The Dominican Republic’s Boca Chica Beach is truly unique. Lined with hotels, all-inclusive resorts, shops, restaurants, bars and cafeterias, its waters form a cove approximately 1 mile wide.  About 1/4 mile out, is a reef in the shape of a giant semi-circle that extends from end to end and just protrudes beyond the water's surface. The reef completely surrounds the cove, forming a giant natural salt-water swimming pool with depths averaging 3-4 feet.  Nevertheless, the reef has two openings: on the East side is the Boca (mouth) of Boca Chica where the cove waters meet the deep blue sea. This is where the water enters. The current flows from East to West. The west side is where the two yacht Clubs are located, also where the reef parts to enter the Caribbean Sea. The reef acts as a natural water break to the Caribbean Sea, so the cove is usually glass calm.