Welcome aboard and snorkel the most beautiful underwater ecosystem of the Dominican Republic, with a full-day all inclusive tour to Catalina Island. Experience clear turquoise waters, ultimate relaxation in paradise on a private beach and enjoy the cool breeze and selection of refreshments at the bar overlooking the ocean, Indulge in a Dominican feast prepared by renowned local chef ‘Miguel’.
Posted By : Peter_Z
Nice trip for a family with young kids. Food was good and the boat staff were helpful. There was one snorkeling stop off the boat and it was ok - the coral reef is about 5m deep so unless you dive the visibility is not too good. This was fine for though us as we have young kids. The staff used bread to attract fish to the surface so kids were happy. The snorkeling off the island is just average, lot of dead coral, you have to swim further from the beach to see anything really. Nice place for a swim and a few drinks though.
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Posted On : 2024-04-18 07:34:06 
Posted By : Taylann_D
This trip was NOT booked through the hotel, which was our mistake and we learned our lesson. This trip was booked through this 3rd party company call Viator. We booked a Full-Day Catalina Island Snorkeling Tour and when we arrived, the boat was in poor conditions, one of the engines didn't want to start and was smoking and really stiff (we own boats and it was clearly in need of mechanical work) - we also waited close to an hour on the boat because they wanted to wait for two guests that were late. Also, the boat was PACKED full with over 60 passengers packed like sardines in a can and this company sells different tours and combines them in the same boat, so, we were on a boat full of scuba divers too and tanks everywhere which is NOT what we signed up for and made it super uncomfortable. Lastly, and worst of all, the captain and boat operators did not have basic rules to maximize everyone's enjoyment. There were two groups with private radio Bluetooth speakers playing their choice of music super loud - so, we were listening to RAGGEATON AND MERENGUE from two different radios at the same time plus the one the boat was playing which sounded horrific! It was an absolute nightmare! A simple rule that private radios are not allowed would solve this problem. What would have happened in my husband and I are heavy metal fans and would blast that crappy music the ENTIRE trip? Would they have liked it? You don't go in an airplane and blast your music for everyone to hear, right? Anyway, it was awful. Also, the "all inclusive beverages and rum punch" were a complete joke. Nothing was done right on that aspect either. NEVER AGAIN and would never recommend this to anyone. The only highlights were the lobster for lunch at the island, the island itself was beautiful and the sweet pups I met at the marina - I wanted to take them home with me! But, do yourself a favor and book a legit trip that is more expensive or book through your hotel or resort to avoid this. Oh, and the stop to snorkel - pretty much a dead reef.
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Posted On : 2024-04-02 12:17:53
Posted By : dakotab915
Absolutely amazing. Lots of beautiful scenery and snorkeling was fun. They provide you with everything however you can bring your own gear. The buffet food was decent and the open bar was decent. Get prepared to pay extra for Pina coladas, specially drinks, photos from the camera guy, seafood.
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Posted On : 2024-02-11 16:16:49 
Posted By : MasheeQa
If I could I would rate this with 0 stars!
We took 4 trips by different operators in our time in DR and they were all amazing. This was in every word HORRIBLE!
We got to the docs at La Romana at 9.30 as instructed by the tour operator. We were labeled with color string and put into different groups to wait. Thankfully I speak some Spanish as nobody from the tour organization spoke English - despite the fact I marked an English-speaking tour.
Most of the people got put in two other boats and they left, including the divers with whom we were supposed to have a joined tour to two snorkeling spots - for which we paid extra. But there was no boat for us.. and we waited.. and waited.. and waited..
Then all of a sudden one of the boats that had left half an hour ago returned, and we were told to board this boat, which was already FULLY PACKED with passengers. People were in shock and were calling their organizers if they could cancel... Of course, nobody answered and we were pushed on this fully packed catamaran.
There were about 100 people on the boat, the tour was marked as 50max. As the boat was at least one time over capacity there were not enough life vests and we could not leave the marina. We started sailing along the marina and collecting life vests from other docked boats. When ALMOST EVERYBODY had one, we started our way. The Wests were torn and covered in filth. At this time it was already 11:00 am and we were nowhere close to our destination.
The crew started drinking alcohol the minute we left the marina. They did not offer any drinks to the passengers. I asked about our second snorkeling spot, and they just laughed at each other. At this point, I realized that this was their normal habit and contacted the tour operator, and made it clear to them that the whole information they provided on this page was misleading, but they dismissed me and said that I got what I booked.
At this time we arrived at the aquarium. They told us we had 35 minutes to snorkel. Can you guess how much time 100 people need to get to the water through 1 ladder?
About 30 minutes, yes...
Thankfully we had our snorkeling gear with us as the gear they were handing out was extremely old and dirty. We finally got into the water. I recorded everything with my camera .. ALL 7 MINUTES in the water.
