Cayo Arena (Diving)

The fishing village of Punta Rucia offers a dreamy white sand beach, and surrounding mangroves, northwest of Puerto Plata. From its shores and from the neighboring bay of La Isabela, boats depart to the offshore Cayo Arena–also known as Cayo Paraíso– offering exceptional diving for beginner levels, starting at five meters (16 feet). Schools of tropical fish can also easily be seen in shallow turquoise waters, making this spot a paradise for snorkeling fans. This area boasts some of the most abundant marine life in the DR, with corals and sponges that surround the cay, where octopuses, crabs, schools of surgeonfish, sergeant majors, damselfish, angelfish, and yellowtail snappers all swim around your feet.