Located about 800 miles south of Miami, Dominican Republic in the Caribbean boasts of numerous sea grass beds, vibrant coral reefs, mysterious underwater caves and some of the region's most unique sea creatures, drawing tourists from across the globe.

It is a diver's paradise with nearly 1,000 miles of breathtaking coastline that features colorful marine life and intriguing shipwrecks from when pirates sailed the Caribbean.

We are a top-notch diving destination amid turquoise waters so clear and blue one has to see to believe. The DR offers diverse marine life, excellent certified diving schools and accessible dive sites along our amazing coasts, Magaly Toribio, DR Ministry of Tourism Vice Minister of International Promotion, said.

The DR has it all with developed tourist areas boasting world-class hotels and more off-the-beaten-path options for adventurous, independent divers, he said.

With the Atlantic Ocean in the north and the Caribbean Sea in the south, the following underwater treasures await you in Dominican Republic:

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Dominican Republic underwater adventures
A foreign tourist waits to see humpback whales at the end of the season in Samana Bay in Dominican Republic. Thousands of tourist around the world come to Samana to observe the humpback whales that return to Dominican Republic each winter during the peak period between January through March.Offering 225 miles of amazing coastline from the Samana Peninsula to Montecristi, the North Coast of Dominican Republic is filled with colorful coral, rich marine fauna, unrivaled caves, tunnels and reef abysses. Waters surrounding Samana are known for more challenging dives, especially around Las Galeras. A quick boat ride away, divers can journey 120 feet down and swim around the coral tower Cabo Cabron and other coral landscapes like Las Tres Puertas (The Three Doors) and La Piedra (The Stone). REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz
Dominican Republic underwater adventures
Southwest of La Romana, the idyllic Catalina Island offers 15 to 140 feet deep dives in reefs like La Pared (The Wall), or caves like Hoyo Azul (Blue Hole) and Padre Nuestro Cave (Our Father's Cave). Catalina Island is also home to the aquarium, a large coral formation inhabited by toad fish, sea horses and the lion fish. Just off Catalina Island is a spectacular wall dive of a coral slope running 130 feet deep to a sandy bottom, with abundance of fish, corals and sponges along the way. DR Ministry of Tourism/PR NEWS
Dominican Republic underwater adventures
The national aquarium in capital city Santo Domingo attracts tourists as they get to see myriad marine creatures from close. A Manta Ray is seen in this picture while people visit the national aquarium. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz