Two Islands - Two Oceans Excursion
Catalinita Island & Saona Island - Atlantic Ocean & Caribbean Sea
Snorkeling with Sharks and Rays...in the open ocean!!

This snorkel excursion is available for guests of the Bayahibe, Dominicus, La Romana and Punta Cana hotels and resorts. We will show you the difference between the "Atlantic Ocean" and the "Caribbean Sea". We take a maximum of 20 people per trip, so that keeps it really exclusive. We leave Bayahibe early in the day and visit several places of interest on the way to Catalinita Island. We snorkel from the boat near Catalinita and we spend the afternoon on Saona Island. All of our tours are guided by multilingual and knowledgeable guides. A quality excursion and personal attention are guaranteed. This is the excursion we prefer to do ourselves on our free days!!!
Videos:
Itinerary:
We meet in our visitors center on the beach of Bayahibe. Here you will receive your snorkel equipment and after a short briefing we will board the motorboat and the adventure begins.
The 2 Island excursion boat
The Rocks of Penon
Crossing the mangrove forest Bayahibe
We will visit the rocks of Penon and we give some information about the ecology and the park. We will continue to the Mangrove forest: the nursery of the oceans.
Frigate Bird Colony
The Frigate Bird
Relax in piscina natural
From the Mangroves we turn into the Bay of Calderas . This area is closed to other tours, but we have obtained special permission from the authorities of the National Park to visit it. The bay is home to the breeding ground and colonies of frigate birds and Pelicans and we have the opportunity to observe them from close range. Moving on from the bay, we go east into the Catuano Channel.
Catalinita - the most remote island of the Dominican Republic
Mano Juan, Saona: pictoresque village
Mano Juan: the traditional Dominican Republic
We will then visit the uninhabited Isla Catalinita, untouched by tourism and a real "Robinson Crusoe" desert island. Once we reach a well-placed sandbank, we'll toast the meeting of the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea. You can see a band of white water where the high waves of the Atlantic Ocean are flattened by the sand banks of the Caribbean Sea. This marks the border between the two water masses. Numerous ships are stranded here..... On the small sandy beach of the island there are thousands of conch and other shells. The "jacuzzi" is very special.....
Cayo Raton - exciting snorkeling
Snorkeling with Stingrays
Snorkeling with sharks
This is followed by a chance to snorkel in the coral gardens near Catalinita. We give snorkel instruction and you can follow the guide on a special route at Cayo Raton, an unique snorkeling spot, because it combines 2 Eco systems. You can see the larger fish from the colder Atlantic Ocean, like giant stingrays and sometimes (non-dangerous!) reef sharks. But you can also see the colorful fish from the Caribbean Sea among the coral, giant sponges and sea fans.... This is a remarkable reef... We snorkel while drifting with the current; under the watchful eye of the guide as the boat follows you through the reef....
Catuano Beach - The Caribbean Dream Beach we
visit on our tour
Catuano Beach - artisan shops
Catuano Beach - white sand and large palm trees
We then take you to Saona Island. We arrive at Catuano Beach: a beautiful beach lined with palm trees and gifted with crystal clear water and pure white sand. The beach has beach chairs and hammocks...
Catuano - a former strong hold of the Taino Indians
Catuano Beach - comprehensive lunch
Catuano Beach - Barbeque lunch on the beach
We will enjoy a traditional Dominican buffet lunch, with grilled fish, chicken, pork chops and an array of salads, pastas and fruits. You can enjoy the beach, swim or scroll along the little artisan - souvenir shops.
Snorkeling instruction on our 2 Island Tour
Snorkeling at the Piers - lots of fish
Snorkeling during our snorkel tour from Punta Cana
Those who want can join the snorkel tour at "the Piers". In front of Catuano beach there is an old pier, destroyed by a hurricane. The remaining concrete pillars are teaming with fish and a heaven for snorkelers. This is also a special snorkel spot: the pillars are up to 6 meters (20ft) high and you can see remarkable sea life that lives in the different depths. Our guide will guide a tour around the Piers. Experienced snorkelers can explore the pillars themselves. You will never have seen so many fish in all their shapes and colors.
Arrival in the Piscina Natural
Starfish in the Piscina Natural
Relaxing in the Piscina Natural
On the way back we'll stop at the "Piscina Natural", the famous natural swimming pool. This large sand bank is well-known for the indigenous starfish which really do live there! You enjoy a drink on the sand bank in the middle of the sea and can see the starfish in their natural habitat among the grasses. The water is shallow -even far from the shore it will never be more than waist deep- and the colors of the water are incredible turquoise and blue.
In the late afternoon, the boat returns to Bayahibe, a 30 minute thrill-ride away! We'll return in our visitors center in Bayahibe and you'll have the chance to meet some of our closest friends!!
Now Available: transfers from the Punta Cana hotels and resorts
For more information or reservations use our secure form, send us an email: or phone us: +(1) 829 714 4947.
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Gallery 2 Islands
Mangroves - Bay of Calderas
Frigate bird in the bay of Calderas
White Heron in the bay of Calderas
Sea birds in the bay of Calderas
Catalinita - desert island on the border of the Atlantic and the Caribbean Sea
fossils of shells on Catalinita
Catalinita - remote corner of the National Park del Este
Stranded fishing boat near Catalinita
Second boat - The wrecks can't be removed
Cayo Raton - amazing reef near Catalinita
We regularly encounter reef sharks while snorkeling near Catalinita
Large stingray while snorkeling at Cayo Raton
Barracuda - Cayo Raton, Catalinita
On the way back to Saona - Catuano Channel
Mangroves near Catuano
Turquoise waters and a wild coast line
Catuano means sea turtle in Taino language
Catuano - popular beach for larger boats
Catuano beach - the Caribbean Dream
Who dares? Tarantula in SeavisTours Visitors center
Pet Boa Constrictor - Saona Carnival Special





