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Dive Review of Dressel Divers/Iberostar in
Dominican Republic/Bayahibe

Dressel Divers/Iberostar, Jul, 2010,

by Bob Penhearow, ON, CA (Sr. Reviewer Sr. Reviewer 10 reports). Report 5693.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 5 stars Food 4 stars
Service and Attitude 4 stars Environmental Sensitivity 4 stars
Dive Operation 4 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 4 stars
Beginners 5 stars
Advanced 3 stars
Comments Bayahibe is reported to be the best dive area in the Dominican Republic (DR). Samana and Punta Cana being acknowledged as other dive sites. We stayed at the Iberostar hotel, I had a total of 14-dives over a 2-week period with Dressel Divers an on-site, Belgium company. The instructors were young, multi-lingual and enthusiastic. Generally I found Dressel to be a professional operation with training offered at both the OW & AOW level, but limited in PADI specialty. The dive briefings were informative, the staff helpful with safety a priority. You dived to their profile and the dive ended at 750psi. You carried your own gear (50 yards) to the boat were tanks were waiting. The boats accommodated around 16-divers with a DM for every 6-8 divers. The dive day was morning 8:30AM and afternoon 1:30PM. I preferred a double tank morning dive but this was not an option. However, a night dive was offered once/week. Island excursions were available to: Catalina and Catalinita with lunch on the beautiful Saona Island.

The coral was decent, as was the fish: stingrays, trumpets, puffers, lions, box, trunk, pipe & a large Jack fish. However the visibility was not as good as hoped for. The highlights for me were the two wrecks: St George (105')& Atlantic Princess (42'), along with an exciting first night dive: Octopus, cuttlefish and moray eels! If you do go, the best DM is Julie!

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 26-50 dives
Where else diving Ft. Lauderdale & Boracay, Philippines.
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, windy Seas calm, choppy, surge
Water Temp 80-85°F / 27-29°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 40-60 Ft/ 12-18 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile no
Enforced diving restrictions Generally- 60'
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? no

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles None Whales None
Corals 3 stars Tropical Fish 3 stars
Small Critters 2 stars Large Fish N/A
Large Pelagics N/A

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter N/A Boat Facilities N/A
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments [None]
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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