Catalina Island snorkel trip

The quieter of the two islands off this coast. Isla Catalina is small, low and coral-built, about a mile and a half out from La Romana, with no hotels. Columbus named it in 1494, and about 70 metres off its shore lies the wreck of Captain Kidd's Quedagh Merchant in three metres of water, protected as an underwater preserve.

Unlike Saona, the whole trip is by catamaran, about an hour each way from La Romana, with music on deck. The usual run is a snorkel stop on a reef on the way, then beach time, a buffet lunch and an open bar of rum and soft drinks. Snorkelling here is better than on the Saona trips. Divers use two sites off the island, the Wall and the Aquarium, and certified divers can book a separate dive day. Cruise ships tender guests to their own private beach on some days, so it can be busy. From Bayahibe it is a 30-minute ride to the harbour.