Shark attacks in the Dominican Republic. Caribbean shark

What do we know about sharks? The shark is the most perfect predator on earth: it is constantly in motion, because she does not have a swim bladder, the shark does not have a single bone - her skeleton is entirely cartilage, shark fin soup helps heal cancerous tumors... However, the main question for tourists is - are there sharks where they are going to go? In this post, you will find out if there are sharks in the Dominican Republic? If so, what types? How safe are they for humans?

Barrier reef

The Dominican Republic is surrounded by a barrier reef on all sides, which is a natural barrier for sharks. In addition, for sharks, which pose a danger to humans, in the Dominican Republic too warm water... Shark - enough big predator , their main diet is marine mammals : seals, walruses, seals and dolphins. In the Dominican Republic, you can only meet dolphins, and even then not often. So besides the uncomfortable, warm water, large sharks there is simply nothing to eat here :(

Dominican sharks

However, to think that there are no sharks off the coast of the Dominican Republic at least - naively... There are certainly sharks. Of course, to see them, you need to go far into the open sea... That's right, if you want to see a shark, there will be more chances in Caribbean Sea, than in the Atlantic Ocean. However, you can meet sharks on Atlantic coast... An example would be a recent case in a coastal town - Bavaro... There, fishermen killed a blue shark that came to spawn. Before death shark managed to give birth to several cubs. Despite the fact that this species is potentially considered dangerous to humans, not a single case of attack was officially registered. The main diet of this species is fish, shellfish and waste. By the way, average length blue shark is 3 meters. Today this species is considered endangered and is listed in the Red Book. There is a lot of plankton off the coast of the Dominican Republic, it is for this reason that once a year (February-March) one of the largest animals on earth can be observed here - humpback whales! However, whales are not the only ones who love to feast on plankton. Plankton is also a favorite treat. the most big fish on the ground - whale shark ... The whale shark is absolutely safe for humans. The throat of a whale shark has a very modest size, only only 10 cm... In addition to the whale shark off the coast of the Dominican Republic, there is another very rare view shark feeding on plankton - largemouth shark. In addition to the above sharks in the Dominican Republic, you can meet the same nurse shark, Caribbean reef shark (live in the Caribbean, the average size 1.5 meters, lives at a depth of 40 meters).

So it comes out, that sharks in the Dominican Republic do not pose any danger to people. So you can calmly swim and relax.

Bienvenido a la Republica Dominicana!

Vacation safety is a question that recent times interests many tourists. Due to events in Turkey, Egypt, Tunisia and other countries of the Middle East, as well as due to frequent incidents in Thailand and other Asian countries, many tourists, when choosing a place to stay, attach great importance security issues.

Is it dangerous in the Dominican Republic? Despite the fact that crime in the Dominican Republic, as in many other countries Latin America, is not rare occurrence, the safety of tourists is provided here quite well.

There are, of course, dangers in the Dominican Republic, but you cannot name a single country in which there are no dangers. We can only say that in the past few years in this country there has not been a single serious incident with tourists from Russia.

In this article, we will tell you about the main dangers for tourists in the Dominican Republic and give some tips to help you make your stay in this country as safe as possible.

Is it possible to swim at night in the Dominican Republic

Although it is unlikely that someone will forbid you to swim in the ocean / sea at night, we still do not recommend it. Why? The fact is that at night almost nothing is visible under water, and the probability of stepping on sea ​​urchin or some other sea ​​creature much higher at night than during the day. At the same time, there will be no lifeguards on the beach at night, so there will be no one to help you.

As for the pools, in most hotels it is forbidden to swim in them already from 7-8 pm.

Hurricanes in the Dominican Republic

Hurricane season in the Dominican Republic starts on June 1 and ends on November 30. According to the National Meteorological Office, the critical period for the possible impact of this natural phenomenon in the country is from August 15 to September 15. Records over the past 120 years show that the country was hit during this period by at least twenty hurricanes, five of which were the most catastrophic. These are Hurricanes Lilis (1894), San Zeno (1930), Agnes (1966), David (1979) and George (1998). According to researchers, cyclonic activity changed in 1995 to a hyperactive period that can last two or three decades.

About 80 tropical cyclones develop in the world every year, and about half of these cyclones reach the strength of a hurricane. Many cyclones originating in the Atlantic pass just north of the Dominican Republic and go to Mexico or to the south of the United States. Sometimes they reach the eastern part The Pacific where they are given a new name according to a given list for cyclones or typhoons, as it is called in some parts of the Pacific.

