Tourists planning scuba diving holidays in the Dominican Republic to take part in preservation of coral reefs

One of the Caribbean's most popular scuba diving destinations and one of the leading tourist hot spots in the region, Punta Cana is launching an innovative programme aimed at diving enthusiasts interested in helping preserve the region's fragile coral reef.

Located on the Dominican Republic's easternmost region and being the Caribbean nation's biggest tourist resort, Punta Cana has recently developed a special programme whose main purpose will be to implement new practices and measures to protect the region's underwater ecosystem.

The new scuba diving programme, launched by the Punta Cana Ecological Foundation, has established as one of its main goals the integration of the local community and of visiting tourists coming to enjoy scuba diving holidays in the Dominican Republic, as playing a key role this important endeavour.

The three-year program is being financed with half a million dollars facilitated by the Inter-American Development Bank.

The "Support the Conservation of the Coral Gardens" project will work to incorporate the local communities and international visitors in this environmental effort. So those planning to go scuba diving in Punta Cana will now have a new reason to head there, knowing that with their visit they will also help with the task of preserving the coral reefs and supporting the area's conservational efforts.

This initiative to incorporate the community into environmental protection projects is not new to the Punta Cana Ecological Foundation. Back in 2004 the Foundation started working with locals when it launched a coral nursery which, in the long term, was aimed at propagating existing coral colonies.

In addition to helping sustain and protect the reef, the new "Coral Gardens" will generate job opportunities for the small and medium-size entrepreneur who wishes to participate in the project.

To date, the Punta Cana Ecological Foundation has established nurseries in other Dominican scuba diving destinations such as "Punta Rusia" and Sosua, on the north coast, and in "La Caleta," the underwater national park located near Las Americas Airport, in Santo Domingo.

Thanks to a new programme launched by the Punta Cana Ecological Foundation, tourists looking to enjoy scuba diving holidays in the Dominican Republic resort of Punta Cana will also have the chance to take part in a special programme to help preserve the region's coral reefs and fragile underwater ecosystem.