Sosua Located near Puerto Plata, Sosua offers some of the North Coast's best diving. Not only are these sites home to countless varieties of tropical fish and marine life, but whale sharks, manta rays, and dolphins have also been known to make an appearance in these waters. Shallow reefs allow beginners to get comfortable with diving and the underwater world, while more advanced dive sites are only minutes away. Among the most popular sites are Las Palmitas, the Airport Wall, Five Rocks, and La Pirámide. Puerto Plata Heading west from Sosúa along the north coast are interesting wrecks off the shores of Cofresí and Monte Cristi. In 1563, the three Spanish ships Santa Catalina, San Jorge and Santa Maria were caught in a storm and crashed into a reef in the Monte Cristi area. While the Santa Maria has been salvaged, the other two ships drifted off the reef and sank between 60 and 90 feet. Insider's Tip: One particularly interesting dive trip is to Punta Rucia near Monte Cristi. There, a circular coral reef called Cayo Arena (Sand Island) has incredible coral diving. Cayo Arena is sometimes covered completely by the ocean, and at other times is extremely visible for topside exploring. The best months for diving in the North Coast are June to September when the water is calm and visibility is at its very best.