Dominican Republic: Day 4

July 28, 2011

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.**

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Andi Perullo de Ledesma

I am Andi Perullo de Ledesma, a Chinese Medicine Doctor and Travel Photojournalist in Charlotte, NC. I am also wife to Lucas and mother to Joaquín. Follow us as we explore life and the world one beautiful adventure at a time.

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92 thoughts on “Dominican Republic: Day 4

  1. Charu

    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!!

    Reply
    1. Andi Perullo Post author

      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!!!

      Reply
    1. Andi Perullo Post author

      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!!!

      Reply
  2. AudreyD.

    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:)

    Reply
    1. Andi Perullo Post author

      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!

      Reply
  3. Bluegreen Kirk

    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!

    Reply
    1. Andi Perullo Post author

      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!

      Reply
  4. Danielle

    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?

    Reply
    1. Andi Perullo Post author

      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.

      Reply
  5. Krista

    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. 🙂

    Reply
    1. Andi Perullo Post author

      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!!!

      Reply
  6. Mack Reynolds

    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.

    Reply
  7. Erin

    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!

    Reply
    1. Andi Perullo Post author

      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?

      Reply
  8. Kyle

    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!

    Reply
  9. Tours Of The Vatican

    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

    Reply
    1. Andi Perullo Post author

      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. 🙁

      Reply
  10. Angela

    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 🙂

    Reply
    1. Andi Perullo Post author

      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!

      Reply
    1. Andi Perullo Post author

      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!!!

      Reply
    1. Andi Perullo Post author

      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!!!

      Reply
  11. Liv

    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

    Reply
    1. Andi Perullo Post author

      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?

      Reply
  12. Anna Johnston

    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. 🙂

    Reply
    1. Andi Perullo Post author

      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?

      Reply
  13. Alex

    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!

    Reply
    1. Andi Perullo Post author

      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!!!

      Reply
  14. Mark

    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! 🙂

    Reply
    1. Andi Perullo Post author

      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. 🙂

      Reply
    1. Andi Perullo Post author

      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!

      Reply
  15. Ceri

    Oh no, what happened to your hair, hun? Sorry that was really nosey.

    You photographs are absolutely incredible, hunni. Breathtaking.

    Reply
    1. Andi Perullo Post author

      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!!!

      Reply
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  18. Cristina

    Seeing the photos of this incredible crystalline water while I’m blocked in the city traffic is painful!…
    Really gorgeous place 🙂

    Reply

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