Fur seals live in the Caribbean Sea. Sharks in the Dominican Republic, are there sharks in the Dominican Republic? Sharks in the oceans

More than 15 years have passed since Russian tourists discovered the pearl of the Caribbean - the Dominican Republic. This unique country located between North and South America, has a pleasant tropical climate. Huge hotel complexes operate along the entire coast, operating mainly on an all-inclusive basis and offering guests really comfortable rest on the white sandy beaches of the country, surrounded by coconut palms. Besides, natural resources this island nation delights millions of travelers every year during land, air and, of course, sea excursions.

Some facts about the Dominican Republic

Dominican Republic is a state in Latin America, located on the island of Haiti and occupying 2/3 of its area on the east side. The second part of the island belongs to the country of the same name, the standard of living in which is one of the lowest in the world, and it is completely unsuitable for tourists.

Dominican Republic Map

The country is located predominantly in tropical zone, and rest is possible here all year round, however, the best time to travel is the Russian winter, from the end of November to mid-March. The rest of the time, the seasons of rains, monsoons and typhoons alternate here, bringing a lot of discomfort to people permanently residing here.

Additional Information! The island of Haiti itself is part of the Caribbean archipelago, which stretches from west to east across the entire caribbean and consists of such states as Cuba, Puerto Rico, Jamaica and other island countries.

What is washed by the Dominican Republic

Which sea is washed by the Dominican Republic? Despite the fact that the Dominican Republic is an island state, it shares its territory with the Republic of Haiti, which is located in the east. Thus, the country is washed by the seas on three sides, and its coast adjoins the following expanses of water:

• Dominican Republic, which ocean? Dominican Republic (Caribbean) the entire northern part is washed by the Atlantic Ocean, along the coast there are the most expensive and popular resorts among tourists, such as Punta Cana, Samana, Cabarete, Sosua, etc.;
• What is the sea in the Dominican Republic? The Caribbean Sea stretches from the southern part of the country, which captures the coasts of no less famous resorts - La Romana, Boca Chica, Juan Dolio;
• the conditional border between the sea and the ocean is located in the very east of the country, just not far from the outskirts of Punta Cana. IN good weather you can see how water of different salinity and temperature converges into a single mixture and forms a beautiful arrow that goes far to the horizon.

Important! Regardless of what waters the coasts of the Dominican Republic are washed by, paradise holidays in the country are available almost all year round, however, each coast has its own climatic and natural features.

Punta Cana

The nuances of rest on the Atlantic coast

What bathes the Dominican Republic? Before you go on a trip to the Dominican Republic, on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, tourists should remember the following features of recreation in these places:

• on Atlantic coast blowing over cold wind, from which the climate is slightly cooler than in the southern part of the country;
• the ocean itself can be stormy in some months, at high tide the water floods most of the beach, and swimming in it is somewhat more dangerous than in the sea, since the waves can exceed 2 m in height, especially during the rainy season;
• due to the abundance of underwater flora and fauna, diving and snorkeling are very popular on the ocean coast. For tourists, special excursions to coral reefs are organized, where the beauty of the depths amaze the imagination of vacationers;
• All inclusive hotels are very common along the ocean coast, occupying huge areas, sometimes hundreds of hectares, and among tourists, as a rule, evening rest in the city is not popular, since each hotel itself is a small settlement with up to 10 .0 thousand people;
• What is the ocean in the Dominican Republic? From the Atlantic coast it is much easier to get to the main natural attractions of the country - impenetrable jungle, mountainous areas, tropical gardens, freshwater lakes with waterfalls and, of course, the famous Samana Peninsula with a water area in which thousands of humpback whales live;
• finally, few people know, but the coast of the Dominican Republic along the Atlantic Ocean is rich in amber deposits, and it can be found everywhere. The locals offer beautiful jewelry from this natural material.

Important! Despite all the charms of the northern coast of the country, for those tourists who dream of a warm sea and tropical paradise in the middle of the Russian winter, the Dominican Republic, the ocean is not fully suitable, and it is better to give preference to the south of the country.

