# Grand Bay of the Sea — Full Reference

> Grand Bay of the Sea (also "Grand Bay of the Sea Dive Center") is a PADI-certified
> scuba dive center in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, operating since 2016. It offers
> Discover Scuba Diving for first-timers, the full range of PADI certification courses,
> guided reef and wreck dives, an open-water shark dive at Shark Point, multi-site island
> day trips (Catalina, Bayahibe; Saona as a private charter), liveaboard and whale-watching expeditions, and
> deep-sea fishing charters. Instruction is available in English, Spanish, and French.
> Booking is direct (no third-party markup), with hotel pickup included across the main
> Punta Cana / Bávaro resort area.

This file is the detailed companion to https://www.grandbay-puntacana.com/llms.txt.
All prices are per person in US dollars (USD) unless stated otherwise and may change;
confirm current pricing and availability at the time of booking.

---

## Quick Facts

- **Business name:** Grand Bay of the Sea (Grand Bay of the Sea Dive Center)
- **Type:** PADI-certified scuba diving center / dive operator (local service + tour operator)
- **Founded:** 2016
- **Location:** Carretera Cabeza de Toro, Punta Cana, La Altagracia 23000, Dominican Republic
- **Coordinates:** 18.64857, −68.358637 · Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/K7QH9YacD54Dr4Jf7
- **Serves:** Punta Cana, Bávaro, Cap Cana (and surrounding resort areas)
- **Languages:** English, Spanish, French
- **Phone / WhatsApp:** +1 829-723-9338
- **Email:** grandbayofthesea@gmail.com
- **Currencies / payment:** USD; cash and credit card; online deposit + balance on the day
- **Rating:** 4.8 / 5 (151 Google reviews)
- **Website:** https://www.grandbay-puntacana.com
- **Booking:** direct via the website contact form or WhatsApp

---

## Diving Conditions in Punta Cana

- **Water temperature:** 26–29 °C (78–84 °F) year-round — comfortable diving in every season.
- **Visibility:** typically 15–25 meters (50–80 feet) depending on weather and sea conditions.
- **Local dive-site depth range:** 6–30 meters (20–100 feet); day-trip wreck diving in Bayahibe reaches 40 meters.
- **Dive-site selection:** local sites are chosen daily based on weather, sea state, and visibility for the safest, best experience — they are not pre-assigned.
- **Suitability:** many reefs start shallow (from 6 m), making Punta Cana well suited to beginners and certification students while still offering advanced sites for experienced divers.

---

## Experiences & Pricing

### Discover Scuba Diving — from $100
Try scuba diving for the first time, no certification required. Includes a theory briefing,
basic skill practice, and an open-water dive to a maximum depth of 6 meters (20 feet) under
the direct supervision of a certified PADI instructor. Equipment included. Minimum age 10.
Can later count toward a PADI Open Water course. URL: /courses/discover

### Certified Fun Dives — 2-tank $135 · 4-tank package $240
Guided two-tank reef and wreck dives for certified divers (Open Water or equivalent).
Two-tank outing runs about 2.5 hours; the 4-tank package is the best value for multi-day
divers. Equipment and hotel transport from the Bávaro resort area included. URL: /sites

### Shark Dive at Shark Point — $190
Open-water (no cage) guided two-tank shark dive at Shark Point, a coral reef site 15–20
minutes from shore by boat reaching ~26 meters (80 feet). Divers encounter nurse sharks,
blacktip reef sharks, and Caribbean reef sharks in their natural habitat. **Requires Advanced Open Water certification,
or Open Water with a minimum of 20 logged dives** (assessed case by case — bring your logbook).
All equipment provided; hotel transport from Punta Cana and Bávaro included. URL: /shark-dive-punta-cana

---

## PADI Courses

All certification courses include PADI eLearning materials, full equipment rental, confined-water
training, and open-water dives. Taught in small groups by multilingual (EN/ES/FR) instructors.
The theory (eLearning) portion can be completed before arrival to save vacation time.