Can you get into a hurricane in the Dominican Republic? If you travel to this country from June to November, then there is a risk of getting into a hurricane, but the greatest probability of this is in August and September, and the least in June and November. In general, the probability of getting into a powerful hurricane in the Dominican Republic is small, although if we pay attention to the cyclical nature of the last five powerful hurricanes, we can assume that the next such hurricane will be in the coming years. Nevertheless, even if you are not lucky enough to get into such a hurricane, then you should not worry, since the Dominicans are always ready for this. natural phenomenon... Hotel buildings in this country are built with the possible impact of the hurricane on them. In addition, there are often shelters near hotels.

Tsunami in the Dominican Republic

Are there tsunamis in the Dominican Republic? The last powerful tsunami that struck the shores of the Dominican Republic took place back in 1946. Although it is difficult to predict a phenomenon such as a tsunami, the Caribbean is not a place where powerful tsunamis often occur.

Tsunami in the Dominican Republic in 1946

More than 100 people died and another 20 thousand were left homeless as a result of the tsunami generated by the earthquake of magnitude 8.0, which occurred on August 4, 1946 off the coast of Nagua (northern coast of the Dominican Republic). The tsunami penetrated several kilometers into the Matanzas community, where the wave height was approximately 2.5 meters. The quake is being felt strongly in parts of Haiti, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and eastern Cuba. Tsunami severely damaged the northern part Dominican Republic, from Samana to Puerto Plata.

Although the wave was only 2.5 meters high, it penetrated several kilometers inland, causing serious damage to Matanzas. Maximum height the waves were rated at 4-5 meters. Such a wave hit Nagua.

Dominican earthquake

Not so long ago, the island of Hispaniola, on which the Dominican Republic is located, experienced a strong earthquake. True, it happened in Haiti on January 12, 2010. This earthquake, preceded by vibrations and small movements, had a magnitude of 7.3 on the Richter scale and killed more than 2,000 people. In addition, hundreds of thousands were affected, not only from the earthquake itself, but also from other disasters caused by it, such as floods, cholera and famine.

There are two fault lines in the Caribbean. The first extends west of Jamaica, while the second fault line runs north-south along northern Cuba and Haiti. This suggests that cities such as Port-au-Prince, Kingston, or Santiago de los Caballeros are most at risk. The Dominican Republic is unlikely to be severely affected by an earthquake, although this cannot be ruled out. In any case, Punta Cana, La Romana and other resort areas of this country are relatively far from the fault line, so the likelihood that the epicenter of the earthquake will be near these resorts is very small.

Diseases in the Dominican Republic

What can you get infected or get sick in the Dominican Republic? In theory, tourists can get sick in the Dominican Republic with malaria, Zika virus and cholera. However, in practice, this is almost impossible. There is only one known case when a tourist returned from the Dominican Republic to Russia with the Zika virus.

In general, if you take all precautions and do not do stupid things, then the risk of contracting some serious illness in the Dominican Republic will be practically zero.

Are there mosquitoes in the Dominican Republic? These insects are in any tropical country and the Dominican Republic is no exception. In resort areas, mosquitoes often disturb tourists, especially those who have not taken any precautions against them. In addition to unpleasant bites, mosquitoes can transmit serious illness such as the Zika virus and malaria. Therefore, it is important to do everything to ward off mosquitoes from yourself.

Mosquito activity may vary depending on the season, time of day, weather conditions and a specific area. In humid areas (natural pools, lakes, swamps), there are usually a lot of mosquitoes. In addition, there are usually more mosquitoes during the rainy periods of the year than during the dry season. Also keep in mind that mosquito activity is usually higher during dusk and dawn. To keep mosquitoes from bothering you, try to use different products, such as repellents, sprays, creams. Avoid mosquitoes entering your room, do not leave windows open. If possible, do not use perfumes, colognes, body creams, hairspray, etc., as the scent attracts mosquitoes.

Despite the fact that currently only one tourist from Russia has contracted the Zika virus in the Dominican Republic, the total number of tourists affected by this virus is more than a hundred. Most of them are American, which is not surprising when you consider that US tourists are the most numerous in the Dominican Republic.

Since the Zika virus is transmitted by mosquitoes, it is important to ensure that you are not bitten by these insects. We wrote about the precautions above.

Malaria in the Dominican Republic

Do not believe those who say that there is no malaria in the Dominican Republic. But the fact is that the country is at the stage of preliminary elimination of this disease. There is a moderate risk of malaria in rural areas of the western regions (bordering with Haiti). V large cities There is no risk of contracting malaria in the Dominican Republic, and in coastal resort areas this risk is very low. Back in 2004, there was an outbreak of malaria in Punta Cana, but now this area is considered one of the safest in this regard.

In the Dominican Republic in last years the number of malaria cases is falling rapidly. Back in 2012, there were about 1200 cases of malaria, but in 2015 the number of such cases dropped below 300.

