San Juan Puerto Rico

I may have a day or two for some scuba in San Juan, in October, anyone has any advise where to go, what to see "underwater"?

I am not sure if its worth packing Ikelite for 5D with the dome, I am pretty confident I can get the stuff packed as a carryon, so I dont think I should be worried about theft.

I will be staying in Marriot San Juan, although could rent a car and get a room somewhere more interesting so any recomendation for locations and dive operators would be helpfull.

I don't think there's much to see 'around' San Juan itself,scuba-wise. There's certainly a lot worth photographing in and around Old San Juan, but I guess you're asking about bringing the housing, not the camera itself.

Most of the diving is either done off the east coast (Fajardo or points a bit further south, Palma Del Mar or something?), South/west coast (Rincon, out to Desecheo Island), etc. But I admit my knowledge is all "internet based" - I haven't tried any of these myself.

There's likely also some diving off of Vieques or Culebra if you take the ferries out to there (from Fajardo area on East coast).

Wife and I leave July 10th and meet the Juliet (sailjuliet.com) in Mayaguez on the west coast for a week of diving off Desecheo and Mona Island. Desecheo can be done as a dayboat trip, but Mona (around 40 nm out) can't.

I'll ask while we're there if there's much by way of diving operators close to San Juan itself, in the fall timeframe. But my best guess right now is you'd want to go East, if you only had like one day or so. According to Scuba Diving mag the best sites near to the island are to the SW though. Or, if you only have a day or two, rather than take the extra hassle and luggage room for the housing, bring the camera and go to the rainforest or the karst caverns (Yunques and Camuey, respectively, although I can't promise I spelled either right). We're staying on the island for a couple days after our dive trip and will at least do Yunques, so I'll let you know if that's worth it as well.

rtrski, thanks for the info.

I have been to PR few times, the most recent, I only got to snorkel by the steps beach in Rincon which was amazing which makes me think that there is plenty to see in the area. The problem is, Rincon is pretty far away from San Juan.

I may decide to go East, although I still need to research if its worth to bring the housing and all the equipment for a day or possibly two days of diving.

If anyone else has any more information, it would greatly help.

Yeah, if you're only there for a day or two, considering a 'no dive day' before flying out, its a big "if" isn't it? And a potential 2-3 hr drive (each way) eats a lot out of that time. We're probably crazy to be trying what we are. Flying into SJU and driving to Mayaguez by the next day at 3pm isn't a big deal to catch the boat. But on the 17th when the boat drops us off, we plan to drive the full length of the island and stay @ Fajardo the rest of the time, then do side trips to Yunques and maybe a ferry to Vieques or Culebra over the next couple days.

We've got all day to do a drive that should only take about 5 hrs, but traffic is a big giant "?" when you're outsiders and don't even speak Spanish with much authority. I'm still excited about the trip - we'll let you know if we find out anything. Fajardo is only supposed to be about an hour's drive from SJU, traffic permitting.

Vieques is a must

For diving, or otherwise? Our 3 days are my bribe to the wife for the preceding 5 day liveaboard - basically she wants some shore (or at least 'beach') activities, not just diving. (I gotta find a better dive buddy.... )

Will we be able to do much if we plan on riding the ferry over and back on the same day? Or is Culebra a better bet under those restrictions? (I've been to Culebra once before, years ago, and remember we bicycled the entire way around the island inside of 3-4 hours or so).

On our first dive at La Paguera, Puerto Rico we dived a fantastic wall with large black coral trees and lush vegetation everywhere. The reef was in magnificent shape and the water clear.

Now for animals: manta ray, Caribbean reef shark, 2 large green morays, red bullseye lobster, a huge spotted stingray, a school of barracuda, a very large school of blue tang, a large school of creole wrasses and a pod of dolphin. Oh yes, the "regular" reef fish were there too, but with all the rest we saw.........

That was my first dive there at a place called, "Black Forest".

I must say that the diving in Puerto Rico is much under-rated.

Oh yes, the second day we boat drifted with a large pod of pilot whales.

There are several first class dive operations in La Paguera, which is on the Southwest end of the island.

Out of Rincon, there is also good diving at 2 islands; Desecheo and Mona Island. They both are out a way from land, have clear water with lots of pelagics.

Will I go back? Yes.

Hope this information helps,

Barry Guimbellot

Contributing Editor

Dive Training Magazine