Marinarium

Can you go snorkeling with sharks in Bávaro without getting seasick or heading into open water? Yes, at Marinarium. It's an enclosed marine area with shallow water and a sandy bottom, where nurse sharks and rays share the water with swimmers. It's not the best snorkel in the Caribbean, but for anyone who has never tried snorkeling, it works.

Is Marinarium Snorkeling Worth It?

It depends on what you're after. If you've never put your face in the water with a mask, it gives you exactly what you need: a controlled space, no waves, no current, and guides inside the enclosure. The animals don't hide, so you see sharks and rays within a meter from the first minute. For a first-ever snorkel, it's as easy as it gets in Bávaro.

If you've already snorkeled a natural reef, Marinarium falls short. The bottom is sand, the coral is scarce, and the marine life depends on whatever lives inside the enclosure. It's an enclosure, not a wild ecosystem. If you want a real reef, skip it and spend that money on a trip to Isla Saona or another spot with healthy coral.

What You'll Actually See Inside the Enclosure

To be clear: it's not an aquarium with glass. It's a stretch of sea closed off with nets and buoys, with floating wooden platforms you step off into the water. Nurse sharks rest on the bottom, sometimes completely still, and rays glide over the sand. In the morning the water is usually clear, with visibility around 10-15 meters. When it gets crowded, the bottom gets stirred up and cloudy.

The swim area isn't huge. In 30 minutes you can cover the whole place several times, so the activity runs in shifts.

What It Costs and How Long It Takes

A ticket with transport from hotels in Bávaro and Punta Cana goes for around 50-70 USD (estimated) per adult. If you book the version with catamaran, food, and open bar, it goes up to about 90-110 USD (estimated). Kids usually pay less.

The full activity, from pickup to drop-off, lasts about 3-4 hours. Actual time in the water is usually 30-45 minutes, in shifts. Mask and snorkel are included, and they also give you a life vest. Fins are either extra or included depending on the trip.

How to Get There and What to Bring

Marinarium is on the Bávaro coast. From the Punta Cana hotel strip, it's about 20-30 minutes by car. Almost every operator includes hotel pickup, and if you go on your own it's worth buying your ticket in advance on the official website. The facility usually opens around 8:30, so get there early.

Bring swimwear, a towel, beach sandals, a T-shirt to protect your back from the sun, and dry clothes to change into. There's a place to leave your things, but don't count on it fitting a big backpack. Bring cash for photos too, though some agencies email them to you.

Prices last checked in August 2026.