Dangerous animals of the Dominican Republic are another fear of tourists going on vacation to this country. One of the scariest animals for tourists is the shark. Are there sharks in the Dominican Republic? Yes, these marine animals live in the waters around this country, but the last shark attacks on people in the Dominican Republic were recorded a long time ago.

You don't have to worry too much about sharks in the Dominican Republic, as most of the shark species that can swim close to the coast are actually harmless. Dangerous sharks usually do not swim to the shore at a distance of less than 2-3 kilometers. In addition, in Punta Cana, most hotels have barriers that prevent shark access, and small boats monitor the area to prevent an unpleasant surprise for tourists.

So now you know that you shouldn't be afraid of sharks in the Dominican Republic if you don't plan to swim far.

Snakes in the Dominican Republic

Are there snakes in the Dominican Republic? The bad news is that there are snakes here, and good news- they are not dangerous. It is even difficult to imagine that in a country with large rainforest No poisonous snakes... What's more, to meet here non-venomous snake, you need to try hard. The fact is that some snakes in the Dominican Republic are endangered, while other snakes are caught in order to obtain any medicines and means.

There are only a few species of snakes in the Dominican Republic. The most popular of these is the Dominican boa (boa constrictor). This snake does not pose any danger to humans and, as a rule, approaches houses only because it senses the presence of mice. The Dominican boa constrictor can be up to four meters long. Its color can be anything: from black and brown to gray and red. It feeds on small vertebrates and lives in forests and along river banks. Sometimes boas appear on plantations, but they are beneficial, as they eat harmful Agriculture birds and rodents, frogs and other small vertebrates.

There are three endemic species of "green snakes" on the island of Hispaniola, which live mainly within certain ranges. These snakes can be found in all famous resort areas except Punta Cana. Although all three types of snakes are shy and try to hide when a person approaches, bites do occur. According to those affected by the bites of these snakes, numbness is felt in the area of ​​the bite. But no one in the Dominican Republic died after being bitten by these snakes.

February 24th, 2011, 01:31 pm

Dominican Republic, Punta Cana, February 2011

One of the entertainment in the Dominican Republic besides beach holiday there are zoos in huge hotels-reservations, where you can see tigers, parrots, iguanas, as well as swim in natural environment habitats with dolphins, seals, nurse sharks and rays.

While relaxing in the resort of Punta Cana, you can go to Manati Park http://www.manatipark.com/ or Dolphin Explorer http://www.dolphinexplorer.com.do/.

We bought tickets for the last one. From this park, a bus picks you up, at the entrance to the park, depending on who you decide to swim with (with dolphins / seals / sharks), they put on different bracelets, and then they are distributed into groups.

2. Before swimming, all tourists must be shown such a tiger.

3. He is fed meat and watered with milk for the amusement of the public. Americans are keenly interested in whether this is a Siberian tiger. The staff casually replies that the tiger is Bengal, and Siberian tigers much larger.
After such a statement, Russian tourists who understand English immediately have a proud expression on their faces.

7. This multi-colored handsome man grimaced in front of my "soap box" more than anyone else. Apparently, he wanted me to capture him in different poses. What he just didn’t get up to.

8. Even spread his wings

9. The antics ended in failure. He slipped off his branch and fell. I had to call for help to save the bird.

In the photo, a handsome man in an almost free flight).

10. After the tiger and parrots, you get to the beach, where you are assigned to groups, you hand over unnecessary things to the storage room and put on life jackets.

The vast majority of tourists come to swim with dolphins. Only 2 tourists came to swim with seals and, as you guessed, 2 more tourists (me and my husband) came to swim with sharks and rays.

After you put on your vests, you can take a walk before swimming and look at the deserted Dominican beach - the complete opposite of what you will see in any crowded hotel.

11. Here I realized that somewhere in the Dominican Republic there is a paradise. But he is definitely not on hotel beaches, where there are 2 or even 3 American-Canadian bodies for every square meter.

19. This photo shows the pier that must be crossed to enter the natural swimming pools.

24. The bathing area is fenced off with such a lattice.

26. In one of the first pools, the inscription "Sharks" is immediately striking.

28. This pool is for swimming with dolphins. Tourists are divided into groups of 10 people, for which there is 1 dolphin, with whom everyone swims, dances and exchanges affection in turn.

34. Programs for swimming with dolphins are different and cost different money... From $ 110 to $ 250 per person. Duration 30-40 minutes. Of the indicated money, $ 35 is the entrance to the park itself.

36. We did not want to go to this park at all, because Russian guides only talk about the opportunity to swim with dolphins. For us, this is no longer relevant, since we did it in Turkey, which I talked about

We accidentally saw an information brochure about the possibilities of the Punta Cana resort, where photos of tourists swimming with sharks flaunted. We decided to ask the guide about it and ask about the cost.