| Course | Price | Duration | Max depth certified | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discover Scuba Diving | $100 | ~half day | 6 m / 20 ft (supervised) | None; min age 10 |
| PADI Scuba Diver | $399 | 2 days | 12 m / 40 ft (supervised) | None; min age 10; basic swimming |
| PADI Open Water Diver | $499 | 3–4 days | 18 m / 60 ft | None; min age 10; basic swimming |
| PADI Advanced Open Water | $449 | 2–3 days | 30 m / 100 ft | Open Water (or equiv.); min age 12 |
| Enriched Air (Nitrox) | $350 | — | — | Open Water (or equiv.) |
| Wreck Diver (specialty) | $400 | — | — | Open Water (or equiv.) |
| Deep Diver (specialty) | $400 | — | 40 m / 130 ft | Advanced Open Water (or equiv.) |
| Peak Performance Buoyancy | $300 | — | — | Open Water (or equiv.) |

- **Discover Scuba Diving** (/courses/discover): first-time experience, not a certification. Teaches basic scuba skills, breathing, buoyancy, underwater communication and safety.
- **PADI Scuba Diver** (/courses/scubadiver): entry-level lifetime certification (a subset of Open Water); dive to 12 m under professional supervision; upgradable to Open Water later. Ideal for short stays.
- **PADI Open Water Diver** (/courses/openwater): the world's most recognized beginner certification; dive independently with a buddy worldwide to 18 m.
- **PADI Advanced Open Water** (/courses/advanced): five adventure dives including deep and underwater navigation (plus options such as wreck, night, drift); certifies to 30 m.
- **Specialties** (Nitrox, Wreck, Deep, Peak Performance Buoyancy): build specific skills; the Wreck specialty can include the St. George shipwreck.

---

## Dive Sites

Twelve sites are available, from shallow beginner reefs to advanced wrecks.

| Site | Depth | Level | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shark Point | 24–30 m | Advanced (AOW or 20+ dives) | Nurse & Caribbean reef sharks, coral reef |
| St. George Wreck (Bayahibe) | 40 m | Advanced | 73 m cargo ship sunk 1999; barracuda, grouper, moray, king mackerel |
| The Wall (Catalina Island) | 30 m | Intermediate–Advanced | Dramatic drop-off, thriving reef, open-ocean views |
| Wreck Monica | 15 m | Open Water | 1880s French cargo ship; coral reef, tropical fish |
| Anchor | 14–19 m | Open Water | Historic anchor from the Monica; diverse reef |
| Rock City | 5–16 m | Intermediate | Natural canyons and swim-throughs |
| Atlantic Princess (Bayahibe) | 12 m | Intermediate | Sunken cruise ship artificial reef |
| Park Reef | 12 m | Beginner / OW students | Rock formations, vibrant corals, calm |
| Cuevitas | 10 m | Intermediate / photographers | Caves and canyon swim-throughs, natural light |
| Submarine | 6 m | All levels | Sunken retired tourist submarine, artificial reef |
| Finger Coral Plantation | 6 m | Beginner | Finger coral, sandy bottom, reef fish |
| El Niño | 6 m | Beginner / Discover Scuba | Punta Cana's most accessible site; shallow reef |

---

## Island Day Trips

### Catalina Island — Diving $220 · Snorkeling $100
Full day from Punta Cana. ~7:00 AM hotel pickup → ~1.5 h bus to La Romana → 30-min boat to
Catalina Island. Two-tank dive at **The Wall** (to 30 m, adjusted to certification level) and
**The Aquarium** (sheltered reef ~12 m; yellow stingrays, lobsters, moray eels, angelfish,
trumpetfish, barrel sponges), plus reef snorkeling. Lunch and alcoholic/non-alcoholic drinks
included. Returns ~6:00 PM. All certification levels welcome; non-divers can snorkel ($100).
$100 deposit per booking. URL: /trips/catalina

