La Caleta Underwater National Park
A small marine park near Santo Domingo built around a deliberately sunk shipwreck.
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La Caleta was declared an underwater park in 1986 and its main feature is the Hickory, a salvage vessel deliberately sunk there in 1984 in around twenty metres of water, now broken and encrusted and reachable from the shore. Three more wrecks have been added since. A Taíno cemetery excavated on the land beside the park has its own small museum. The site is the standard training and shore dive for Santo Domingo operators.
What you actually see
- The Hickory wreck - the salvage vessel sunk in 1984 in around twenty metres.
- The added wrecks - the further vessels placed in the park since.
- The shore entry - a dive reachable by walking in from the beach.
- The Taíno cemetery - the excavated burial ground and museum on the land beside.
When to go
December to April has the calmest water and best visibility. Hurricane season runs June to November. Weekends bring local crowds to the beach.
Honest expectations
Visibility is often poor and the site is close to a busy stretch of coast. The beach area gets crowded and littered at weekends. The museum keeps irregular hours.
Nearby
Boca Chica is east, and Santo Domingo is west.
What to pack for La Caleta Underwater National Park
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.