Our Bayahibe’s underwatwer reef exploration continues and today we have investigated what the effects of Fiona on one of the most famous dive site in the area ‘Atlantic Princess’
As you all know, on Monday, 19 September at 3:30 a.m., hurricane Fiona entered the Dominican Republic
as a category 1 with strong winds of up to 150 km/h and heavy rains producing landslides, fallen bridges, road blockages, power outages, interrupted telecommunications, and overflowed dams, among other effects.
You also know that Atlantic Princess is a vibrant artificial reef, beside being is a favorite place to divers and snorkelers alike.
The Atlantic Princess was a small cruise used by tourists in the area. In 2008, it ran aground on the beach during Tropical Storm Fay. The plan was to sink the boat and create a beautiful underwater environment and an artificial reef for the enjoyment of visitors. But the Atlantic Princess sank on its own on May 6, 2009 and rests just 12 meters below the surface. To this day, it is still a great diving spot for everyone, you will not be disappointed! The boat is richly inhabited by several types of fish, including parrotfish, small crabs and small rays. Surrounding her in every direction is reef divided by sand channels. It is a must for any diver in Bayahibe, and is only two minutes from Coral Point diving. The old passenger liner is 30 meters long and 9 meters high. In its shallow waters, the ship has been hit hard by the storms that have passed through the region the past years. Although still mostly intact, there are parts of the ship where you can witness the impact the storms and years have had on the Atlantic Princess.
Fiona has left behind a slighltly different wreck, with the back of the deck collapsed and most ot the roof also collapsed. Divers can still see inside and most of the ‘whatever was inside’ seems to be now spread all over the surrounding of the wreck. However, greeting all visitors are still the sergeant majors and bar jacks that call this site home. Such friendly fish and the pretty wreck still make this a great spot for photos and a very attractive dive site for divers of any level and snorkelers.
Have you also seen how Matthew’s wreck changed?
Photo and videos are courtesy of Coral Point Diving Instructor Edmund Settle
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