### Saona Island — Private charter only · $250 per diver / $150 per snorkeler (min $1,000)
Exclusive full-day **private charter** from Punta Cana (no shared group departures — the boat is
yours). ~7:30 AM pickup → ~40-min drive to Bayahibe → two-tank dive/snorkel at the **Atlantic
Princess** wreck (12 m) and **El Peñón** reef → boat to **Saona Island** for a beach buffet lunch
with drinks → brief stop at the **natural pool** (shallow turquoise sandbank with starfish) on
the return. Returns ~6:00 PM. All certification levels; snorkelers welcome. $1,000 charter
minimum; $200 deposit per booking. URL: /trips/saona

### Bayahibe — Diving $180 · Companion boat ride $100
Half day from Punta Cana. ~7:30 AM pickup → ~1.5 h bus to Bayahibe → two-tank dive featuring the
legendary **St. George wreck** (73 m cargo ship at 40 m depth), with additional reef/wreck sites
such as the Atlantic Princess depending on conditions. **Advanced Open Water required** for the
St. George. Returns ~4:00 PM. Lunch/drinks not included; non-diving companions $100. $100 deposit
per booking. Not yet Advanced? Take the AOW course (from $449). URL: /trips/bayahibe

---

## Liveaboard & Whale Watching

Grand Bay of the Sea also arranges liveaboard expeditions in the Dominican Republic. The
**Silverbank Expedition** is a diving-focused summer liveaboard (June–August) to the Silver Bank,
north of the DR — it is not a whale trip, and no whale watching is done at the Silver Bank. A
separate seasonal **whale-watching adventure** runs during the Dominican Republic's humpback
whale season (January–March). Specifics, dates, and pricing vary by season — contact the dive
center to confirm. URLs: /liveaboard-dominican-republic ·
/liveaboard-dominican-republic/silverbank-expedition ·
/liveaboard-dominican-republic/whale-watching-adventure

## Deep-Sea Fishing

Deep-sea fishing charters out of Punta Cana. Shared charter **$130 per person** (spectators /
non-fishing companions **$90**); **private charter $700**. $50 deposit per booking; the balance
is paid on the day. Closed Sundays. URL: /fishing-punta-cana

---

## Marine Life

Common sightings while diving in Punta Cana include sea turtles, stingrays, moray eels, angelfish,
trumpetfish, parrotfish, nurse sharks, blacktip reef sharks, Caribbean reef sharks, and large
schools of colorful reef fish. Reefs feature healthy coral including brain coral, pillar coral, sea fans, and fire coral.
A detailed marine species directory is at /species (covering eagle rays, moray eels, squirrelfish,
spiny lobster, scrawled filefish, blue-headed wrasse, glassy sweeper, goatfish, porcupine fish,
angelfish, sergeant major, and more).

---

## Booking, Transport & Policies

- **How to book:** direct via the website contact form (/contact) or WhatsApp (+1 829-723-9338). The team typically responds within a few hours to confirm availability.
- **Deposit & balance:** bookings are secured with a deposit — $100 per booking on Catalina and Bayahibe day trips, $200 on the Saona private charter, and $50 on local dives, the shark dive, and fishing charters; the remaining balance is paid on the day of the activity.
- **Payment:** cash and credit card; online deposit options available.
- **Hotel transport:** included for guests in the main Bávaro / Punta Cana resort area. An additional transport fee applies for Uvero Alto, Cap Cana, and Punta Cana Resort — share your hotel name to confirm before booking.
- **Equipment:** all scuba equipment (BCD, regulator, wetsuit, tank, weights) is provided; bring your own if you prefer.
- **What to bring (dives/courses):** certification card (C-card) and logbook if certified, swimwear, towel, reef-safe sunscreen, and cash for any balance.
- **Safety:** PADI-certified instructors and divemasters; group briefings and enforced experience requirements (e.g., for the shark dive). Shark Point has an excellent safety record.

