Saona Island

Saona Island might be a popular destination for divers, however, it is the reefs surrounding the National Park of the East that are an unexpected surprise for many underwater lovers. Although lesser-known, the Penon reef made the list for its superb coral formation and diversity of marine life. Visit Saona Island more than once and you’ll still be impressed as every visit will involve new underwater encounters. The home of a large spotted moray eel, who frequently peeps out to greet visitors. Glowing squid, scorpionfish, stingrays, and giant pufferfish are a few of the species often spotted at Saona. If you are lucky, you might even come across one of the more prominent local residents of the East National Park: docile Manatees. A Scuba Diving Excursion to Saona Island is the best way to experience all that the East National Park offers, including Penon Dive Site, the Natural Lagoon, and Saona Island.

The national park on the Eastern Southern coast of the Dominican Republic is home to an extraordinary variety of wildlife and thriving corals. Penon reef is lesser known than other reefs in the area, however, its healthy coral formations and the sheer volume of life have made it one of the best dive spots in the country. The name “Saona” means rock and comes from the large number of rocks covering the side walls. Apart from the spotted moray eel, you will also see large amounts of reef fish swirling around the colorful reef. If you are lucky, you might be able to spot some glowing calamari, hidden away scorpionfish, and stingrays cruising through the blue.

Location: La Altagracia, Dominican Republic

Area: 110 km²