There is no secret that scuba diving is one of my greatest passions in life. In fact, I think there was a huge flaw in evolution since humans cannot breath underwater. Someone asked me the other day, “Would you rather be able to breath underwater or have wings to fly?” and there was not a moment of hesitation when I responded, “Absolutely, I would prefer to breath under water!”
Before my first foray into diving in the Dominican Republic, the only thing that I had ever heard regarding diving in the country was that it was the place to go if you wanted to dive with whale sharks. Well, it was not whale shark season, however I was still excited to see what aquatic surprises awaited me. I dove with Northern Coast Diving in Sosua, a quiet seaside town located about thirty minutes away from Puerto Plata.
I went on two dives; the first I descended around forty feet and the second around twenty feet. While, I did not see any marine life that I had never previously seen before, the visibility was spectacular allowing for some excellent underwater macro-photography. Here are some of my favorite photos from the dives:
**A special thank you to the owners of Northern Coast Diving. I had a traumatic accident that involved my hair. It was very scary and they came to my rescue. I owe them a world of gratitude and I will never forget their kindness.**
You are SOOOOOO good with the camera, bella! I am doing some macro shots now and playing with f Stop and exposure but I need to get an underwater camera. Superb pictures!!
Thank you SO much, I’m really touched by your words! Underwater photography is incredibly challenging, especially macro. You must time everything perfectly so that it doesn’t come out blurry, thus I was elated with these shots!!!
Super cool!
I’ve never been scuba diving, only snorkeling.
Neat macro shots!
I think macro is easier with snorkeling, as the visibility is much better. I was so excited when I could see that these pictures were coming out so clear. Thanks for the kind words!!!
You’re underwater shots are amazing! I’m obsessed with the bubbles pic
That’s my favorite too!!! It was a last minute decision to take the shot as I was ascending! Thank you!!!
omg, I have tears in my eyes! I love so much to dive too! Amazing underwater shots! They really make me miss diving so they are really good:)
Oh sweetheart, I’m sorry that this post made you miss it! I know you will probably be diving again soon. Are there any great dive spots in Canada??? Thank you kindly for your sweet words!
Bellissima!!!!!!!!
Grazie bella!!!
Ok Andi now you just rubbing it in! (LOL) First kissing dolphins now this everytime I come here I feel like I’m missing the world. Well I also guess that’s another reason I come since you help me realize exactly whats out there to explore. Great photos!
This is such an incredible comment, thank you!!! Are you a diver? To me there is no better place than under the water. I looove it!!!
A traumatic accident!?! OMG! So glad you’re okay and the pictures are UH-mazing. Nicely done!!
Yes, so traumatic I don’t even feel like writing about it. I’m okay now thankfully. Thanks for your concern sweetie! And thank you as well for your kind words about my photos, you made my day!
I’ve never been diving. I’m a little bit scared of the ocean! I’m still trying to work on snorkeling.
Nevertheless, great underwater photos! What kind of camera did you use?
The ocean can definitely be a scary thing, especially if you’re not a strong swimmer. Keep snorkeling and maybe one day you can have the courage to try diving! But, definitely start in a place with calm water. Thanks so much for your sweet words about my photos!!! I used a Cannon S95 with undrewater housing.
The underwater photos are so gorgeous!
Thank you SO much!!!
Oh wow, Andi – I love these photos so much. I confess I’m scared to death of scuba diving, but I love seeing that world through your eyes. 🙂
The water is so unpredictable! I’m sure that if I hadn’t had grown up in the water, then I would be nervous in it as well. I’m delighted that you love the photos!!!
Not sure if it was worth the hair trauma but these photos certainly are incredible!
Not sure it was worth it either, but well bad things happen sometimes! Asi es la vida, si? Thanks so much!!!
really good and clear photos. if i had the choice, i might pick flight, but if we’re imagining all of this, i’d take both attributes.
Haha yes okay I pick both, would make for an interesting looking creature right…gills and wings? Thanks for your kind words re: my photos!
SPEC-TAC-U-LAR! We just diving in The Canary Islands last weekend, where I got to play with three-foot turtles. Too bad our underwater camera suddenly didn’t work :(. Your shots are amazing!
Oh wow what an incredible place to dive!!! I’m dying to visit the Canaries! And to play with 3-foot turtles, incredible!!! I’m so sorry to hear about your camera not working. I would have been heartbroken, though at least you could focus completely on the turtles and not taking pics, si?
So beautiful. Seeing pictures underwater is amazing. It really is like a whole new world down there. You make me want to learn how to dive!
It’s so so so amazing underneath the water! I wish that I could go diving every week. It’s like a drug!!! I bet you would LOVE it darling!
Andi – I am right there with you on wanting to breathe underwater over being able to fly. I try to go scuba diving when I travel (if I’m somewhere that allows for it, anyway) and these are some beautiful pictures of what you saw when you did! Hope you’re okay after the incident – anything underwater is automatically 10x scarier if you ask me! 😉 -Heidi
It’s hard to dive when you travel because of the airplane rule! I try to go every couple of months if I can, it’s the best!!! I feel so alive under the water. My traumatic experience was horrible, but I’m okay now. Just lost a bit of hair. 🙁
Wonderful photos. My father lived most of his life underwater (for work, he’s a deep diver) and now that he’s retired he misses every single minute of it. I understand your love for scuba diving, I was born in an island, and when I’m swimming I feel in my natural element 🙂
Oooh what island were you born on? And what an incredible career your father had, I have no doubt he misses the water! Bet he has some awesome stories to tell!
