Catalinita Island
Bayahibe · Dominican Republic
Catalinita is a tiny uninhabited cay 12 kilometres southeast of Bayahibe whose surrounding walls and pinnacles remain among the most pristine coral structures in the Dominican Republic, untouched by anchor damage and far enough offshore to deter casual snorkellers. Eagle rays cruise the sandy channels between the island and the outer reef crest in pairs and loose aggregations, while hawksbill turtles rest on the hard coral ledges at 12 to 18 metres. The visibility here regularly exceeds 30 metres, allowing divers to take in the full sweep of staghorn and elkhorn meadows that have recovered substantially under the protection of the Del Este National Park.
Conditions
Depth
5 to 40 m
Advanced depths
Current
Can be moderate
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
15 to 25 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
24 to 30°C
shorty
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 25 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 25 |
| Vis (m) | 25 | 25 | 25 | 22 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 22 | 25 |
| Current | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle |
Your chances of seeing each animal
Bark Anole
Last confirmed Jun 18, 2026 · 54 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Sally Lightfoot Crab
Last confirmed Jun 17, 2026 · 40 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Santo Domingo Curlytail Lizard
Last confirmed Jun 18, 2026 · 37 records
Very likely
Most dives
White-Necked Crow
Last confirmed Jun 21, 2026 · 27 records
Very likely
Most dives
Caribbean Land Hermit Crab
Last confirmed Jul 8, 2026 · 32 records
Very likely
Most dives
Elkhorn Coral
Last confirmed Apr 25, 2026 · 5 records
Very likely
Most dives
Spotted Eagle Ray
Last confirmed Dec 30, 2024 · 1 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Hawksbill Sea Turtle
Last confirmed Oct 11, 2024 · 1 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Gear