Diving with a Camera in the Dominican Republic and Indonesia

The Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is located between the Atlantic and Caribbean. The annual route of humpback whales through the Atlantic Ocean goes through the north of the island. You can meet the giants of the sea while diving from January to March, of course if you are lucky. The South of the island offers tropical diving conditions like the ones in the Caribbean. Shallow depths and warm water temperatures provide good conditions for beginners, while advanced students can explore and film with a waterproof CCTV camera the surrounding wrecks.

Land and people

The Dominican Republic has about nine million people who excel despite the poverty of the irrepressible Caribbean zest for life. The country shares the island of Hispaniola with its much poorer neighbor Haiti. The Dominican Republic remains a popular tourist destination due to the politically stable conditions. Tourism is therefore the most important economic factor in the country.

Diving around the Dominican Republic

Diving is more challenging in the North of the island of the Dominican Republic, for example, in Sosua. There are many small caves and tunnels where people can dive easily and safely. A small wreck and the much acclaimed Airport Cave/Airport Wall complete the picture of Sosua. In the North lies the peninsula of Samana, which is the most beautiful region of the Dominican Republic, an area which is far enough from the major airports. In the center of the Peninsula lies Las Terrenas with its different diving opportunities. Again, there is a small wreck and there are two freshwater lakes connected by special tunnels.

There are Caribbean diving conditions in the South of the island. Boca Chica and Bayahibe are Diving centers. The depths of 12-15 meters are generally rather low, making the Dominican Republic a good place for a beginner diving course. Both Boca Chica and Bayahibe are close to the airport in contrast to the places in the North.

Indonesia

If Bali has been a traditional name for a long time, most can do little with the rest of Indonesia. However, divers can admire approximately Fifteen percent of the reefs worldwide, 75% of all known coral species and more than 4000 different animal species in Indonesia, a top destination for diving. In addition to this, a holiday in Indonesia is an adventure, although it is not as safe as the Red Sea.

Security

The tsunami that hit Indonesia in 2004 and cost more than 150,000 lives has now been overcome. The danger of Islamist attacks seems to have increased, too. The latest attack on Bali has been left behind. It is best to get travel advice from the Foreign Office before taking a trip to Indonesia.

The largest islands in the West

Indonesia stretches across some 17000 islands. With an 88% share, Islam is the most common religion among the 225 million people. This is Indonesia's largest island nation in terms of population and is the fourth largest country in the world per total.

Diving in Indonesia

Divers find the islands of Bali Alor, Flores, Komodo, Lombok and Sulawesi particularly interesting. The tourism is still underdeveloped on some of these islands. For this reason alone, you should check the hotel and dive site in advance as comprehensively as possible. Moreover, it is worthwhile to cast an eye on the security arrangements and correct any deficiencies. The nearest decompression chambers and hospitals are also far away, so remember that you should be caucious and more careful while on dives.

Rich fish and little dived spots

There is an incredible abundance of fish under the surface waiting for divers - tuna, mackerel and barracudas hunt their prey during swarming on steep walls and coral gardens, often being mistaken for the colorful reef. Slugs are presented as a patient macro model and angler fish wait around and attract all the sharks patrolling around. Sunfish, Napoleon, manta rays - the list of maritime attractions is endless and is a wonder. The cyanide fishing has threatened the fish stocks in the past, but is now banned. Unfortunately, the practice has not yet completely disappeared.Always be prepared when traveling.Sites like www.waterproofcamera.co.uk can help you obtain or just provide you with information about useful devices.

Tropical rain forests

Besides diving, the Indonesian islands offer one of the largest natural tropical rain forest areas of the planet with rich flora and fauna. A good place to explore this is the Komodo National Park. Moreover, ancient Buddhist and Hindu temples are waiting to be explored.