Are there sharks in the Caribbean. Punta Cana. Swimming with sharks. Sharks in the Aegean Sea

Many tourists are rightfully interested in whether there are sharks in the Dominican Republic. After all, always, even on vacation, you need to be on the alert and remember about safety.

Shark is one of the most famous predators on the ground. They belong to the subclass of elasmobranchs and have the following characteristics: an elongated body that has a torpedo shape; big fin; many sharp teeth on each of the jaws. Today, more than 450 species of these predators are known. The length of the smallest individual is about 17 cm, and the largest reaches 20 meters.

Sharks are found in the waters of the oceans and seas, ranging from a depth of 2 km to the very surface. Most of them are predators, but some species (giant, whale, largemouth) feed on squid, plankton and small fish.

Should you be afraid of sharks in the Dominican Republic?

In fact sharks in the Dominican Republic. But the country is surrounded on all sides barrier reefs, which becomes an obstacle for these formidable predators. For sharks, which can become dangerous to humans, the water here is too warm.

The greatest chance to meet a shark is on the Atlantic coast. However, it is much more if you go to the open sea. Sharks mostly live in the waters of the Caribbean Sea.

Whale shark, rarely seen near resorts and harmless to humans

In the Dominican Republic, there are blue sharks that come here to spawn. This species poses a threat to humans, but so far not a single accident has been recorded. The blue shark has a length of about 3 m and is today listed in the Red Book.

In addition, another species that does not pose a danger to tourists is found in Dominican waters - whale sharks. They feed small fish, plankton and molluscs. In addition to blue and whale sharks, there are largemouth, Caribbean reef and local nurse sharks.

Of course, it is impossible to say that sharks in the Dominican Republic do not pose any danger. But attacks by these predators are very rare. Per recent times only 6 cases were recorded in the entire Caribbean Sea. Experts say that in the Puerto Plata area, the danger is practically eliminated.

The nurse shark is often found off the coast of the Dominican Republic, but is considered safe for humans.

Sharks go to fish at dawn and late, just at these hours the greatest probability of meeting with them. There is also danger in January-March, when humpback whales come to the Dominican Honeymoon". Humpback whales are very fond of plankton, which is also present in the diet of sharks. For those who want to be safe and don't want to go out to sea, a Land-based Humpback Whale Observation Center has recently been built.

The most favorite "dishes" of sharks are walruses, fur seals, dolphins and seals. Only dolphins are found in the Dominican coastal waters, so there is little attraction for sharks here. But still, it is better not to dive into the cluster of dolphins.

Dominicans hunt nurse sharks for food. Attacks on them happen, but more often with fishermen who go to the open sea or hunt from the outside of the reef.

Such a beautiful "barbel" lobster can be seen in coastal reefs

Precautionary measures

February 24th, 2011 , 01:31 pm

Dominican Republic, Punta Cana, February 2011

One of the attractions in the Dominican Republic besides beach holiday in huge hotels-reservations there are zoos where you can look at tigers, parrots, iguanas, and also swim in natural environment habitats with dolphins, fur seals, nurse sharks and rays.

While relaxing in the Punta Cana resort, you can go to Manati Park http://www.manatipark.com/ or Dolphin Explorer http://www.dolphinexplorer.com.do/.

We bought tickets for the last one. A bus picks you up from this park, at the entrance to the park, depending on who you decide to swim with (with dolphins / fur seals / sharks), they put on different bracelets and then divided into groups.

2. Before swimming, all tourists in without fail show here such a tiger.

3. He is fed meat and drink milk for the amusement of the public. Americans are keenly interested in whether this is a Siberian tiger. The staff casually replies that the tiger is a Bengal tiger and Siberian tigers are much larger.
After such a statement, Russian tourists who understand English immediately have a proud expression on their faces.

7. This multi-colored handsome man grimaced in front of my "soap box" the most. Apparently, he wanted me to capture him in different poses. What he just did not do.

8. Even spread his wings

9. Antics ended in failure. He slid off his branch and fell. I had to call for help to save the bird.

In the photo, a handsome man in almost free flight).

10. After the tiger and parrots, you get to the beach, where you are divided into groups, you hand over unnecessary things to the storage room and put on life jackets.

The vast majority of tourists come to swim with dolphins. Only 2 tourists came to swim with fur seals and, you guessed it, 2 more (me and my husband) came to swim with sharks and rays.

Once you've put on your vests, you can take a pre-swimming walk and look at the deserted Dominican beach - the exact opposite of what you'll see in any hotel packed to capacity.

11. Here I realized that somewhere in the Dominican Republic there is a paradise. But he is definitely not on hotel beaches, where for everyone square meter lies 2 or even 3 American-Canadian bodies.

