Divecenter Merlin
Divecenter Merlin
5
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Full view
About
Dive center Merlin was founded in Sosua 1994. Base leader and PADI Instructor Jurgen Rumpenhorst and his team speak English, German, French and Spanish. The dive shop is open all year round. More than 20 different dive sites can be reached by boat in 5 - 20 minutes.
Sosua, Dominican Republic
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
438 reviews
Excellent
415
Very good
20
Average
2
Poor
1
Terrible
1
Tammie
Boston, MA23 contributions
Aug 2020 • Couples
I found Divecenter Merlin on google search before our vacation. Not knowing what to expect traveling outside of the country during the pandemic and all of the uncertain ongoing news about rising cases in DR. The owner of Divecenter Merlin, Juergen, is very responsive and so kind to answer all of my texts (via WhatsApp) even late at night about the dive costs, current situation, curfew hours, and coordinating for my friend who wanted to try out scuba diving for the first time in her life). All of the instructors are so friendly and attentive. They even provided one one one instructor for my friend on her first discover scuba dive. They took my husband and I to nice dive spots in Sosua beach. The water was so calm, clear, and warm. There were so many fishes and different species under sea. The dive master also took a lot of pictures under the sea for us. They made the entire trip so memorable. My friend was afraid of being under deep water but she actually enjoyed the experience. They made you feel extremely safe and fun. We would definitely use Divecenter Merlin when we return to Puerto Plata again!
Written August 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Tammy, thank you very much for your great review. I know it is a difficult time for anyone planning their vacation and there are many questions unanswered. I am very happy that I was able to answer all your questions and that you had a great vacation. Safety and fun are our top priority. It was nice to have you as guests and we would be very happy to see you again. Best Regards Juergen
Written August 22, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Uri
Puerto Ayora, Ecuador467 contributions
Jul 2020
Excellent Dive Center in Sosua. The owner was hands on and informative. They know where all the cool spots are located. Was well worth the price and the time. They usually recommend only do one tank dive in the morning and it was excellent. A lovely team, great gear and a minimal distance to the boat. Would recommend to any one staying in the Sosua area!
Written July 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Oriol, thank you very much for your feedback. It was a plesure to meeting you. Thank you also for the beautiful video you posted on youtube. We wish you all the best and we hope to see you again. Best Regards your Merlin Team
Written August 7, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
MADSF1988
6 contributions
Jul 2020 • Solo
These guys are professional, easy-going, and a lot of fun to be with. I just took my EANx course with Merlin and I already miss them. Infrastructure is the best I have seen in Sosúa and they keep it clean. Moreover, they offer good prices and discounts for those who buy many dives, as you can see on their very informative website. One of only two PADI 5 star centres in that area and in a great location. Finally, they took some great pictures of me when we went diving and I much appreciate it.
Written August 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Marconi, thank you very much for your review, it was nice to meeting you. Congratulation on your Nitrox course. We hope you enjoy the photos we took of you. We wish you all the best and hope to see you once again. Always save diving - Your Merlin Team
Written August 7, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
dulacdoc
Virginia Beach, VA204 contributions
Mar 2020
We were a group travelling to the DR for spring break. We had a combination of certified scuba divers, discovery divers, and snorkelers. I sent emails to several groups, and Dive Merlin was by far the most responsive and thorough. They responded almost immediately, and over the course of several months responded quickly to every question, and even when they had not heard from me checked in to see how things were going
For our discovery divers, they sent instructors to the house we were staying in, and gave the classroom and pool instruction. On the day of diving they had incredible, patient guides and instructors. Safety was always emphasized, the equipment was top notch, and everything went perfectly.
I can't emphasize enough what a wonderful experience this was for our group across the board, and I wish we had the time to dive more than twice with them! When I return to Sosua, this will be the first phone call I make.
For our discovery divers, they sent instructors to the house we were staying in, and gave the classroom and pool instruction. On the day of diving they had incredible, patient guides and instructors. Safety was always emphasized, the equipment was top notch, and everything went perfectly.
I can't emphasize enough what a wonderful experience this was for our group across the board, and I wish we had the time to dive more than twice with them! When I return to Sosua, this will be the first phone call I make.
Written March 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the nice comments, it was a pleasure for all of us to get to know you. Although the weather was not great for your vacation, we are happy that we could provide a great experience for you.
Looking forward to seeing you again!
Written March 14, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Rich Strange
1 contribution
Sep 2020
A great day out with Merlin divers. They have a great knack of being highly professional and also making diving so much fun. A wonderful blend of humour, great local dive knowledge and also focusing on the small details so everyone is catered for.
I am looking forward to more dives with the Merlin crew.
I am looking forward to more dives with the Merlin crew.
Written September 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Richard,
thank you for your feedback. We all looking forward to do more dives with you. Wish you a great time here in DR.
