Diving in Santo Domingo’s coral reefs
Santo Domingo, formerly known as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city of the Dominican Republic and the lergest metropolitan area in the Caribbean by population. As of 2022, the city center had a population of 1,029,110 while its metropolitan area, Greater Santo Dimingo, had a population of 4,274,651. Was founded in 1496 by the Spanish Empire and is the oldest continuously inhabited European Settlement in the Americas. It was the first seat of Spanish colonial rule in the New World, the Captaincy General of Santo Domingo.
It is the site of the first university, cathedral, castle, monastery, and fortress in the New World. The city’s Colonial Zone was declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Santo Domingo was called Ciudad Trujillo, from 1936 to 1961, after the Dominican Republic’s dictator, Rafael Trujillo, named the capital after himself. Following his assassination, the city resumed its original designation. Furthermore is the cultural, financial, political, commercial and industrial center of the Dominican Republic, with the vast majority of the country’s industries being located within the city. Santo Domingo also serves as the chief seaport of the country. The city’s harbor at the mouth of the Ozama River accommodates the largest vessels, and the port handles both heavy passenger and freight traffic.
Despite its small size, the Dominican Republic is home to nine national parks, including an underwater park located east of the capital: Parque Nacional Submarino La Caleta. It is the only entirely underwater reserve in the country. The Parque Nacional Submarino La Caleta (English: La Caleta Underwater National Park) is a national park located approximately 20 kilometres from Santo Domingo. It is adjacent to Las Americas International Airport. Created by Decree N° 249 on September 25, 1986. La Caleta Underwater National Park is the first underwater park in the Dominican Republic and is considered by experts to be one of the five best diving locations in the Caribbean.
It has a maximum depth of 180 metres. Many coral reefs can be found between 10 metres and 50 metres. It is one of the most visited parks in the country and attracts divers from both the Dominican Republic and other countries. It is classified as an ecotourism park, aimed at the assessment of existing natural resources, while encouraging participants to pursue conservation and respect for nature.
(extract from Wikipedia)
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