Discover unforgettable
dive experiences
Divecenter Merlin offers PADI dive courses from beginner to Divemaster, plus a range of specialty courses: deep diving, wreck diving, night diving, Nitrox and more. All courses are taught by professional, experienced PADI instructors.
Our experienced guides take you to the breathtaking dive sites of Sosúa, Dominican Republic. Discover colorful coral reefs, meet a fascinating variety of marine life and make unforgettable memories with our team. Safety, quality and unique experiences are our motto!
Our dive equipment meets the latest standards and follows strict maintenance intervals for maximum safety. We fill our tanks with a Bauer compressor that is serviced and cleaned regularly, so we can guarantee the best and cleanest breathing air in our tanks.
- 30+years of experience
- 20+dive sites, 5–15 min by boat
- max. 6divers per guide
- 5★PADI Dive Center
Our story, mission & team
Divecenter Merlin was founded in 1994 and has become a leading dive school in Sosúa. Our team of certified PADI instructors and Divemasters makes every adventure memorable, while we stand up for marine conservation and sustainable practices.
- Experience
- Safety
- Quality
- Trust
Explore the most beautiful dive sites in Sosúa with Divecenter Merlin
Discover the underwater wonders of Sosúa on our professionally guided dives. From vibrant coral reefs to exciting underwater tunnels, we offer memorable experiences for divers of every level. Explore the best dive sites with our local professionals.
- Small groups, max. 6 divers
- Dive time 1 hour or depending on air consumption
- Whenever possible, groups are arranged by experience level
Our dive sites off Sosúa
Tap a number on the map or in the list to see the depth, level and a short description of the site.
Choose a dive site
Tap a number on the map or in the list.
- LevelOpen Water and above
- TypeRock formation
A large rock formation that looks like an elephant's head, trunk included. Ledges and crevices around it shelter moray eels, lionfish and colourful reef fish.
- Depth10 to 24 m
- TypeCanyon and rock
From 10 m you follow a canyon down to about 20 m and a rock full of marine life. A swim-through waits at 24 m.
- Depth10 to 30 m
- LevelOpen Water and above, depending on profile
- TypeWall with swim-throughs
One of the area's best-known walls, covered in hard and soft corals and sea whips. Away from the wall, large pinnacles, tunnels and swim-throughs wait to be explored.
We will happily tell you more about this site at the briefing.
- Depth8 to 24 m
- TypeWall with swim-throughs
The wall starts close to shore and is covered in sea fans and giant barrel sponges. There is a swim-through at 24 m, and Bill can tell you how the site got its name.
- Depth18 to 40 m
- LevelExperienced divers
- TypePinnacles and wall
In front of 5 Rocks a wall drops from 20 to 40 m, with an impressive pinnacle starting at 18 m. The safety stop is made back at 5 Rocks.
- Depth5 to 20 m
- LevelBeginner to experienced
- TypeCoral-rock pinnacles
Five large coral-rock formations stretch for about 100 m and rise to within 5 m of the surface. Look for morays, crabs, lobsters, octopus and big schools of reef fish.
- Depth8 to 22 m
- LevelOpen Water and above
- TypeBoulders and swim-throughs
Large boulders, overhangs and plenty of swim-throughs make Palmeras an adventurous dive. A great spot for lionfish hunting, with morays, barracuda and rays as well.
- Depth8 to 20 m
- LevelOpen Water and above
- TypeReef and wall
A scenic wall on the Charamicos side of the bay, also called Manuel's Hole, with coral-covered ledges and crevices. Enjoyable for newer and experienced divers alike.
- Depth8 to 10 m
- LevelOpen Water and above
- TypeReef with sculpture
Centred on the Atabey underwater sculpture, which has become part of the surrounding reef. Often combined with neighbouring Canyon.
- Depth8 to 20 m
- LevelOpen Water and above
- TypeReef and canyon
Channels, coral formations and narrow passages give the site its name. Moray eels, angelfish, trumpetfish and barracuda are regular sightings.
- Depth4 to 19 m
- LevelOpen Water and above
- TypeReef and wall
A coral wall west of the bay that runs into Puntilla and is great for longer drift-style dives. With a bit of luck you'll spot seahorses.
- Depthapprox. 25 m
- LevelAdvanced Open Water recommended
- TypeWreck
A sunken cabin cruiser off Puntilla at about 25 m. Home to moray eels and lionfish, with occasional stingrays and frogfish around the wreck.
- Depth10 to 20 m
- LevelOpen Water and above
- TypeReef and wall
A beautiful reef dive close to Sosúa Bay with varied coral formations and lots of life. Home to moray eels, trumpetfish and porcupinefish.
- Depth18 to 30 m
- LevelAdvanced Open Water recommended
- TypeDeep reef and wall
A deeper sloping reef and wall with healthy corals. Good chances of larger reef fish, rays and barracuda.
- Depth3 to 7 m
- LevelAll certified divers
- TypeShallow reef
A shallow reef near the bay, often used as a shore exit and named after the former Marco Polo Hotel. Especially nice when big schools of herring gather.
- Depth18 to 30 m
- LevelAdvanced Open Water recommended
- TypeDeep reef and wall
One of Sosúa's deeper reef dives, with a dramatic coral wall and overhangs. Along the wall look for morays, barracuda, rays and schools of reef fish.
