Catalina Island

Isla Catalina is a 9.6 km² island about 2.4 km off La Romana, with no permanent residents. It is its own protected area, the Isla Catalina Natural Monument, run by the Ministry of Environment together with Central Romana, and it is a separate place from Saona. People come for the reefs: The Wall, where the reef drops away to 30 or 40 metres, and The Aquarium, a shallower coral garden full of fish, with visibility usually around 10 to 20 metres. Many catamaran trips make only one snorkel stop, so check which one yours visits. From Bávaro it is about 1 to 1.5 hours by road to the boats, then 30 to 45 minutes across, and the whole trip takes about 8 to 10 hours. It is usually quieter than Saona, except on days when a cruise ship calls. The calmest water comes from December to April. In 2007 divers found Captain Kidd's abandoned ship in shallow water off the island, now an underwater museum. Our photographers are on the Catalina day trip we work with.