A major Caribbean island, Hispaniola lies between Puerto Rico to the East, and Cuba to the west. The site of the first of the European colonies Christopher Columbus founded during his 1492-1493 voyages, it is the 22nd largest island on the planet. The Dominican Republic occupies just half the island; the other half belongs to Haiti.
New Discovery at Puerto Plata’s Choco Nature Reserve
Puerto Plata’s Choco Nature Reserve is located near Cabarete, which is a small town located about fifteen mintues from the city of Sosua, which is located on the north portion of Hispaniola. With mountainous landscapes, beautiful beaches with pure white sand, and clean, clear water, Cabarete is a popular destination for divers and others who visit the Dominican Republic.
El Choco Nature Reserve covers approximately eighty square kilometers. It features two beautiful lakes, a natural wetland area, stunning natural pools, walking trails, and a system of caverns. It was inside one of these caverns that a group of divers made a stunning new discovery. In November of 2013, members of the Dominican Republic Speleological Society (DRSS), who often scout new locations by horseback, were exploring the caves of El Choco when they discovered what has been confirmed to be the largest of Hispaniola’s known caves.
At one kilometer long and 25 meters deep, it features many stunning natural formations including stalactites, stalagmites, columns, and patches of flowstone. While it’s not the largest diveable cave in the world by any stretch of the imagination, it is attracting attention from cave divers worldwide.
Exploration is still underway, but divers who are interested in an expedition may be able to set up a trip through DRSS. The speleological society here has a strong commitment to environmental protection, working to educate the public about the importance of the cave systems on Hispaniola not only because much of the fresh water on the island is sourced from these caves, but because bats and other animals dwelling inside are important members of the island’s ecosystem. DRSS is also working to put a stop to the practice of harvesting stalactites and stalagmites for sale in tourist shops. As the island attracts more cave divers, it is hoped that authorities will move to increase protection of the caves and the species that live in them - particularly once it is understood that they are worth more as natural resources and ecotourism destinations than as tchotchkes on shelves. After all, these stunning formations take thousands of years to develop, and they are irreplaceable.
There are many excellent cave diving sites in the Dominican Republic including several that are privately owned, some of which are cenote-like sinkholes which may be connected via an underground river. There are also numerous reef sites and wrecks to explore along the island’s coastline for those divers who either don’t want to cave dive or are not qualified to do so. Whether you are primarily interested in cave and cavern diving or if you’re looking for a destination the whole family can enjoy, consider taking a trip to Hispaniola.