Boca Chica

Pros and cons of the Caribbean coast of the Dominican Republic

Dominican Republic, Caribbean Sea - if a traveler chooses the Caribbean side of the island, he must understand that local resorts also have their advantages and disadvantages, here are some of them:

• the climate here is undoubtedly several degrees warmer than on the ocean coast;
• there is practically no wave at sea, the wind is much weaker than on the ocean, which makes the water completely transparent and its temperature rises to +28 degrees;
• the coast, as well as the entry into the water, is much more gentle than on the Atlantic side, which makes holidays with small children much safer than on the northern part of the island;
• diving here, in turn, is not as interesting as in the Atlantic and marine life poorer;
• the capital of the state, Santa Domingo, is located on the Caribbean side, and many tourists are happy to book excursions to admire the architectural beauties in the colonial style;
• the tourist flow is much higher than in the northern part of the island, which makes the local population more adapted to tourists;
• but at the same time, scattered along the coast a large number of inexpensive hotels, which somewhat reduce the prestige of these places, in contrast to the pretentious Atlantic.

This is interesting! It is on the Caribbean coast that the largest dolphinariums of the Dominican Republic are located, as well as the island of Saona, along the coast of which hundreds of pirate ships of the past are buried at the bottom, since these waters have sad story transshipment point of sea robbers.

Cabarete

Whales and sharks in the Dominican Republic

Of course, the hot climate and warm waters surrounding the island of Haiti are an ideal habitat for marine predators, although it is extremely rare to see them near the shore. Sharks prefer to hunt at some distance from the coast and often pursue large vessels, as they occasionally throw off food waste in water. Among the sharks in the waters of the Dominican Republic, you can find the following species:

• the whale shark is an absolutely harmless creature that feeds exclusively on small plankton, despite its impressive size;
• largemouth shark - in terms of the structure of the oral apparatus, it is very similar to the tiger, and its diet is precisely small crustaceans, fish, algae and plankton;
• Caribbean reef shark - hunts for medium-sized fish near coral deposits, is not afraid of humans and is extremely curious. Represents a theoretical danger, as it can take the limbs of swimmers for fish and other inhabitants of the sea;
• the blue shark is an extremely dangerous predatory animal for humans, keeping very far from the coast, at great depths;
• tiger shark - is a danger to humans, but is extremely rare in local waters;
• the nurse shark is an absolutely harmless species of sharks, and in many marine parks The Dominican Republic is offered swimming in a pool teeming with nurse sharks, since during the entire period of studying their behavior there was not a single case of attacks on people.

As for the whales of the Dominican Republic, these huge mammals prefer to live and forage exclusively in the open sea and at great depths. However, as mentioned above, in the bay near the Samana Peninsula from January to March, you can meet a huge number of humpback whales that have been coming here for mating and mating for many years.

So, at the time of birth, the whale cub is very weak and does not know how to stand up for itself, so parental control is possible only in those waters where the predator cannot swim.

Note! best time to observe these harmless giants for tourists - this is the month of February, when they accumulate in the water area maximum amount individuals.

Recommendations for tourists who are going to visit the Dominican Republic

All tourists going on vacation to this exotic country you should familiarize yourself with the following recommendations, without which their vacation may be overshadowed by various factors:

• It is advisable to go from November to April, since in the remaining months the weather does not allow you to fully enjoy your vacation and swimming in the ocean or sea. From June to August there are heavy showers;
• before choosing a hotel, you should clarify the cleanliness of the beach, as sometimes there are areas where entry into the water is overshadowed by the presence of sharp stones and algae;
• when flying to winter time it is worth taking summer things with you to the cabin of the aircraft and try to change clothes before boarding, as winter clothes not suitable for being in it for several hours before the hotel in a 30-degree heat;
• the main currency in the Dominican Republic is the local peso, but almost everywhere locals they accept US dollars with pleasure, and not so often they have change from a 100-dollar bill, so you should take care of small money in advance, as they will be needed already at the airport of arrival when applying for a visa;
• upon arrival, it is better to buy a local SIM card at the airport mobile operators, since accessing the Internet through it on the beach can be much cheaper and easier than through the hotel's Wi-Fi, it will be simply irreplaceable on long-distance excursions;
• Always and everywhere you need to take bottled water with you, as an excessively hot climate can lead to dehydration. Drinking tap water in this country is highly discouraged;
• when leaving the hotel in the evening, do not take with you large sums money, since attacks on tourists by migrants from poor Haiti are not uncommon in the country;
• never and under no circumstances should you accept parcels for relatives from Russians permanently residing in the country, since cases of drug smuggling are frequent;

