Explore/Experience Puerto Rico

Scuba & Snorkeling

Puerto Rico offers a magnificence ocean temperature of 81ºF and underwater visibility averages from 60 to 75 feet near the beach. Offshore it is easily 100 feet or more! We are diver's paradise...

If you are a beginner, most major hotels and many dive shops offer SCUBA classes and snorkeling instruction.

There are countless diving sites around the Island.

We have to mention that Puerto Rico is one of the Top five destinations for Shore Diving in the Caribbean/Atlantic region (see Scuba Diving Magazine Award below).  Best shore diving spots in the Island include: Crash Boat beach, Shacks in Isabela, Cerro Gordo beach in Dorado and "La Pocita" in Escambron beach. "La Pocita" is very attractive to the visitor because it located in San Juan just 5 minutes from main hotels districts and cruise ships port. It is naturally protected from strong waves, with secure enclosed area for beginners and open area for experienced divers. "La Pocita" depths goes up to 30 feet and has great diversity and abundance of fish like snapper, grouper, rays, manatee, among others.

The Western region of Puerto Rico, known as Porta del Sol, comprises the very best dive spots in the island. A few miles off the coast of Guánica and La Parguera (in Lajas), the lower continental shelf forming The Wall offers one of the most spectacular diving in the Caribbean. The Wall begins at a depth of 55 to 60 feet and descends vertically to 130 feet before his subject down thousands of feet to the seabed. This underwater photographer's heaven has a visibility exceeding 100 feet and is home to so rarely seen black coral in the Caribbean. In addition, there are over 30 dive sites in La Parguera area identified as: Black Wall, Hole in the Wall, Old Buoy y Fallen Rock.

Other exacting diving experiences in Porta del Sol are made near Desecheo Island 14 miles off Rincon, and Mona Island, about 40 miles off Rincon. Off Desecheo, the marine-life action goes up several notches. But if conditions are right and you can dive only one site, make it Yellow Reef, a pinnacle that rises from 100 to 120 feet. It offers intriguing swim-troughs and home to everything from rare nudibranchs to dozing sea turtles.   Off Mona Island has been heralded as the Galapagos of the Caribbean, famous for its unique flora & fauna above the water. Explore the Carabinero Rock area.

Heading to the South region of Puerto Rico, known as Porta Caribe, you'll find a thrilling recreational dive spot at Caja de Muertos Island - off Ponce.  West of Caja de Muertos is a very lively and beautiful reef known as Derrumbadero - precipice.

The sisters islands of Vieques and Culebra, located at the East region of Puerto Rico, offer hidden underwater treasures that are little known even for locals. Luckiest will get to dive Sail Rock off Culebra: a lone, exposed promontory that juts out from the sea and acts like a beacon for everything that passes.  This is an exceptional dive; fish galore with great visibility, pinnacles from the surface to 120'. Swim with turtles, stunning coral and an abundant of marine life. And don't miss the island of Vieques, a few miles south of Culebra. Most of the island's seascape is thick with an unspoiled panorama of sea fans, sea plumes and healthy thickets of hard corals. 

Also in the East region you can experience exciting dives at El Diablo - northeast, off Fajardo, you can expect coral gardens in 50 feet of water. The Pinnacle - northeast, off Humacao is also a very well known diving spot. At this location you can expect a coral chimney soars from 165 feet to just 20 feet below the surface and is sheathed in corals and sponges.

For snorkeling, the shallow reefs near San Juan, Dorado and Rincón are perfect. Diving spots like Culebra, Desecheo Island and Mona Island are also among the most exciting snorkeling spots in the island.

Don't miss the experience of Diving in Paradise! Below are some great places to enjoy.

Scuba Diving Magazine Announces 2006 Readers' Choice Awards - Puerto Rico Named One of Top Five for Shore Diving

Readers of Scuba Diving magazine have named Puerto Rico as one of the Top Five Destinations for Shore Diving in the Caribbean/Atlantic region The 2006 Readers' Choice Awards were announced in the January/February issue of Scuba Diving. Puerto Rico was also honored as being one of the Top 20 Overall Dive Destinations in this region.

Thousands of Scuba Diving subscribers and web users rated their experiences at dive destinations on a scale of one to five. Final scores, which are listed in the magazine, represent the percentage of fours and fives awarded. A minimum number of responses were required for a destination to be included in the ratings.

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