Underwater Archaeology

The accumulation of shipwrecks dating back to the early 16th century in the waters of the Parque National del Este, located in the Catuano channel and the Caballo Blanco reef, constitute the greatest wrecks of the era of exploration currently known in the Caribbean. This remarkable characteristic indicates that the region was a destination greatly visited by the early Spanish navigators.

This situation was confirmed by chronicles that relate the manner in which the Tainos that inhabited the zone of the current national Park, filled several carabellas with cazabe bread throughout the year as a tribute to the inhabitants of Santo Domingo who depended, in large measure, on these contributions from the indigenous community.

The Parque Nacional del Este contains an underwater archaelogical patrimony that surprises any diver. In all of the Caribbean, there is no other national park that compares in the number of shipwrecks within its territorial waters, nor in their historical importance.

Aside from the shipwrecks of the 16th century, the archaeologists have confirmed the existence of another galleon of the 18th century in the shoals of Caballo Blanco, opposite Saona Island, where 17 ancient cannons may be seen at the sea bottom. In principle, wood structures are not preserved as a result of the shallow waters of the reefs and the rock bottom in which the shipwreck lies, which have impaired the conservation of organic materials. Only its anchors, cannons, munitions and different metal objects, glass or ceramic indicate the site of the wreck. Also within this reef, several anchors dating from the 16th to the 20th centuries have been discovered and may be seen by those divers who explore this beautiful underwater archaeological enclave.