If you like diving or snorkeling Puerto Rico is a good place because the temperature of the ocean is around 80.6° Fahrenheit and the visibility of the water is between 60 and 65 feet near the beaches and you move away a little and the depth reaches easily 98 feet or even more.
The archipelago of Puerto Rico has beaches lined with palm trees, a great wealth of fauna and ecological wonders of jungle and mountain, good gastronomy, luxury spas and romantic hotels and a picturesque Spanish colonial heritage. With its tropical climate all year round, it offers something for everyone and is a perfect place for a vacation.
The Best Sites for Scuba Diving in Puerto Rico
1. Escambron, San Juan
Source: Diving in Puerto Rico, Escambrón Marine Park
The small beach of the Escambron Marine Park (behind the former hotel Normandie), is one of the few urban reefs. “They inhabit 3 to 4 species of turtles (such as the hawksbill and white fish),” says the owner of Scuba Dogs. You can see sea horses and lobsters, among other species.
2. Balneario Cerro Gordo, Vega Alta
Source: Cerro Gordo
In this area there is a natural reef. It has many rock formations and many soft and solid corals. In addition to manatees, you can see sea fans and brain coral, among others.
3. Mar Chiquita, Manati
Source: Diving Mar Chiquita, Puerto Rico – 2017/05/28
Inside the pond, there are many fish, such as the damsel and the sergeant fish. Where greater marine life is seen is in both corners of the rock formation.
4. Beach Shacks, Isabela
Source: Shacks Beach Isabela – Puerto Rico 4K
It has cave formations and caverns, like tunnels “that are extremely interesting”, says Marti Ruiz, especially when they are given the sun’s rays. You can see a reef with lots of marine life. There are manatees, turtles, among others.
5. The Natural, Aguadilla
Source: Diving El Natural, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
Also known by surfers as Beach Gas Chambers, the visual panorama is a completely coral background, from the shore. Among the common species are the angel and butterfly fish, and gorgonian corals (soft coral). Its water is crystal clear.
6. Crash Boat, Aguadilla
Source: Diving Puerto Rico Crash Boat Beach July 2013
It has a pier that goes to the ocean, with piles or columns that support the pier and that are covered with coral, sponge banks and all kinds of marine life such as moray eels and scorpion fish.
7. Tres Palmas Beach, Rincon
Source: SCUBA DIVING THE MARINE RESERVE STEPS BEACH – RINCON PUERTO RICO
It is an extensive natural reef with lots of marine life. It is a protected reserve for its ecological value. There are various corals, parrotfish and sole, among others.
8. Pelican Beach, Caja de Muerto
Source: Scuba diving in Caja de muerto PR
This beach of the Natural Reserve of the island of Caja de Muertos, which has the Blue Flag certification (symbol of an international award for cleanliness and environmental quality), has an abundant marine life. In addition to corals, you can see crabs, squid, chapin, coral and octopus.
9. Seven Seas, Fajardo
Source: Scuba Diving in Fajardo
In this spa of crystal clear water live parrot, damselfish and sergeant. You can also delight your eyes with the corals that you will find in your path.
10. The Little Town, LoÃza
Source: Scuba Diving Puerto Rico – Pure Adventure
In the rocky area of LoÃza, the beach you can see many fish and corals. It does not have a great depth, which makes it ideal to go with children.
11. Flamenco, Culebra
Source: SCUBA Diving – Culebra Puerto Rico – September 2016
Knowing that it is recognized as one of the 10 most beautiful beaches in the world is enough reason to venture to visit it (according to TripAdvisor users). It has the reef facing the beach. From the shore, the marine visual spectacle begins. In addition to corals and a variety of fish, you can see stingrays.
12. Tamarindo Beach, Culebra
Source: Puerto Rico Dive Tamarindo Reef Culebra
The diving instructor mentions that this beach is “internationally recognized for the quality of shore snorkeling”.
13. Punta Soldado, Culebra
Source: Culebra birthday dives, Punta Soldado and Saddle
One of the most recommended for snorkeling and scuba diving. One of the biggest attractions are its corals.
14. Red Beach, Vieques
Source: 20200213 Diving in Puerto Rico, Vieques
Also known as Playa Caracas, a natural pool with white sand is one of the favorite places for tourists to practice this activity, especially in rocky areas.
15. Blue Beach, Vieques
Source: Playa Caracas y La Chiva – Vieques, Puerto Rico DJI Phantom 3 Advanced
Also known as Playa La Chiva, it is part of the Vieques National Wildlife Refuge. Its marine life makes it a favorite for snorkeling and scuba diving.
16. The Wall, Guanica
Source: Scuba diving at The Wall, Guanica Puerto Rico, 2018/01/07
Diving in the south gives access to sites along the descent caused by the continental shelf that runs parallel to the south coast of Puerto Rico. This side of the island has significantly less rain than the north and east, so rainwater runoff does not reduce visibility and the depth of the wall means that it does not roll over the bottom. In general, the visibility is good and excellent along this coast. Some sites have deep cracks in the wall; in some places, pieces of the wall have separated; parts of the wall have been inhabited with sea fans in deep water, creating a curtain of coral lace, while other areas have been colonized by hard coral songs.
As a Final Note
What you will see at the bottom of the sea in Puerto Rico will go beyond your expectations. You will witness entire kingdoms of coral reefs, miles of seagrass beds and an amazing diversity of marine life. The visibility in our waters exceeds many other destinations in the Caribbean. In addition, many experienced guides are on duty to go to any dive site.
Blue spikes, starfish, barracudas, turtles, puffer fish, angelfish, octopus, and hundreds of other species of marine life await your visit.
From the beginner to the professional diver you will find places to explore in Culebra!
There are several accredited dive instructors based in Culebra. The stores have all the necessary equipment that you can rent. If you have your own equipment, you will get your bottles filled right there.
Diving in Puerto Rico is an activity practiced all the time. The environmental conditions and the facilities to get from one end of the island to the other make it something fun and exciting. We offer on the coast in the San Juan area at 15 min. away from the hotel area also activities to Humacao, Fajardo, Guanica, Cerro Gordo, Aguadillas, Mayaguez from 3 to 1hr away from San Juan
The environments in Puerto Rico are composed of coral reefs with abundant vegetation and marine life, some with walls that surpass 2000 feet of depth and others with funds of 40 feet of depth with a lot of diversity. You can practice photography, videography, night diving, deep diving, etc.