat trip at the natural pool before heading back to the resort to pack up and head back to the airport.

A snorkel and mask: The snorkel helps you breathe underwater and a full-faced mask helps you see better underwater. You can rent or buy snorkeling equipment at most snorkeling spots, but it’s usually cheaper to bring your own. If you book a snorkeling tour with a tour operator, they will usually provide this equipment. There are some snorkel masks that you can buy with a camera attachment so you can video while snorkeling with an underwater camera.

• Underwater camera: You might find that the tour guide will take photos and videos of your snorkeling experience. These are great to have and fun memories to capture. For some people, this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience or trip that you don’t want to forget, so you certainly want to get it on camera. The only downside is that the tour operators usually charge you a lot of money for the digital downloads of your photos. We were asked to pay over $100 once for the digital files. I was actually able to negotiate the price and he came down off the price after a while. It was such a unique and fun adventure with our family and I certainly wanted to have those memories captured, but I didn’t have the extra $100 to shell out for them. I bought an underwater camera for less than the price he wanted to charge me for the one trip and now I can take my own pics and videos whenever we go back out in the water. I suggest you pick up one like a GoPro camera if you want good quality and reliable camera, or you can also find cheaper action cameras that are decent but less quality that can still get the job done.
• A life jacket: having a life jacket not only provides protection during any boat rides but also assists in keeping you afloat while snorkeling and observing what is underwater. There are some life jackets that are portable and inflatable that are great for packing to travel and use during your snorkeling excursion.
• A beach towel: A beach towel is always a good idea to bring along, especially if you’re on an excursion away from your hotel. I recommend getting an oversized travel beach towel like the one in this link that comes in a travel pouch making it easy to pack around. It is super absorbent and provides a sand-free barrier so it will be good to use while relaxing on the beach.
• Sunscreen: Don’t forget to pack sunscreen! The sun can be quite strong in Punta Cana, so you’ll want to make sure you’re protected from the sun’s harmful rays. You don’t want to return from your snorkeling adventure blistered by the harsh tropical sun rays. I highly recommend bringing a good mineral-based sunscreen that helps to protect both you and the coral reef. Pipette Mineral Sunscreen is one that we actually use at the beach, as it offers a great sun defense and doesn’t bleach out the coral. Hawaii has recently banned many sunscreens from being sold in their state due to the coral-killing chemicals that are found in many of them. Also, be aware that you can buy sunscreen at the resorts, but you will most likely pay 2-3 times more for it there. I would also suggest bringing a good lip balm to protect your lips from the sun. I didn’t bring any on my last trip and searched in many of the shops before a found one generic stick that cost $9 as compared to only $1 if I would have preplanned and purchased it when I was back home!
• Water shoes: Water shoes will protect your feet from any rocks or rough surfaces. Water shoes are also good for other watersports you may want to participate in such as kayaking, boating, fishing, etc. Some tours or excursions may even require that you have water shoes. You can find water shoes at most sporting goods stores or on Amazon, like this one that is comfortable, versatile, and quick drying.
• Beach hat: A beach hat not only helps you look good at the beach but also adds another layer of UV protection while enjoying the beach or pool. You might appreciate having a hat if you are sunbathing and trying to read a good book. There are many options out there for beach/pool hats. A convertible beach hat is a lightweight, convertible beach hat to the visor that is easy to pack. There are other bigger, floppy, and fun design beach hats or you can always go with the more traditional wide-brimmed straw beach hat.
• Bug Spray: You will be visiting a tropical island, so there will be occasions to encounter some bugs and mosquitos, especially being outside in the evenings. Be sure to have a bug repellent with you. Again, you will pay 3-4 times as much for it once you are there, so it’s better to pack some with you. There are several options such as All Terrain Natural Insect Repellent which contains natural oils and is deet-free. Other popular ones are Avon’s Skin So Soft and Murphy’s Natural Lemon and Eucalyptus Oil Insect Repellent.
• Sunglasses: I really like the polarized sunshades because it removes the glare but really enhances the color and beauty as you view your surroundings. I also try to find some sunglasses that are good for watersports and other fun activities we will be enjoying while in Punta Cana.

Some Do’s and Don’ts of Snorkeling in Punta Cana

Snorkeling isn’t something that we all do every day. So, it’s important to know the dos and don’ts of snorkeling. This way, you can avoid any accidents and have a safe and enjoyable snorkeling adventure.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when snorkeling in Punta Cana:

Do:

• Choose a snorkeling spot that is right for your level of experience.
• Bring your own or rent snorkeling equipment from a reputable source.

• Follow the snorkeling rules and regulations.
• Wear sunscreen to protect yourself from the harsh sun’s harmful rays.
• Try not to go too far from the zones marked as safe.
• Stay hydrated

Don’t:

• Touch the coral.
• Stand on the coral.
• Wear sunscreen with chemicals that harm the coral reef.
• Leave behind trash or litter.

A family vacation to Punta Cana is not complete without a snorkeling adventure. Snorkeling in Punta Cana is a great way to see the beautiful underwater world. Now that you know what to expect, the best places to snorkel, and what to pack, you’re ready to start planning your snorkeling adventure. We hope you and your family have a great time and make some happy memories just as ours did from our snorkeling experience along the beautiful beaches of Punta Cana!