Written November 17, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Alex Heller
3 contributions
Dec 2021 • Family
Vielen Dank an Jürgen und sein Team für diese wunderschöne Erfahrung! Auch nach zweijähriger Pause wurde ich hier schnell und professionell von erfahrenen Tauchern eingelernt. Die Gruppen waren immer sehr nett und wir hatten viel Spaß. Zudem wurden während des Tauchgangs wundervolle Aufnahmen gemacht, welche ich ohne Extrakosten anschließend per Mail bekam. Es ist die beste Tauchschule, die ich kennen lernen durfte. Vielen lieben Dank und ich freue mich schon auf ein Wiedersehen!!//
Many thanks to Jürgen and his team for this wonderful experience! Even after a two-year break, I was trained quickly and professionally by experienced divers. The groups were always very nice and we had a lot of fun. In addition, wonderful recordings were made during the dive, which I then received by email at no extra cost. It is the best diving school that I have gotten to know. Thank you very much and I'm looking forward to seeing you again!
Many thanks to Jürgen and his team for this wonderful experience! Even after a two-year break, I was trained quickly and professionally by experienced divers. The groups were always very nice and we had a lot of fun. In addition, wonderful recordings were made during the dive, which I then received by email at no extra cost. It is the best diving school that I have gotten to know. Thank you very much and I'm looking forward to seeing you again!
Written December 3, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hallo Alex,
vielen Dank für Deine tolle Bewertung. Der Sicherheits- und Wohlfühlfaktor ist mit das Wichtigste für uns. Es freut mich sehr, dass Du es so empfunden hast. Wir freuen uns jetzt schon darauf Dich wieder zu sehen. LG Jürgen
Hello Alex,
Thank you for your great rating. The safety and well-being factor is one of the most important things for us. I am very happy that you felt that way. We are already looking forward to seeing you again. LG Jürgen
Written December 4, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jose Luis F
1 contribution
Nov 2020
I spent 3 days diving with Merlin team. Everything was very well and professionally organized and the team made every possible effort to satisfy expectations. I did a total of 6 dives over 3 days including wreck and reef diving.
Written November 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Jose Luis,
thank you for your great comment. It was nice to meet you. I am pleased to read that you enjoyed your stay with us. We are already looking forward to your next visit in December. Bye for now.
Written November 17, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Carla1992
Windsor, Canada48 contributions
Apr 2022
We dove with Dive Centre Merlin for over a month while in the DR. Jurgen, Christian, Nelson, Ricky and Juan took great care of us and made our diving exceptional. The amount of diverse dive sites available just a short boat ride from the beach adjacent to the shop was astounding. A less than 5 minute boat ride put us at a beautiful reef in Sosua Bay with diverse life abounding! A longer boat ride took us out near the Airport for a variety of dives and spectacular reef formations. All the staff we dealt with were friendly and professional. Their ultimate goal to be for you/us to have a safe, enjoyable dive. Tips on how to improve buoyancy and bottom time were most welcome and enabled us to have our longest dive yet. We truly felt like family and look forward to returning to dive with this operation of professionals again soon.
Written June 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Carla,
thank you for your great report. It was a pleasure for us to have you as our guests. It is very important to us that our guests feel safe and comfortable. We are all looking forward to seeing you again Best Regards Juergen
Written June 22, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
waywardson57
1 contribution
Jul 2020
My wife and I have been diving for many years. Juergen and his team are among the very best people we have ever dove with. Easy going, friendly and yet extremely professional. They were equally comfortable with the beginning divers in our group as well as more experienced divers. They provided us with a number of tips to improve our diving skills. We highly recommend Dive Merlin and they will get our return business!
Written August 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you very much for the great review. It was a pleasure for all of us to have you with us. We hope you like the photos we took of you. We are all looking forward to your next visit. Always save dives. Your Merlin Team!
Written August 7, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Tim00493
1 contribution
Nov 2020 • Solo
Super professional outfit, lots of fun, and great things to see. I’m open water certified only, so couldn’t do the deeper dives, but on the 2 I did there were 2 turtles, huge crabs, moray eel, 6 foot sand eel, lots of flounders and colorful fish. Also some random age of sail cannon! Everybody had a great sense of humor too, highly recommend merlin, made me feel in love with diving
Written November 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Tim,
thank you for your great review. I am very happy that you enjoyed your stay with us. It was great to have you as a guest and we would all look forward to another visit from you.
Written November 17, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Are there available spots between Dec. 23 - Jan. 2? How much for the scuba'ing? Thanks
Written December 14, 2015
Not sure about the dates. I suggest you contact them directly. They speak english Jurgen is the person that runs the place They are the most helpful and friendliest dive shop I have dove with. My son and I were there in June of this year and had a blast.....Trust me....These are the best people to dive with in Sosua.....I hope this helps...
Written December 15, 2015
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