19. This photo shows the pier, which you have to go through to get into the natural swimming pools.

24. The swimming area is blocked off with such a lattice.

26. In one of the first pools, the inscription "Sharks" immediately catches the eye.

28. This pool is for swimming with dolphins. Tourists are divided into groups of 10 people, which account for 1 dolphin, with whom everyone takes turns swimming, dancing and exchanging tenderness.

34. Swimming programs with dolphins are different and costly different money. From 110 to 250 dollars per person. Duration 30-40 minutes. Of the designated money, $ 35 is the entrance to the park itself.

36. We absolutely did not want to go to this park, because Russian guides only talk about the opportunity to swim with dolphins. For us, this is no longer relevant, since we did it in Turkey, which I talked about

We accidentally saw an information brochure about the possibilities of the Punta Cana resort, where there were photos of tourists swimming with sharks. We decided to ask the guide about it and inquire about the cost.

In response, they heard that you can swim with sharks and it costs (ATTENTION!) 10 (ten!) Dollars!

We were surprised, thoughts began to creep into our heads that 10 dollars was somehow completely frivolous and, most likely, this idea was not safe. We were assured that everything would go well (and it did!) and the price was due to the lack of demand and the lack of need to train sharks and rays, because it is useless.

37. So, paying 10 bucks in addition to entrance tickets to the park ($ 35) we swam for 15 minutes with 3 sharks and 2 rays, fed them with fish, held them in our hands and stroked them. There was no one else besides us! Turned out individually! Nothing compares to the feeling!

There are always 2 instructors with you who explain what to do and what not to do at all, so that the little shark, which has the most powerful jaws, does not cut off half of your arm).

First, you swim towards the masked sharks, watching them underwater. Then you get up on the shallows, where the water is waist-deep and stroke them, hold them in your hands and feed them.

41.
Here she is a beauty!

42. After swimming, an entertaining show with fur seals is offered to tourists. Very cute and funny.)

At the end of the story, I will outline some of the nuances:

You can’t take pictures while swimming, all cameras are forcibly asked to be handed over from the storage room

If one of you does not swim, then the second one will not be allowed to take photos or videos, as you will deprive local photographers of bread. In my presence, one American yelled using all possible phrases with the word "FUCK" in his speech due to the fact that he, who paid only $ 65 for admission (it turns out that American operators prick tourists even more) is not allowed to photograph his wife swimming with dolphins .

One photo on paper costs 15 dollars, the more you take, the cheaper the price, BUT they don’t write photos to disk under any sauce.

Those who swim with fur seals and sharks (and there are usually only 2 of them!), extortionists from the photo industry do not notice and I freely took pictures, as you understand, as much as I like! Numerous dolphin lovers are forbidden to take pictures.

Consider these points when visiting the park so as not to spoil your mood and get vivid shots from your vacation.

Happy travels!

Going on vacation to warm sea, you always want to be sure that the trip will be perfect in every way. That is why you should definitely find out in advance if there are sharks in the waters of the proposed vacation spot. Despite the possible assurances of cunning tour operators, sharks are still found in the Dominican Republic. There are all conditions for their existence there.

The Dominican Republic is washed by the Caribbean Sea on one side, and the Atlantic Ocean on the other, so that predators open wide open spaces vital activity. The waters near the island are warm almost throughout the year, which is especially favorable for sharks.

shark attacks

In spite of good conditions for sharks to live, attacks on humans are still quite rare. According to statistics, over the past 70 years there have been only 3 cases, despite the fact that in the last episode it is not indicated that the death was due to predators. The body of a man was caught, eaten by sharks, but there is a version that he himself drowned, and then became the prey of marine inhabitants.

What sharks are found in the Dominican Republic?

Mostly in the Dominican Republic, there are species of sharks that are not dangerous to humans. Most common in these areas whale shark, the length of which can reach 14 meters. The largemouth shark is also often found, so named due to the special structure of the oral cavity. Both of these types of sharks do not pose a threat to swimming tourists, since their diet includes plankton and small marine life. Nurse sharks are also found in the Dominican Republic, which consume shellfish, crabs, octopuses, small fish, as well as Caribbean reef sharks.

Precautionary measures

Despite the small number of shark attacks, it is still better to observe simple rules security. You can not swim at night, swim behind the reefs, swim with an open wound, because even a drop of blood can attract a predator. Sharks feed on fur seals, seals, dolphins, small fish, which are also preferred by whales.

Therefore, it is highly likely to meet a shark near whales and pods of dolphins. In general, a predator never attacks a person if it does not see a danger or a potential rival in it. Do not get too close to them and try to feed them, which is fraught with negative consequences.

