It's a mixed bag - I like the area precisely because it is so remote and non-touristy, but the infrastructure is a little deteriorated and it can get full of litter after a busy day. I was there about a year ago - must have been right after one such day - and it was pretty bad.
There are two main swimming areas on each side of the spit of land - one is rocky, the other sandy but there are sea urchins in the water on the sandy side. The beach itself is not your white sand dream Caribbean beach - the sand is a darker colour - but it does have shady palm trees. I don't know what it's like for snorkel or scuba - it's definitely a windsurf mecca, and possibly kite-surfing too.
Isla Catalina is quite a long way to the east. I'd say you'd be better off exploring the far south-west of the country from Salinas - it's nearer to go to Barahona and tour the SW coastline and the area around Lake Enriquillo, for example.
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