Should you consider Puerto Rico for your next scuba diving or snorkeling vacation? You have been dreaming for a long time of taking a scuba diving or snorkeling vacation to the Caribbean. You planned out your budget, been looking at reviews of different destinations, and then realized you would need to get a passport. Another expense to add to your budget! However, if you are an American citizen, you do not need a passport for your scuba diving vacation if you visit the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico). It is a US territory and is considered a domestic destination from the mainland US.
The Puerto Rico archipelago includes the main island of Puerto Rico and the smaller islands of Culebra, Mona, and Vieques plus numerous islets. The island of Puerto Rico is the smallest of the Greater Antilles islands, being about 100 miles (ca. 161 km) long by 35 miles (ca. 56 km) wide. The Antilles chain of islands forms the boundary between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.
The north coast of Puerto Rico island is on the Atlantic Ocean, while the south coast is on the Caribbean Sea. The 300 miles (ca. 483 km) of coastline of the main island and the offshore islands all offer outstanding scuba diving and snorkeling. Each has its own personality and offers opportunities for beginners and advanced scuba divers and snorkelers. Puerto Rico is serviced by over 70 dive centers. The Commonwealth also has a rich culture that will enhance your vacation experience.
Scuba Dive San Juan and the North East Coast
A number of reasons make San Juan and the Northeast coast the most visited destination in Puerto Rico for scuba diving. The busiest airport in the commonwealth is the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, commonly known as the San Juan Airport (SJU). More than 20 commercial airlines fly in and out of the airport every day, just minutes from the city. Also, San Juan is a major cruise port.
Scuba divers can stay in either San Juan or Fajardo. San Juan offers a number of very good reefs close to the city, including a number of shore dives. Escambron Beach is one of the best beaches in San Juan, it is also one of the best snorkeling sites. ( Snorkeling tips) Walking in from the shore, you will find yourself in 10 feet (ca. 3 m) of water and among an artificial reef made up of columns and statues. You will find the area teeming with young fish and large elkhorn corals. This area is often called “Atlantis”.
Scuba divers can continue out a little farther and over a submerged seawall. The other side of the seawall is a little deeper, about 20 feet (ca. 6 m), and also offers many fish. Here you may find a current running along the wall and larger fish. The site within the seawall is perfect for snorkelers and beginning divers, and experienced divers will also enjoy it. Outside the wall may require some experience due to the currents.
Caballos Reef is another great shore dive, starting at Carolina Park. This site is for more experienced divers due to currents and the distance from the shore. The water will range from 20 feet (6.1 m) to 100 feet (ca. 30 m) deep. Please note that this site is only dived in the summer. In the other seasons, Carolina Park is known for some of the best surfing in the Caribbean.
The Blue Hole dive site is located in sight of Ocean Park. The reef break makes it a difficult site to access as a shore dive, so it is best approached using a small boat. The reef has extensive elkhorn formations and a few small caves.
"Culebra, Puerto Rico" by Thomas Shahan 3 is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.
Fajardo Scuba Diving
If you are a nature lover looking for something away from a big city, then head to Fajardo. Located about 45 minutes from the airport, this quaint destination sits on the very eastern tip of the Island of Puerto Rico. The miles upon miles of beaches are perfect for sunbathing as well as snorkeling, kayaking, and stand up paddle boards. Snorkelers and scuba divers should not miss a trip to the Cordillera Natural Reserve. This nature reserve is a chain of coral reefs and cays offering crystal clear calm waters with an abundance of marine life. If you kayak, treat yourself to a very unusual experience. The Cabezas de San Juan Natural Reserve has the Laguna Grande bioluminescent bay. Paddle your kayak at night through the glowing waters.
Many of the dive shops here and in San Juan offer boat trips to the eastern islands, including Culebra and Vieques. Another option is to stay on the islands Culebra and Vieques themselves.
Scuba Diving Puerto Rico's East Islands
Beyond the Cordillera Natural Reserve are the East Islands, also known as the Passage Islands or the Spanish Virgin Islands, with the islands of Vieques and Culebra being the largest. They offer great snorkeling and scuba diving. Vieques is the second-largest island in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, being about 20 miles (ca. 32 km) long by 4.5 miles (ca. 7 km) wide. It is about 6 miles (ca. 10 km) from Puerto Rico's main island. Together with Culebra, both islands have all you need for a great vacation. While everyone claims they have the best beaches, these two islands have beaches that often rank among the best in the world.
While you can visit the dive sites of both these islands from the dive centers in San Juan and Fajardo, you may want to just stay on the islands themselves. The dive centers on the islands can take you to sites the other dive centers do not visit. There are also a number of great shore dive sites for both snorkeling and scuba diving. A must-visit on Vieques is the Vieques National Wildlife Refuge & the bioluminescent Mosquito Bay.
While Vieques is not highly developed, Culebra is even less developed. It presents a very relaxed, laid back experience. The dive centers here use 6 paxs, and with over 50 dive sites to choose from, you will likely be the only divers on the site. Culebra has also often been called the best unknown scuba diving destination in the world. Having no rivers and a low amount of rainfall, the waters around the islands offer excellent visibility.
Porta Del Sol Scuba Diving and Snorkeling
Porta Del Sol, the Gateway to the Sun, is an outstanding choice for a sun loving, beach loving vacation. The area represents the west coast of Puerto Rico including Aguadilla and Isabela and the offshore islands of Isla de Mona, Monito Island and Desecheo Island.
Rafael Hernández Airport (Aeropuerto Rafael Hernández) in Aguadilla serves this area with over half a million passengers each year, on flights to San Juan, mainland USA, the Caribbean, and South America.
One of the features that set this portion of the island above other Caribbean destinations is a large number of shore dive sites and snorkeling sites. You can walk out from just about any beach into a dive or snorkeling site with excellent visibility, healthy reefs, and teeming marine life.
The offshore islands of Isla de Mona, Monito Island and Desecheo Island. Offer some of the best remote diving in the Caribbean. They are uninhabited islands a number of hours from the coast. Most divers say it is well worth the time. Some dive centers offer these islands as an overnight trip, like a mini-liveaboard experience.
Diving The South Wall
If you are an advanced diver, you may want to include the south portion of Puerto Rico in your trip plans. Aeropuerto Internacional Mercedita is a small commercial airport located in Puerto Rico's second-largest city, Ponce, and it is the only airport located in the island's southern region.
A number of dive centers are located in the different cities and towns of this region. A few miles off the coast is the continental shelf. Here the incredible fringing reefs give way to shear walls. Wall dives and long drift dives with pelagic marine life is the primary draw to these dive sites. While there is excellent diving and snorkeling for beginners, this area is more for experienced divers.
I Am Ready, When Should I Go?
To see more dive site information, visit this scuba diving in Puerto Rico website.
Getting to Puerto Rico is easy, with many airports in the US and the Caribbean connecting there. It is a year-round destination being hot and humid year-round., however, you should know that it does find itself in the path of hurricanes and often gets one a year. August and September are the peak months for hurricanes.
The summer months have air temperatures that range from 80-85° F (26-30° C) with the winter months temperatures ranging from 70-80° F (21-26° C). The summer water temperatures are 79-83° F (26-28° C), with the winter water temperatures 75-79° F (24-26° C).
December to May is the dry season in Puerto Rico. This gives you better visibility and better land activities. While you can get great underwater photographs any time of the year here, this is the best time.
So look over your vacation plans and start planning.
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