Oh wow! I’ve always wanted to learn to dive. It looks so much fun.
What is the spidery looking thing?
Wasn’t he cool looking? I have NO idea how my dive master spotted him amongst the coral. I got to hold him and he crawled just like a spider — funny how he freaks me out, but when I played with sharks the day before I didn’t bat an eyelash. Diving is SO much fun!!!
Great underwater shots! How does your hair still look so fabulous in the water? 😉
Thanks dear! It does haha? I always think I look silly under the water!?! 🙂
I love your photos–truly wonderful! They make me want to try out diving. So far, I’ve only done snorkeling. Glad your hair was OK!
My hair was okay, but I did lose A LOT of it. So sad! Having said that, you should absolutely try out diving. It’s the most magical experience! Thank you so much for your lovely words!!!
Lovely shots Andi – I didn’t know that the Dominican Republic was a popular spot with Whale sharks though. I have just swum with them on Ningaloo Reef, here in Australia. If you love Whale sharks you simply must go there! Here’s my recent post about it if you’re interested: http://su.pr/1W8UBD
I LOVE them! I dove with them in the Atlanta Aquarium several years ago and it was incredible. I can’t wait to check out your post!!! Thanks!
Wow, you saw SO MUCH more than I did while diving in the DR. I dove right off the Punta Cana coast and the underwater life was absolutely dead. It was so disappointing!
Oh wow that would have been SO disappointing! I was told the Sosua had some of the best diving in the DR, simply because the visibility was always spectacular. Having said that it wasn’t my favorite place I’ve been to, but there is something to say for awesome visibility you know?
First time here, found you through Krista. Such a fan, am craving a holiday, but just cannot fit it in, so have decided to make friends with folk who are. Love the underwater shots, they are great. I found diving terrifying, so I think I’d take the wings. 🙂
So nice to have a new reader!!! Welcome and thanks for reaching out with a comment! I LOVE Kirsta. And whenever I can’t travel, I always live vicariously through travel blogs as well haha. Sorry to hear that diving was scary for you, it’s definitely not for everyone. Maybe snorkeling?
GORGEOUS photos! Makes me want to learn how to swim!!!!
You don’t know how to swim??? OMG come here right now so that I can teach you! XOXO
what cam did you use. I just went to dr snd loved it. Niiice shots
Thanks so much! I used a Canon S95 with underwater housing. Where did you visit in the DR?
Incredible!
Thanks!
I want to know this story with the hair! (Speaking of which, beware of watching the diving movie Sanctum, it will give you hair related nightmares).
Love the shot with the bubbles!
Thank you so much for warning me, I don’t want ANY more hair nightmares. I will email you the whole story, not pretty. The bubbles shot is my fave too!!!
Great post, Andi! Gorgeous photos!
Thanks a million dear!
The most amazing pics ever!
Awww thank you!!!
Very inspiring post Andi! I’ve never been diving, only snorkeling, and NOW I totally want to pick it up someday! Really cool photos too! 🙂
Oh gosh, you must try it some time!!! Snorkeling is wonderful, but it doesn’t compare to diving! And Mexico has such awesome diving spots!!! Glad you enjoyed the post. 🙂
You take the most amazing photos!
Wow, thank you!!!
Traumatic hair incident? What on earth happened?
It’s a long story, but resulted in me losing a good portion of my hair and being very painful emotionally and physically. I’m okay now though, hair is growing back slowly!
wahh you are so lucky, this looks like fun!! Wish I could go scuba diving
You can! My recommendation is the Great Barrier Reef!!! 🙂
I love the colours of the photos! And great for scuba diving is also Cozumel, Mexico 😉
I will have to check it out! Glad you liked the photos. 🙂
It looks like you are having a blast! Glad to see you doing what you love… Thanks for sharing!
Totally had a blast and I think it’s important to live a life of passion!
Love the underwater pictures!! Espectaculares!
Muchisima gracias!!!
These images are beautiful! What an amazing place to visit! It looks like you had such a lovely time!
xx.
Judy
Thanks a million, what a wonderful comment! 🙂
We were lucky enough to swim with Whale Sharks off the coast of Cancun but now that we’re scuba certified, that was the first thing we talked about-going diving with them!
How amazing to swim with them in the wild!!! I went diving with them in the Atlanta Aquarium, but I want to dive with them in the wild.
These photos are amazing!
Thanks babe!!!
Hell yes, these pics rock!
Haha thank you!!!
AMAZING PICS!
THANKS!!!
Oh no, what happened to your hair, hun? Sorry that was really nosey.
You photographs are absolutely incredible, hunni. Breathtaking.
You’re not being nosy! I don’t mind talking about it, it’s just SUCH a long story. Basically, it was somehow all tangled up by the current that day and parts of it had to be ripped out. 2 women worked on it for 3 hours. It was so horrifying to see my own hair being pulled out of my head, not to mention so painful.
On another note, thank you dearly for your kind words regarding my photography! I’m so happy with how the shots came out!!!
Wow what a cool scruba diving experience. Beautiful pictures too. I wish I am not afraid of water so I can do what you do.
Every fear can be conquered! You should take a class sweetheart!!!
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Wow! Fantastic blog, these underwater photos are stunning!
Thank you so much!!! 🙂
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Amazing photos, the water is soooooo blue. Just want to jump in with you!
Thank you so very much! The DR is such a gorgeous place!!!
Seeing the photos of this incredible crystalline water while I’m blocked in the city traffic is painful!…
Really gorgeous place 🙂
Oh I am so sorry, hopefully you can visit a tropical place soon!