In response, they heard that you can swim with sharks and it costs (ATTENTION!) 10 (ten!) Dollars!

We were surprised, thoughts began to creep into our heads that $ 10 was somehow completely frivolous and, most likely, this idea was unsafe. We were assured that everything will go well (and it did!) And the price is due to the lack of demand and the absence of the need to train sharks and rays, because it is useless.

37. So, having paid 10 bucks in addition to entrance tickets to the park (35 dollars), we swam for 15 minutes with 3 sharks and 2 rays, fed them with fish, held them in our hands and stroked them. There was no one besides us! It turned out individually! Incomparable sensations!

With you there are always 2 instructors who will explain what to do and what not to do at all, so that a little shark that has the most powerful jaws, you didn’t cut off half of your hand).

First, you swim to the masked sharks, looking at them underwater. Then you get up on a sandbank, where the waters are waist-deep and stroke them, hold them in your hands and feed them.

41.
Here she is beautiful!

42. After swimming, tourists are offered an entertaining show with fur seals. Very cute and funny).

At the end of the story, I will outline some of the nuances:

You cannot take pictures while swimming, all cameras are forcibly asked to be returned from the storage room

If one of you does not swim, then the other will not be allowed to take photos or videos, as you will deprive local photographers of bread. In my presence, one American screamed using all possible phrases with the word "FUCK" in speech due to the fact that he, who paid only $ 65 for the entrance (it turns out, American operators are pricking tourists even more) is not allowed to photograph his wife swimming with dolphins ...

One photo on paper costs 15 dollars, the more you take, the cheaper the price, BUT they don't write photos to disk under any sauce.

Those who swim with seals and sharks (and there are, as a rule, 2 people at most!), Extortionists from the photo industry do not notice and I freely filmed, as you understand how much I can fit! numerous dolphin lovers are prohibited from taking pictures.

Consider these moments when visiting the park so as not to spoil your mood and get vivid shots from your vacation.

Happy travels!

Many tourists are reasonably interested in whether there are sharks in the Dominican Republic. After all, always, even on vacation, you need to be on the alert and remember about safety.

Shark is one of the most known predators on the ground. They belong to the subclass of plate-gill and have the following characteristics: an elongated torpedo-shaped body; large fin; many sharp teeth on each of the jaws. Today, more than 450 species of these predators are known. The length of the smallest individual is about 17 cm, and the largest one reaches 20 meters.

Sharks are found in the waters of the oceans and seas, ranging from a depth of 2 km to the surface. Most of them are predators, but some species (giant, whale, largemouth) feed on squid, plankton and small fish.

Should you be afraid of sharks in the Dominican Republic

Actually there are sharks in the Dominican Republic... But the country is surrounded on all sides by barrier reefs, which becomes an obstacle for these formidable predators... For sharks, which can become dangerous to humans, the water is too warm here.

The greatest chance of meeting a shark is on the Atlantic coast. However, it is much more if you go out to sea. Mostly sharks live in the waters Caribbean.

Whale shark, rarely near resorts and safe for humans

In the Dominican Republic, there are blue sharks that swim here to spawn. This species poses a threat to humans, but so far not a single accident has been recorded. The blue shark is about 3 m long and is listed in the Red Book today.

In addition, in the Dominican waters, there is another species that does not pose a danger to tourists - whale sharks... They eat small fish, plankton and molluscs. In addition to blue and whale sharks, largemouth, Caribbean reef and local nurse shark can be found here.

Of course, one cannot say that sharks in the Dominican Republic do not pose any danger. But attacks by these predators are very rare. Recently, only 6 cases have been recorded in the entire Caribbean Sea. Experts say that in the Puerto Plata area, the danger is practically excluded.

Nurse shark is often found near the shores of the Dominican Republic, but is considered safe for humans

Sharks go fishing at dawn and at late time, just at these hours the most likely to meet them. There is also a danger in January-March, when humpback whales arrive in the Dominican Republic for " Honeymoon". Humpbacks are very fond of plankton, which is also present in the diet of sharks. For those who want to keep themselves safe and do not want to go to sea, a Humpback Whale Ground Watch Center was recently built.

The most favorite "dishes" of sharks are walruses, seals, dolphins and seals. Only dolphins are found in the Dominican coastal waters, so there is little to attract sharks here. Still, it's best not to dive into the dolphin congestion.

Dominicans hunt nurse sharks for food. Attacks do occur, but more often with fishermen who go out to sea or hunt from the outside of the reef.

Such a beautiful "barbel" lobster can be seen in the coastal reefs

Precautionary measures