Santa Domingo

• when communicating with locals, it is desirable to have a few key phrases in Spanish and understand at least an elementary set of words, but the easiest way is to download an electronic translator to your smartphone;
• be sure to use sunscreen maximum level protection, since the sun in the tropics is very aggressive even behind thick clouds, which forces tourists to protect their sides from excessive sunburn;
• in case the hotel guide offers excursions from a tour operator, you should inquire about the price at local street agencies, since the same trips will be much cheaper;
• it is preferable to choose hotels with their own beach, as there is a lot of garbage on the city coasts;
• do not be afraid to rent a car, however, during the execution of the contract, it is advisable to record all visible damage on paper in order to avoid claims from the owner later;
• in almost any private shop offering fruits, coffee or souvenirs, you need to bargain, as tourists have the opportunity to drop the price by 50% - 80%.

Important! If you do not neglect the rules listed above and the advice of transfer and hotel guides, a vacation in this country will seem like a real paradise on earth and positive impressions and a rich photo archive will last a lifetime.

Whales in the Dominican Republic

In conclusion, it should be said that a vacation in the Dominican Caribbean, regardless of which coast the traveler chooses, offers high-quality service and beautiful beaches. The residents themselves are very friendly, and always live in the rhythm of the dance. Thus, the very best thing that a tourist who has a large supply of vital energy- from a two-week vacation, spend half of it on the beaches of the majestic Atlantic and, at the end, relax for a few more days, swimming in the gentle warm waters of the Caribbean Sea of ​​the Dominican Republic.

Many tourists are rightfully interested in whether there are sharks in the Dominican Republic. After all, always, even on vacation, you need to be on the alert and remember about safety.

The shark is one of the most famous predators on earth. They belong to the subclass of elasmobranchs and have the following characteristics: an elongated body that has a torpedo shape; big fin; many sharp teeth on each of the jaws. Today, more than 450 species of these predators are known. The length of the smallest individual is about 17 cm, and the largest reaches 20 meters.

Sharks are found in the waters of the oceans and seas, ranging from a depth of 2 km to the very surface. Most of them are predators, but some species (giant, whale, largemouth) feed on squid, plankton and small fish.

Should you be afraid of sharks in the Dominican Republic?

In fact sharks in the Dominican Republic. But the country is surrounded on all sides by barrier reefs, which becomes an obstacle for these formidable predators. For sharks, which can become dangerous to humans, the water here is too warm.

The greatest chance to meet a shark is on the Atlantic coast. However, it is much more if you go to the open sea. Sharks mostly live in the waters of the Caribbean Sea.

Whale shark, rarely seen near resorts and harmless to humans

In the Dominican Republic, there are blue sharks that come here to spawn. This species poses a threat to humans, but so far not a single accident has been recorded. The blue shark has a length of about 3 m and is today listed in the Red Book.

In addition, another species that does not pose a danger to tourists is found in Dominican waters - whale sharks. They feed on small fish, plankton and mollusks. In addition to blue and whale sharks, there are largemouth, Caribbean reef and local nurse sharks.

Of course, it is impossible to say that sharks in the Dominican Republic do not pose any danger. But attacks by these predators are very rare. Behind Lately only 6 cases were recorded in the entire Caribbean Sea. Experts say that in the Puerto Plata area, the danger is practically eliminated.

The nurse shark is often found off the coast of the Dominican Republic, but is considered safe for humans.

Sharks go out to fish at dawn and in late time, just at these hours the greatest probability of meeting with them. There is also danger in January-March, when humpback whales come to the Dominican Republic for their “honeymoon”. Humpback whales are very fond of plankton, which is also present in the diet of sharks. For those who want to be safe and don't want to go out to sea, a Land-based Humpback Whale Observation Center has recently been built.

The most favorite "dishes" of sharks are walruses, seals, dolphins and seals. Only dolphins are found in the Dominican coastal waters, so there is little attraction for sharks here. But still, it is better not to dive into the cluster of dolphins.

