From the surface, Catalina Island looks like a simple stretch of white sand and turquoise water a few kilometers off the coast of La Romana. Uninhabited and roughly 9.6 square kilometers, it is easy to see it only as a beautiful stop on a boat tour. But Catalina holds two very different stories: one written in coral, and one written in shipwreck.
A Protected Natural Monument
Catalina Island is not just scenic — it is legally protected. Under the Dominican Republic’s Law 202-04 on Protected Areas, the island holds the designation of Monumento Natural Isla Catalina, a category reserved for places with outstanding natural or natural-cultural value. Fishing around the island is limited to reduce human impact on its ecosystem.
The Coral Wall
Just off Catalina’s coast lies its best-known feature: the Coral Wall, a reef formation only a few meters from shore that drops into deeper water. It is home to a wide variety of marine life — corals, sponges, reef fish, and sea turtles — and it is one of the main reasons Catalina has become one of the most visited diving and snorkeling spots near Punta Cana and La Romana.
The Pirate’s Ship Beneath the Water
In 2007, researchers discovered a 17th-century shipwreck just a few meters below the surface, near the island’s reef. It was identified as the Quedagh Merchant — also referred to as the Cara Merchant — the ship once commanded by the English privateer-turned-pirate Captain William Kidd, sunk in 1699. Kidd was later tried and hanged in London in 1701.
The discovery led to the creation of a marine protected area around the wreck site, preserving both the ship’s remains and the reef surrounding it — and turning a pirate legend into something visitors can actually swim over.
Most people come to Catalina Island for the reef. Few realize they are also swimming above a pirate’s ship.
Why Catalina Island Is Worth More Than a Beach Stop
Between its protected status, its coral wall, and the wreck resting quietly beneath the water, Catalina Island is more than a pretty backdrop for a day trip — it is a small, protected piece of Caribbean history.
Discover Catalina Island with Perico Ripiao Tours
Whether you are snorkeling above the reef or diving closer to the wreck site, Catalina Island offers one of the most complete combinations of nature and history near Punta Cana.
Next time you step off the boat onto Catalina’s sand, remember: there is more beneath the surface than coral.