How to Scuba Dive in Puerto Rico

Resting on the edge of the continental shelf, with offshore islands, deep water reefs, sunken vessels, trenches and sea walls, Puerto Rico boasts some of the most pristine dive sites. Underwater visibility can reach 100 feet off shore and 60 to 75 feet near the beach. The year-round, average water temperature 81 degrees F. Puerto Rico was once named a top dive destination by Scuba Diving magazine. Read on to learn more.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Discover The Wall. You'll find 2 miles off of the southern coast of Puerto Rico lies a 22-mile underwater wall with slopes and drop-offs from 30 to 120 feet. The Labyrinth, a set pattern of finger trenches, is a maze-like home to lobster, eels and an array of fish. Large nurse sharks reside along the sandy ledges.

2. Dive at night at The Aquarium. A shallow, 50-foot dive site, The Aquarium is home top eels, hermit crabs, anemones, worms, clams, soft and hard coral, sponges and several large schools of small tropical reef fish including Sgt. Majors, Blue Chromis, Goatfish and Butterfly Fish.

3. Explore the waters of Mona Island, known as "the Galapagos of the Caribbean." Visibility reaches over 200 feet and divers will see over 270 species of tropical fish, sea turtles, whales, dolphins and three-foot long iguanas.

4. Hand-feed reef fish off of the coastal town of Fajardo. A unique, double-barrier reef surrounds Palomino Island off of the coast where divers can feed bandtailed puffers and parrot fish as well as view manatees.

5. Swim with dolphins and nurse sharks at "The Drift." Divers can pass through a series of swim-throughs and perch on ledges with gentle nurse sharks and angel fish and swim with dolphins in the Spring.

6. Get PADI certified or take a course in the shallow waters of The Conado Reef off of the coast of San Juan.

Tips & Warnings

• Make reservations. January through April, popular dive trips book up quickly.
• Many hotels in Puerto Rico have their own dive program or offer discounts for affiliated dive programs.
• Respect the marine life. Don't touch the coral reefs or disturb the fish while diving.
• Bring or rent a wet suit for a deep dive.
• Puerto Rico is a U.S. Territory, so U.S. citizens do not need passports or visas to visit nor do they have to go through customs or immigration
• Do not attempt to dive on the island's northern Atlantic coast, where the winds are high and water too turbulent for diving.
• Do not go diving alone. Always go with a professional dive operation or consultant.

Resources

• Find information about travel to Puerto Rico.
• The site of the Puerto Rico convention bureau.
• Learn about the unique features of the different dive areas in Puerto Rico.
• Find a scuba diving center or resort in Puerto Rico.
• Learn about becoming PADI certified and find a dive center.