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Dive Review of Sea Pro Divers/Melia Carib in
Dominican Republic/Punta Cana

Sea Pro Divers/Melia Carib: "Sea Pro Divers, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic", Apr, 2015,

by George Lynch, MA, US (Reviewer Reviewer 6 reports with 6 Helpful votes). Report 8500 has 3 Helpful votes.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 4 stars Food 4 stars
Service and Attitude 4 stars Environmental Sensitivity 1 stars
Dive Operation 2 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 2 stars
Beginners 2 stars
Advanced 1 stars
Comments Pleasant and laid back, friendly outfit. Unfortunately, not a serious dive destination. There is no reef. There is very little sea life. The sea floor is dead, algae covered, with very little coral, but dive boats drag their anchor chains across what is left, anyway. Regardless of how much air a diver has left, the ascent starts at 40 minutes, back on the boat around 45 minutes after entering the water. One doesn't really care, though, as there was very little to see. Had to stay behind, and follow, dive guide. I was back on the boat with 1500 lbs frequently, despite the dive sites being a 5 or 10 minute ride away, and had to come up at 40 minutes even once when I was the only diver (the other diver was seasick and they ran him back to shore and returned while the guide and I were underwater). Once I started my ascent with 1800 lbs. Pathetic.
We went to the same site 3 times out of the 6 dives I made there, and the others were very close by, or even contiguous. I contacted the dive shop, with difficulty, before leaving home and asked if I could be paired with experienced divers. They assured me this would be the case; it surely wasn't. The seasick diver was making his third dive, for example, and before going back to vomit on the boat he spent 10 to 15 minutes ascending and descending repeatedly, while I drifted around alone - the best part of the 6 dives I made with this third rate outfit. I was told by other divers there is good diving to be had to the south of here, but I can't confirm.
Strong, nauseating surge. Poor to fair, at best, visibility. No currents. Warm water. Moderate swells, little chop, nice breeze, when I was there in late April.
Do not consider this a place to go diving, though the beach is nice, people friendly, food good, resorts very pretty and inexpensive. Some of the worst diving I've done in 30 years. There is nothing remotely resembling a cultural experience here (Punta Cana), I'm afraid, though certainly there must be elsewhere on this large island. Good birdwatching!

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 501-1000 dives
Where else diving Red Sea, Palau, Fiji, Sipadan, Little Cayman, Cayman Brac, Grand Cayman, Bay Islands Honduras, Costa Rica, Bonaire, Cozumel, Providenciales Turks and Caicos, Cabo San Lucas, Big Island Hawaii, Florida Keys, Jamaica, Thailand, others
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather dry Seas surge, no currents
Water Temp 82-82°F / 28-28°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 15-50 Ft/ 5-15 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile no
Enforced diving restrictions See below for details. Had to stay fairly shallow (but the topography mandated that in any case) and follow-the-leader, start ascent at 40 minutes regardless of amount of remaining air.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles None Whales None
Corals 1 stars Tropical Fish 2 stars
Small Critters 2 stars Large Fish 1 stars
Large Pelagics 1 stars

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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