Scuba Fun! A beginner’s tale of scuba diving in Bayahibe

This post is also available in: Spanish

When I arrived here in the DR, I had a list of essential experiences on my to do list; get a tan, dance meringue, learn Spanish, eat rice and beans and most pressing of all – learn to scuba dive in the Caribbean Sea.

As I was a complete novice and did not have any idea where to start, I turned to my old friend – Google! I found out that within the DR, the best marine life is right here on the south of the island, in Bayahibe. Armed with this information I set out on a search to find a dive school. There are two reputable dive schools in Bayahibe, but I found Scuba Fun had the most comprehensive web site, with information on all the trips and courses they have to offer. I called the owner, John (now known from this point as ‘Scuba John’) who was incredibly helpful. He recommended that I start my PADI to learn the ropes and become a certified diver. Scuba fun tailored the timetable around me, so I was able to do it over a few Saturdays to fit in with work.

With a fistful of trepidation and my best friend in tow, I arrived in Bayahibe the following Saturday. Bayahibe is a small friendly fishing village, with a beautiful bay lined with boats, small restaurants and boasts the best sun sets on the island. It has quiet hum of tourism in high season, however it remains full of original character and retains its Caribbean flavour. We walked into Scuba Fun and were instantly put at ease. Our instructor outlined the things we needed to do and showed us a PADI DVD that went through the important things we needed to know, such as what each piece of equipment does and what to do in an emergency. Then came the exciting part…we got to do our first dive!

Scuba John took us to a small beach in Bayahibe to start. I started to feel nervous as I put on all of the equipment as it felt so heavy out of the water. John showed us how to wade into the shallows with our tanks on and we put the regulators in our mouths and started to breath. As I submerged my head under water and took my first underwater breath a wave of excitement came over me. It felt awesome! I looked at Holly and she waved under the water. The water was so clear I could see the sun above me and the sand beneath me. John showed us how to equalise our ears as we went deeper. I could see fish swimming beside me, darting in and out of the coral.

Our second dive was even better. Having learnt some of the important skills out on our first dive, we got to test them out diving down to a ship wreck! The sights this time blew me away, the water was turquoise and the fish varied from small and stripy to large and bright. The shipwreck itself loomed over the coral, giving the marine life somewhere else to call home. It was on this dive I knew I had the bug to go again and again.

Once we had completed our PADI, Holly and I went on the Scuba Fun trip to Saona and Catalinita with some friends. This trip is for divers and none divers, who just want to snorkel and chill out on the white sand in Saona. The trip was one of the best days I have had since my arrival here and I would recommend it to anyone as the best way to see Saona and the incredible marine life that surrounds it.

For more information on how to do your PADI, or on any of the trips Scuba Fun run, contact John directly at info@scubafun.info or look at their website www.scubafun.info. Alternatively give him a call on 809 833 0003

Article contributed by Natalie Simmonds, a teacher at the Abraham Lincoln School.

Photo Credit: Graham Hockley