Tourism is most developed in the eastern part of the island, which is surrounded coral reef. Sharks in the Dominican Republic are thus separated from tourists by a natural barrier, which contributes to the safety of a beach holiday.

Where can I find cheap tours?

It is better to look for profitable tours through a service that compares prices from more than 120 tour operators and allows you to find the cheapest deals. We do it ourselves and are extremely satisfied 🙂

Safety during the holidays is an issue that has recently been of interest to many tourists. Due to events in Turkey, Egypt, Tunisia and other countries of the Middle East, as well as due to frequent incidents in Thailand and other Asian countries, many tourists, when choosing a place to stay, give great importance security issues.

Is it dangerous in the Dominican Republic? Despite the fact that crime in the Dominican Republic, like in many other countries Latin America, is not a rare occurrence, the safety of tourists is provided quite well here.

Of course, there are dangers in the Dominican Republic, but you cannot name a single country in which there are no dangers. We can only say that in the last few years there has not been a single serious incident with tourists from Russia in this country.

In this article, we will talk about the main dangers for tourists in the Dominican Republic and give some tips to help you make your stay in this country as safe as possible.

Is it possible to swim at night in the Dominican Republic

Although it is unlikely that anyone will forbid you to swim at night in the ocean / sea, we still do not recommend doing this. Why? The fact is that almost nothing is visible under water at night, and the likelihood of stepping on sea ​​urchin or some other sea ​​creature much higher at night than during the day. At the same time, there will be no lifeguards on the beach at night, so there will be no one to help you.

As for the pools, in most hotels it is forbidden to swim in them from 7-8 pm.

Hurricanes in the Dominican Republic

Hurricane season in the Dominican Republic begins on June 1 and ends on November 30. According to the National Meteorological Administration, the critical period regarding the possible impact of this natural phenomenon in the country is the period from August 15 to September 15. Records for the last 120 years show that the country was hit by at least twenty hurricanes during this period, five of which had the most catastrophic consequences. These are hurricanes Lilis (1894), San Zenona (1930), Agnes (1966), David (1979) and George (1998). According to the researchers, the cyclonic activity changed in 1995 to a hyperactive period that could last two or three decades.

Approx 80 tropical cyclones develop in the world every year, and about half of these cyclones reach the strength of a hurricane. Many cyclones originating in the Atlantic pass just north of the Dominican Republic and leave for Mexico or the southern United States. Sometimes they reach the eastern part Pacific Ocean, where they are given a new name according to a given list for cyclones or typhoons, as they are called in some areas of the Pacific Ocean.

Can you get caught in a hurricane in the Dominican Republic? If you go to this country between June and November, then there is a risk of getting into a hurricane, but the highest probability of this is in August and September, and the lowest in June and November. In general, the probability of getting into a powerful hurricane in the Dominican Republic is small, although if you pay attention to the cyclical nature of the last five powerful hurricanes, we can assume that the next such hurricane will be in the coming years. Nevertheless, even if you are not lucky enough to get into such a hurricane, then you should not worry, because the Dominicans are always ready for this. natural phenomenon. Hotel buildings in this country are built taking into account the possible impact of a hurricane on them. In addition, there are often shelters near hotels.

Tsunami in the Dominican Republic

Are there tsunamis in the Dominican Republic? The last powerful tsunami that hit the coast of the Dominican Republic occurred back in 1946. Although it is quite difficult to predict such a phenomenon as a tsunami, the Caribbean is not the place where powerful tsunamis often occur.

Tsunami in the Dominican Republic in 1946

More than 100 people died and another 20,000 were left homeless as a result of a tsunami generated by an earthquake of magnitude 8.0, which occurred on August 4, 1946 off the coast of Nagua (northern coast of the Dominican Republic). The tsunami penetrated several kilometers into the community of Matanzas, where the wave height was approximately 2.5 meters. The quake is strongly felt in parts of Haiti, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and eastern Cuba. The tsunami caused serious damage to the northern part Dominican Republic, from Samana to Puerto Plata.

Although the wave was only 2.5 meters high, it penetrated several kilometers deep, causing serious damage to Matanzas. The maximum wave height has been estimated at 4-5 meters. Such a wave hit the Nagua.

Earthquake in the Dominican Republic

Not so long ago, the island of Hispaniola, on which the Dominican Republic is located, experienced a strong earthquake. True, it happened in Haiti on January 12, 2010. Preceded by wobbles and small movements, this earthquake measured 7.3 on the Richter scale and killed more than 2,000 people. In addition, hundreds of thousands were affected, not only by the earthquake itself, but also by other disasters it caused, such as floods, cholera and famine.