They packed us back on the boat and off to Catalina we went.
We arrived near Catalina. There were about 5 full boats beside us, and 4-speed boats with a capacity of 10 people that take you there. It took another hour of waiting until we were boarded on the speed boat and taken to the island. We arrived at 1:30 pm on Catalina. Until this time, no water or drinks were offered to us.
On Catalina, the food was very basic. We could see other tours on very well-organized beaches in nice beach bars - ours was falling apart. They ran out of beer in half an hour, as the crew drank it all on board. They had cheap rum that was packed in Barcelo rum bottles.
Thankfully we had 3L of bottled water with us, as Catallina was extremely hot, compared to all the other islands we visited. Food was basic, edible but very basic.
We had the VIP package as we were promised 2 snorkeling spots and a lobster.
Then they told us the second snorkeling spot is Catalina Beach, not the Wall where the reef is. The beach had a safety net of 5x5m, people were packed one on another. Where there was no net, speed boats were running like crazy. Everything was misleading, there was no option to snorkel on Catalina - at least not on the site where they took us, you could not see anything in the water there and it was not safe to swim outside the nets.
It was 2.45 pm when they gathered us like cattle again and said we were leaving. We waited for another hour before the speed boat took us to the Catamaran. We waited for another half an hour before everybody was back on board and headed back to La Romana.
By this time some of the passengers were already extremely drunk. No water, heat, and cheap rum did its work. One of the ladies told me that she got drunk intentionally just to survive this terrible trip.
Then the storm hit. They put the music to the max. Lifewest was not distributed. The water was pouring into the boat, from high waves and the rain. Then they did an animation of dancing in this weather, let me say again, NO LIFEWESTS WERE GIVEN AT THIS POINT. The waves were about 3m high. People were falling all over the boat as they were dancing drunk on 5cm of water on the floor—a total trip from HELL.
When we got to the port, the life west was distributed as we could not enter the marina without having them on. I think this operator should be fined and closed down as they have no regard for the safety of the passengers.
100 people could not get off that boat fast enough. TERRIBLE TERRIBLE. DO NOT BOOK THIS.
I booked this only because it said that
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Posted On : 2024-01-16 10:25:57
Posted By : valentinaisidoram
We never got de pick up confirmation, we had to call for confirmation. The day of the tour the driver was 30 minutes late and we had no number to call or someone to contact, at the port we had to wait at least 45 minutes to get on the catamaran and nobody explain us what we had to do. There was so many people at the catamaran that we had to sit on the floor and the drop off at the island took more than an hour and a half just because we were too much people, they only worry to full the catamaran than the security or entertainment of us. For lunch, there was variety of food, but wasn't enough for everyone... for example, the meat and the fruit was empty very soon. They had no organization.
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Posted On : 2024-01-13 14:18:41
Posted By : Nickichris
Lots of people (not very punctual, so departure 45 minutes late) full boat.
Disappointed by the snorkelling spot, with those who dive a game could be organized for cleaning the seabed.
Nice lunch and beach.
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Posted On : 2024-01-12 13:37:41
Posted By : GoPlaces42359782454
You can really save yourself the trip, it's not worth the money.
First of all, we booked a German-language tour, but the tour was completely in Spanish and now and then a few things were translated into English.
Then there were far too many people on the boat, so we were squashed together and felt completely uncomfortable. (Two days before, we went on the trip to Saona Island on the same boat and there we were 1/3 of the people).
Then we were promised a catamaran, but it wasn't one. It was a speedboat.
The snorkeling spot was full of rubbish down in the ocean. The snorkeling equipment provided was the worst ever. The masks and snorkels were moldy and the lenses of the goggles were completely scratched! They had probably never been cleaned, from the way they looked.
The loungers on the island were also very run down. The island itself wasn't particularly great either. The island of Saona is a lot nicer. People were constantly coming by trying to sell you something.
The food was OK. The crew that traveled with us were in a good mood and attentive.
I'm usually not very critical and it takes a long time before I don't like something.
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Posted On : 2023-11-17 15:27:49
Posted By : J4503QLvictoriaa
All was great! Except that instead of 1 hour snorkling we stayed much longer and I got totally sunburnt. As I did it for the first time and no one told me that it is forbidden to stay on open water for so long. So after trip I am suffering a lot
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Posted On : 2023-10-20 13:05:16
Posted By : Susybeber
We had the best day going to Catalina Island from La Romana! Fernando was the best! He made it fun and went beyond to make everyone feel good and comfortable throughout the entire day! The snorkeling was fantastic! The lunch was included and was very good. I would go again in a heartbeat!
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Posted On : 2023-10-01 18:42:41
Posted By : bignev77
Had a great day snorkeling 🤿 and the island 🏝️ was beautiful. It was a long day but very much worth the experience. We Would do it again in a heartbeat...
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Posted On : 2023-09-16 17:12:39