---

## Travel & Diving Guides (Blog)

A library of 115+ in-depth articles at https://www.grandbay-puntacana.com/blog (categories:
Marine Life, Diving Tips, Travel Tips, Conservation & Ocean Awareness, Local Businesses).
Selected guides:

- Is Punta Cana Safe for Tourists? — /blog/travel-tips/is-punta-cana-safe-for-tourists
- How Many Days to Dive Punta Cana (itinerary) — /blog/travel-tips/how-many-days-dive-punta-cana-itinerary
- Best Time to Scuba Dive Punta Cana, Month by Month — /blog/travel-tips/best-time-scuba-dive-punta-cana-month-by-month
- How Much Does Scuba Diving Cost in Punta Cana? — /blog/travel-tips/how-much-does-scuba-diving-cost-punta-cana
- Best Dive Sites in Punta Cana: Reef & Wreck — /blog/travel-tips/best-dive-sites-punta-cana-reef-wreck
- Catalina Island vs Bayahibe: Which Dive Trip? — /blog/travel-tips/catalina-island-vs-bayahibe-which-dive-trip
- Scuba Diving for Beginners: What to Expect — /blog/diving-tips/scuba-diving-for-beginners-what-to-expect
- Can You Scuba Dive Without Certification? — /blog/diving-tips/can-you-scuba-dive-without-certification-punta-cana
- How to Get PADI Certified in Punta Cana — /blog/diving-tips/how-to-get-padi-certified-punta-cana
- Equalization Techniques for Scuba Diving — /blog/diving-tips/equalization-techniques-scuba-diving
- How to Improve Air Consumption While Diving — /blog/diving-tips/how-to-improve-air-consumption-while-diving
- Is Scuba Diving Safe? Real Risks — /blog/diving-tips/is-scuba-diving-safe-real-risks
- Eagle Rays in Punta Cana — /blog/marine-life/eagle-rays-punta-cana
- Marine Life of Punta Cana — /blog/marine-life/marine-life-of-punta-cana
- Marine Conservation in Punta Cana — /blog/conservation-ocean-awareness/marine-conservation-punta-cana
- Reef-Safe Sunscreen in Punta Cana — /blog/conservation-ocean-awareness/reef-safe-sunscreen-punta-cana
- Why Coral Reefs Are Important — /blog/conservation-ocean-awareness/why-coral-reefs-are-important

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## Frequently Asked Questions

**Is scuba diving in Punta Cana good for beginners?**
Yes. Calm, warm water and good year-round visibility make it one of the Caribbean's best beginner
destinations. Discover Scuba Diving requires no certification and gets you underwater the same day.

**Do I need a certification to dive?**
Not for Discover Scuba Diving. Guided reef/wreck fun dives require Open Water (or equivalent).
Full PADI certification courses are available on site.

**How much does it cost?**
Discover Scuba from $100; certified two-tank dives $135; shark dive $190; Catalina trip $220
(diving) / $100 (snorkeling); Bayahibe $180; Saona private charter $250 per diver / $150 per
snorkeler (min $1,000). PADI Open Water $499, Advanced $449.

**How long to get certified?**
Scuba Diver ~2 days; Open Water ~3–4 days; Advanced Open Water ~2–3 days. Most travelers can
certify during a standard vacation, especially if eLearning is completed before arrival.

**Do you need Advanced Open Water for the shark dive?**
Yes — or Open Water with 20+ logged dives, assessed individually (the dive reaches ~26 m). Bring
your logbook.

**Is the shark dive cage diving?**
No. It is an open-water dive on a natural reef alongside your divemaster — nurse sharks,
blacktip reef sharks, and Caribbean reef sharks in their natural habitat.

**What is the St. George wreck?**
A 73-meter cargo ship built in Scotland (1962), sunk in 1999 as an artificial reef off Bayahibe;
it rests at 40 m and is considered one of the Caribbean's best wreck dives. Advanced Open Water required.

**Is hotel transport included?**
Yes for the main Bávaro / Punta Cana resort area; a surcharge applies for Uvero Alto, Cap Cana,
and Punta Cana Resort.

**What languages do instructors speak?**
English, Spanish, and French.

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## Social Profiles

- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grandbaydivecenter/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grandbayoftheseard/
- X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/GrandBayOfTheS1
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpYWOhIwbVVLGYOxL0UAtTw
- Spanish site: https://www.grandbay-puntacana.com/es