Discover unforgettable
dive experiences
Divecenter Merlin offers PADI dive courses from beginner to Divemaster, plus a range of specialty courses: deep diving, wreck diving, night diving, Nitrox and more. All courses are taught by professional, experienced PADI instructors.
Our experienced guides take you to the breathtaking dive sites of Sosúa, Dominican Republic. Discover colorful coral reefs, meet a fascinating variety of marine life and make unforgettable memories with our team. Safety, quality and unique experiences are our motto!
Our dive equipment meets the latest standards and follows strict maintenance intervals for maximum safety. We fill our tanks with a Bauer compressor that is serviced and cleaned regularly, so we can guarantee the best and cleanest breathing air in our tanks.
- 30+years of experience
- 20+dive sites, 5–15 min by boat
- max. 6divers per guide
- 5★PADI Dive Center
Our story, mission & team
Divecenter Merlin was founded in 1994 and has become a leading dive school in Sosúa. Our team of certified PADI instructors and Divemasters makes every adventure memorable, while we stand up for marine conservation and sustainable practices.
- Experience
- Safety
- Quality
- Trust
Explore the most beautiful dive sites in Sosúa with Divecenter Merlin
Discover the underwater wonders of Sosúa on our professionally guided dives. From vibrant coral reefs to exciting underwater tunnels, we offer memorable experiences for divers of every level. Explore the best dive sites with our local professionals.
- Small groups, max. 6 divers
- Dive time 1 hour or depending on air consumption
- Whenever possible, groups are arranged by experience level
Health requirements for scuba diving
Scuba diving requires a certain level of health and fitness. If you have a chronic condition, take certain medications and/or recently had surgery, you may need written medical clearance from a doctor before you can dive.
Discover Scuba Diving
If you are curious about diving but not sure yet whether to sign up for a certification course, the Discover Scuba Diving program is the perfect way to try it. In a short time you learn basic dive skills and take your first breath underwater.
One of our highly qualified PADI instructors teaches you the key theory. Then you put together the dive equipment you need. Your instructor practices the required safety skills with you in the pool (or pool-like conditions). Once the pool training goes well, you explore the wonderful underwater world under your instructor’s supervision. You will never forget your first breaths underwater.
PADI Scuba Diver Course
The PADI Scuba Diver course is part of the PADI Open Water Diver course. If you are short on time but really want to become a diver, the PADI Scuba Diver certification may be just right for you, especially if you mainly plan to dive with a guide. The course is a stepping stone to the Open Water Diver certification, if that is your long-term goal.
How to earn your PADI Open Water Diver certification
PADI Open Water Diver · Your entry into scuba diving.
Theory online, training in the pool, then four open water dives with a certified PADI instructor.
- Duration: 3–4 days
- Minimum age: 10 years
- Maximum depth: 18 m (60 ft)
- Certification recognized worldwide
You learn to: use your equipment safely, control your buoyancy, solve problems underwater and treat marine life with respect.
Advanced Open Water Diver
5 dives included
PADI Advanced Open Water Diver
The Advanced Open Water Diver course is all about expanding your skills. You complete five open water dives, with no exam and a focus on practice and experience.
Required dives:
- Deep diving
- Underwater navigation
You also choose three adventure dives based on your interests and local conditions. Each dive can later count as credit toward a PADI specialty course.
Possible adventure dives:
Dive Against Debris, Enriched Air Nitrox, Fish Identification, Night Diving, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Underwater Naturalist, Boat Diving, Wreck Diving.
More routine, more safety, more fun underwater.
Interested in a combination? AOWD course and Enriched Air Nitrox
This combination lets you take the AOWD course and the Enriched Air Nitrox course at the same time, so you earn two certifications.
You complete the theory and exam for the Enriched Air course online, which does not take long. One of your five AOWD training dives is done on Nitrox, plus a second Nitrox dive to deepen your experience. That gives you an extra dive and two certifications at the end.
Certification requirements
- Prerequisite
- Open Water Diver / Junior Open Water Diver (or equivalent certification) from another recognized dive organization
- Minimum age
- 12 years
- Health
- Good physical health
Diving & snorkeling for cruise guests – Puerto Plata
Is your cruise ship docking in Amber Cove or Taino Bay? Make the most of the day with a real highlight: diving or snorkeling in Sosúa Bay, one of the most beautiful dive areas on the north coast of the Dominican Republic.
- approx. 40 minutes from Taino Bay
- approx. 60 minutes from Amber Cove
- Crystal-clear water & coral reefs full of life
Your personal experience
- Program tailored to your wishes
- Prices depend on the selected option
- Private, safe transport
- Guided by professional PADI instructors & Divemasters
What to expect
Pick-up directly at the cruise port and a comfortable ride to our dive center in Sosúa.
More than 20 dive sites and 3 exclusive snorkel spots, just a short boat ride away. See vibrant coral reefs, tropical fish and the impressive underwater sculpture Atabey, one of the largest of its kind in the world.
Our private return transfer brings you back to your cruise ship reliably and on time.
