Cave diving in the Dominican Republic (3 amazing fresh water caves)
No amount of Open Water Diving Training, or Experience prepares you to be a cave diver!!!
Before you consider participating in Cave Diving you have to get the proper training and equipment to do so.
5 basic rules for cave diving safety are:
- Always save 2/3 of total air (or other gasses used) supply to return to the surface. 1/3 in, 1/3 out, 1/3 emergency reserve.
- Always use a continuous guide line to the surface.
- Carry always 3 lights with you when cave diving.
- Limit your depth to appropriate levels according to the gas you are using.
- Apart from being well trained for cave diving, make sure you are mentally well prepared for the dive.
Cueva Taina is located near the airport Las Americas, Santo Domingo, it is private property and a entrance fee has to be paid to the landowner.
The lenght of this cave system is 1100 meters (1203 yards) and a maximum depth of 43m (142 ft).
The entrance has a spiral staircase that leads into a sinkhole and is easy to access, there are 2 sides to this cave system, on the right side you will encounter a large tunnel, and a boulder collapse that lead to the mainline, here is a very large room with white walls. Further down and through a restriction you eventually get to the final restriction at 43m (142 ft) that ends in a choke. On the left side the entrance leads directly to the mainline, this side of the system has crystal white stalactites and columns, there is a wide , and low bedding on the left that looks very cool. The exit on this side has been blocked of with rocks by the owner.
La Jeringa
La Jeringa is located in the Padre Nuestro Park, just outside Bayahibe.
Maximum depth is 15 meters (49 ft), in 2009 Dave Pratt & Christian Pittaro were the first ones to dive this cave.
This is a side mount cave with crystal clear waters, white walls and several restrictions (some of them no mount), it is made up of eroded sharp rocks.
One of the tunnels ends in a small air dome
Systema Oleg's Bat House
This cave is in the Bavaro area, and you need a 40 minutes ride on dirt roads to reach it, but it is well worth the drive.
An oak staircase leads to the entrance, the mainline starts just under the main viewing platform. This cave has unique geological features, alien looking tunnels and walls with potholed ceilings,
You will encounter millions of cave adapted snails, worms and shrimp in this very unique cave system.
Credit for all pictures: Dominican Speleological Society.
Read about Travel & diving in the Dominican Republic
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