Dominicans hunt nurse sharks for food. Attacks on them happen, but more often with fishermen who go to the open sea or hunt from the outside of the reef.

Such a beautiful "barbel" lobster can be seen in coastal reefs

Precautionary measures

Going on vacation, where the warm sea or ocean involuntarily thinks about what danger can lie in wait in the water and are there sharks there? The Dominican Republic is washed on one side by the Atlantic Ocean, and on the other by the caribbean and it would seem that there should be plenty of danger in the water.

The eastern part of the island, where tourism is most developed, is surrounded by a coral reef and this is a natural barrier for sharks. To think that there are no sharks in the waters of the Dominican Republic, of course, is not worth it.

As one experienced diving instructor said: “The shark has a certain diet, which we fortunately do not include.” The favorite delicacy of predators dangerous to humans are fur seals, walruses, seals and dolphins. Of all the above, only dolphins are found in the coastal waters of the Dominican Republic, and there are very few of them. And in general, the Atlantic and the Caribbean in the coastal waters of the Dominican Republic cannot boast of an abundance of marine life, and therefore nothing attracts sharks to these places.

The shark itself will never attack a person, except when it is in danger from him or she sees him as a rival.

The problems with sharks that exist in Egypt are provoked by man himself. Thrill-seekers who want to swim with predators begin to feed them, which is strictly prohibited!

There are a number of different types of sharks here. But, as a rule, these are varieties that do not pose a danger to humans.

One of them is the largest shark in the world - whale, its size reaches an average of fourteen meters. It feeds on plankton and small fish. In addition to the whale, there is another one off the coast rare view sharks are large-mouthed, she is also a lover of plankton and is not dangerous.

Nurse sharks are very common, they lead night image life. Their diet includes: octopuses, clams, crabs, as well as small fish. The size of these slow and inactive sharks does not exceed three meters. They are not dangerous to humans, which makes them attractive to diving enthusiasts.

The possibility of encountering sharks off the Dominican coast is very small, but you should not neglect basic safety measures, swim behind the reefs, swim at night, enter the water with an open wound, because. even a drop of blood in the water attracts a predator hundreds of meters away.

Behind last years tourism in the Dominican Republic has gained momentum, including the development of diving. To date, not one instructor can boast of meeting with a representative of the shark family, which can be dangerous to humans.

A little about others marine life this heavenly place. Fortunately poisonous fish and there are practically no snakes, as in the Red Sea, which makes the rest more comfortable. There is a high probability of meeting stingrays, but believe me, they are more afraid of us than we are of them. At depth, you can meet moray eels, stone fish or lionfish, but only divers can become these lucky ones.

As you already know, there are many coral reefs here, and people like to hide in them. sea ​​urchins, of course, nothing seriously will happen if you step on them, but there will be little pleasant, so be careful.

In general, a meeting with a shark in the Dominican Republic is unlikely to threaten you, but you should never lose your vigilance!

When planning a vacation, you want to foresee everything to the smallest detail and the issue of security is not the last for many. So, let's see if the Atlantic and Caribbean waters of the island of Haiti are dangerous, and are there sharks in the Dominican Republic?

So, good news lies in the fact that the entire coast of the Dominican Republic surrounds coral reef. And this means that sharks are rare guests in coastal waters, since the reef is a natural barrier for them.

In addition, the shark is a predator that feeds mainly on large prey: seals, fur seals, less often - dolphins, well, just any kind big fish. Of all the individuals listed, only dolphins are found near the Dominican coast, and even then very rarely.

By the way, a human is by no means included in the habitual diet of a shark, so the risk of suffering from a predator in the Dominican Republic is almost zero.

Moreover, there are those who are not only not afraid of meeting a shark, but even dreaming about it!
So, for example, in the Dominican dolphinarium Dolphin Explorer, the program "Swimming with a shark" is very popular!

Are there sharks in Punta Cana?

As you know, the Dominican Republic is washed by the Atlantic waters from the north, and the Caribbean Sea - from the south. Where is the chance to meet a shark more likely? Ichthyologists do not have a unanimous opinion on this matter. In any case, sharks in Punta Cana appear very rarely.

But in Samana Bay, the chance to meet a shark is greater, especially during the mating season of Humpback Whales, which lasts from January to March every year.

