Diving Cayo Lavantado, Samana D.R.

[cmdchiefthom]

Just returned from the NCL Sun's Eastern Caribbean itinerary which included Cayo Lavantado just off the coast of Samana in the Northern Dominican Republic. The ship offered a one tank boat dive directly off the small island. While the island is beautiful, the diving literally sucked, and the divemaster seconded that opinion.

 

It's a sad situation when prior to entering the water, your host shares with you the fact that the locals will catch and eat anything, including French Angels, Parrot Fish, etc., and really don't care where on the reef they drop their anchors. :eek: There is literally little coral left, trash litters the reef, and the visibility left much to be desired. Not that the dives was bad, just the location. Considering I've been told that the north coast is the best of what's left of the diving in the D.R., I can think of no reason to ever dive there again!:(