There are two fault lines in the Caribbean. The first of these extends west of Jamaica, while the second fault line runs north to south along northern Cuba and Haiti. This suggests that cities such as Port-au-Prince, Kingston, or Santiago de los Caballeros are most at risk. The Dominican Republic is unlikely to suffer much from an earthquake, although this cannot be ruled out. In any case, Punta Cana, La Romana and other resort areas of this country are relatively far from the fault line, so the likelihood that the epicenter of the earthquake will be near these resorts is very small.

Diseases in the Dominican Republic

What can you get infected or get sick in the Dominican Republic? Theoretically, tourists can get malaria, Zika virus and cholera in the Dominican Republic. However, in practice this is almost impossible. Only one case is known when a tourist returned from the Dominican Republic to Russia with the Zika virus.

In general, if you take all precautions and do not do stupid things, then the risk of getting some kind of serious illness in the Dominican Republic will be practically zero.

Are there mosquitoes in the Dominican Republic? These insects are found in all tropical country and the Dominican Republic is no exception. In resort areas, mosquitoes often disturb tourists, especially those who have not taken any precautions against them. In addition to nasty bites, mosquitoes can transmit serious diseases such as the Zika virus and malaria. Therefore, it is important to do everything to drive mosquitoes away from you.

Mosquito activity may vary depending on the season, time of day, weather conditions and specific region. In humid areas ( natural pools, lakes, swamps) there are usually a lot of mosquitoes. In addition, there are usually more mosquitoes during the rainier periods of the year than during the dry season. Also keep in mind that mosquito activity is usually higher during dusk and dawn. To prevent mosquitoes from disturbing you, try to use different means such as repellents, sprays, creams. Keep mosquitoes out of your room by keeping windows open. If possible, perfumes, colognes, body creams, hairspray, etc. should not be used as the scent attracts mosquitoes.

Although only one tourist from Russia has contracted Zika in the Dominican Republic so far, total number More than a hundred tourists have been affected by this virus. Most of them are Americans, which is not surprising considering that tourists from the United States are the most numerous in the Dominican Republic.

Since the Zika virus is transmitted by mosquitoes, it is important to ensure that you are not bitten by these insects. We wrote about precautions above.

Malaria in the Dominican Republic

Do not believe those who say that there is no malaria in the Dominican Republic. But the fact is that the country is in the stage of preliminary elimination of this disease. There is a moderate risk of malaria in the rural areas of the western regions (on the border with Haiti). AT major cities There is no risk of contracting malaria in the Dominican Republic, and this risk is very low in coastal resort areas. Back in 2004, there was an outbreak of malaria in Punta Cana, but the area is now considered one of the safest in this regard.

In the Dominican Republic in last years malaria cases are rapidly declining. Back in 2012, there were about 1200 cases of malaria, but in 2015 the number of such cases dropped below 300.

Dangerous animals of the Dominican Republic are another fear of tourists going on vacation to this country. One of the scariest animals for tourists is the shark. Are there sharks in the Dominican Republic? Yes, these marine animals live in the waters near this country, but the last shark attacks on people in the Dominican Republic were recorded a very long time ago.

You don't have to worry too much about sharks in the Dominican Republic, as most shark species that can swim close to the coast are actually harmless. Dangerous sharks usually do not swim to the coast at a distance of less than 2-3 kilometers. In addition, in Punta Cana, most hotels have barriers that prevent access to sharks, and small boats monitor this area to prevent unpleasant surprises for tourists.

So now you know that you should not be afraid of sharks in the Dominican Republic if you do not plan to swim far.

Snakes in the Dominican Republic

Are there snakes in the Dominican Republic? Bad news is that there are snakes here, and the good news is that they are not dangerous. It is even hard to imagine that in a country with large tropical forests No poisonous snakes. Moreover, to meet here non-venomous snake, you have to try hard. The fact is that some snakes in the Dominican Republic are endangered, and other snakes are caught in order to obtain any medicines and remedies.

There are only a few types of snakes in the Dominican Republic. The most popular of these is the Dominican boa (boa constrictor). This snake does not pose any danger to humans and, as a rule, approaches houses only because it senses the presence of mice. The Dominican boa constrictor can be up to four meters long. Its color can be anything from black and brown to gray and red. It feeds on small vertebrates and lives in forests and along river banks. Sometimes boas appear on plantations, but they are beneficial because they eat harmful Agriculture birds and rodents, frogs and other small vertebrates.

There are three endemic species of "green snakes" on the island of Hispaniola, which are found mainly within certain ranges. These snakes can be found in all known resort areas except Punta Cana. Although all three types of snakes are shy and try to hide when a person approaches, bites still occur. According to those who have suffered from the bites of these snakes, numbness is felt in the area of ​​​​the bite. But no one in the Dominican Republic has died after being bitten by these snakes.