Well, if you need statistics, then here it is: over the past century, only three cases of shark attacks on humans have been recorded in the Dominican Republic, and only 6 in the Caribbean region.

Shark fishing

But what if you are a desperate and fearless fisherman who is ready to take to the open sea and meet the predator face to face? Yes, shark fishing is possible in the Dominican Republic! In addition, after all, there are those who like to feast on fatty and rich shark soup. Here, as they say, for your money - any whim!

shark species

So, what kinds of sharks can be found outside the reef?

• Whale shark - despite its large size, this shark is completely harmless and feeds only on plankton
• Nurse shark - it is with this type of sharks that you can swim in the dolphinarium without any fear for life and health. This shark is not only peaceful, but it does not even know how to bite.
• Largemouth shark - despite its huge mouth, it does not use anything but plankton
• Caribbean reef shark - purely theoretically, such a shark can be dangerous to humans. Some individuals reach 3 meters in length. But this species is on the verge of extinction, so meeting such a shark is a rarity.
• Tiger shark. Although such a shark is quite dangerous, it is more often a victim of a person, and not vice versa.
• Blue shark - this predator does not appear in coastal waters, preferring the open sea. And although some experts talk about its potential danger to humans, so far not a single attack has been recorded.

Safety

To protect yourself from a fatal meeting with dangerous predator please adhere to the following rules:

• Don't swim at night
• Avoid swimming in areas where dolphins, whales, and where there are a lot of fish in general
• Do not enter the water with wounds on the body
• Before bathing, remove all shiny objects and jewelry from the sowing.
• Don't swim too far: don't cross the reef

In general, we can safely say that sharks in the Dominican Republic are practically incapable of harming a person in any way. And in general, a meeting with a predator is unlikely. But if you still want to swim with a shark - contact us - we will organize it! Have a nice and relaxing holiday, friends!

What do we know about sharks? The shark is the most perfect predator on earth: it is constantly on the move, because. it does not have a swim bladder, the shark does not have a single bone - its skeleton consists entirely of cartilage, shark fin soup helps to cure cancerous tumors. However, the question most of all tourists - are there sharks where they are going to go? In this post, you will learn about whether there are sharks in the Dominican Republic? If yes, what types? How safe are they for humans?

barrier reef

The Dominican Republic is surrounded on all sides barrier reef, which is a natural barrier for sharks. In addition, for sharks that pose a danger to humans, in the Dominican Republic too warm water. Shark - Enough big predator , their main diet is marine mammals : fur seals, walruses, seals and dolphins. In the Dominican Republic, you can only meet dolphins, and even then not often. So besides not being comfortable, warm water, big sharks there is nothing to eat here :(

Dominican sharks

However, to think that there are no sharks off the coast of the Dominican Republic at least - naive. There are definitely sharks. Of course, to see them, you need to go far into open sea. That's right, if you want to see a shark - there will be more chances in caribbean sea, than in atlantic ocean. However, you can meet sharks on the Atlantic coast. An example would be a recent case in a coastal town - bavaro. There, fishermen killed a blue shark that had come to spawn. Before death shark managed to give birth to several cubs. Although potentially this species is considered dangerous to humans, not a single case of attack was officially registered. The main diet of this species is fish, shellfish and waste. By the way, the average length of the blue shark is 3 meters. To date, this species is considered endangered and is listed in the Red Book. There is a lot of plankton off the coast of the Dominican Republic, for this reason once a year (February-March) one of the largest animals on earth can be observed here - humpback whales! However, not only whales like to eat plankton. Plankton is also a favorite treat. most big fish on the ground - whale shark . The whale shark is absolutely safe for humans. The throat of a whale shark has a very modest size, only only 10 cm. In addition to the whale shark off the coast of the Dominican Republic, there is another very rare species of shark that feeds on plankton - largemouth shark. In addition to the above sharks in the Dominican Republic, you can also meet nurse shark, Caribbean reef shark (live in the Caribbean Sea, average size 1.5 meters, lives at a depth of 40 meters).

Thus, it turns out that sharks in the Dominican Republic do not pose any danger to people. So you can calmly swim and relax.

Bienvenido a la Republica Dominicana!