- Depth3 to 12 m
- LevelAll certified divers
- TypeShallow reef, shore dive
A shallow, relaxed site with easy access, including from the shore. Ideal for newer divers, check dives and training dives.
- Depth4 to 12 m
- LevelOpen Water and above
- TypeReef and wavebreak
Reef and rock formations with a special finale: the dive ends in the shallows beside a man-made wavebreak that is surprisingly beautiful underwater.
- Depth18 to 32 m
- LevelExperienced divers
- TypeDeep reef
The deeper part of Larimar, with reef down to about 32 m. The profile gradually becomes shallower as the dive goes on.
- Depth3 to 9 m
- LevelBeginner friendly
- TypeCoral-rock pinnacles
Three large coral-rock pinnacles on a sandy bottom, perfect for beginners, Discover Scuba and snorkelling. Yellowtail snapper, blue tangs and cleaner shrimp live here.
We will happily tell you more about this site at the briefing.
- Depth10 to 32 m
- LevelAll certified divers
- TypeCoral garden
A colourful coral garden with sandy patches and abundant tropical fish. Easy to combine with nearby 3 Rocks.
- Depth20 to 40 m
- LevelExperienced divers
- TypeWall
Also known as Chiquita Reef: a steep wall that drops off from 20 to 25 m. Known for stingrays and occasional spotted eagle rays, plus black coral and lobsters.
- Depth27 to 36 m
- LevelExperienced divers
- TypeWreck
This cargo freighter was intentionally sunk in 1992 and sits upright in about 36 m. Now covered in coral and sponges, with big barracuda and green morays.
All dive sites
Divecenter Merlin, our base on Sosúa beach
Health requirements for scuba diving
Scuba diving requires a certain level of health and fitness. If you have a chronic condition, take certain medications and/or recently had surgery, you may need written medical clearance from a doctor before you can dive.
Discover Scuba Diving
If you are curious about diving but not sure yet whether to sign up for a certification course, the Discover Scuba Diving program is the perfect way to try it. In a short time you learn basic dive skills and take your first breath underwater.
One of our highly qualified PADI instructors teaches you the key theory. Then you put together the dive equipment you need. Your instructor practices the required safety skills with you in the pool (or pool-like conditions). Once the pool training goes well, you explore the wonderful underwater world under your instructor’s supervision. You will never forget your first breaths underwater.
PADI Scuba Diver Course
The PADI Scuba Diver course is part of the PADI Open Water Diver course. If you are short on time but really want to become a diver, the PADI Scuba Diver certification may be just right for you, especially if you mainly plan to dive with a guide. The course is a stepping stone to the Open Water Diver certification, if that is your long-term goal.
How to earn your PADI Open Water Diver certification
PADI Open Water Diver · Your entry into scuba diving.
Theory online, training in the pool, then four open water dives with a certified PADI instructor.
- Duration: 3–4 days
- Minimum age: 10 years
- Maximum depth: 18 m (60 ft)
- Certification recognized worldwide
You learn to: use your equipment safely, control your buoyancy, solve problems underwater and treat marine life with respect.
Advanced Open Water Diver
5 dives included
PADI Advanced Open Water Diver
The Advanced Open Water Diver course is all about expanding your skills. You complete five open water dives, with no exam and a focus on practice and experience.
Required dives:
- Deep diving
- Underwater navigation
You also choose three adventure dives based on your interests and local conditions. Each dive can later count as credit toward a PADI specialty course.
Possible adventure dives:
Dive Against Debris, Enriched Air Nitrox, Fish Identification, Night Diving, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Underwater Naturalist, Boat Diving, Wreck Diving.
More routine, more safety, more fun underwater.
Interested in a combination? AOWD course and Enriched Air Nitrox
This combination lets you take the AOWD course and the Enriched Air Nitrox course at the same time, so you earn two certifications.
You complete the theory and exam for the Enriched Air course online, which does not take long. One of your five AOWD training dives is done on Nitrox, plus a second Nitrox dive to deepen your experience. That gives you an extra dive and two certifications at the end.
Certification requirements
- Prerequisite
- Open Water Diver / Junior Open Water Diver (or equivalent certification) from another recognized dive organization
- Minimum age
- 12 years
- Health
- Good physical health
Diving & snorkeling for cruise guests – Puerto Plata
Is your cruise ship docking in Amber Cove or Taino Bay? Make the most of the day with a real highlight: diving or snorkeling in Sosúa Bay, one of the most beautiful dive areas on the north coast of the Dominican Republic.
- approx. 40 minutes from Taino Bay
- approx. 60 minutes from Amber Cove
- Crystal-clear water & coral reefs full of life
Your personal experience
- Program tailored to your wishes
- Prices depend on the selected option
- Private, safe transport
- Guided by professional PADI instructors & Divemasters
What to expect
Pick-up directly at the cruise port and a comfortable ride to our dive center in Sosúa.
More than 20 dive sites and 3 exclusive snorkel spots, just a short boat ride away. See vibrant coral reefs, tropical fish and the impressive underwater sculpture Atabey, one of the largest of its kind in the world.
Our private return transfer brings you back to your cruise ship reliably and on time.
