Parque Nacional Submarino La Caleta, Marine national park in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Parque Nacional Submarino La Caleta is the Dominican Republic's first underwater park, lying about 20 km from Santo Domingo beside Las Américas International Airport. Its seabed drops to a maximum of 180 m, while coral reefs and fish such as squirrelfish, soldierfish and ocean sunfish occur between 10 and 50 m. The park is managed by Reef Check Dominican Republic.
Archaeological excavations in the 1970s uncovered remains from settlements dating between 650 and 840 AD. These findings show that Taino communities inhabited this coastal region for an extended period.
The Ethnological and Archaeological Museum inside displays artifacts made by the Taino people who lived here before European arrival. Visitors can see these objects and learn about the region's original inhabitants.
Visitors can book guided diving trips and rent equipment on site to explore the underwater world. Strict protection rules are in place to preserve the coral reefs and marine life, so following guide instructions is important.
The Hickory was scuttled in 1984 by Grayson Roach to create reef-fish habitat and a dive site; the Spanish source credits the Grupo de Investigadores Submarinos (GIS). It lies within a park whose seabed also holds the 1972 find of 373 pre-Columbian skeletons.
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