Puerto Rico Questions

[Treetop]

I'm staying on the NE side of the island (Loiza), which should be pretty close to the ferry to viques and culebra islands. Any known good shore diving spots in the East or NE portion of main island? I might try to spend a day on west side but not sure if I will have the time.
Also, I hear about bioluminescent bay, is this something that you have to have reservations weeks in advance for, or do they take walkons?

Never been to PR before, so any info is appreciated. I am in process of scanning back forums for similar things.

 

[Dave C]

I just returned from a two week vacation in Culebra and Vieques Islands. I can't comment directly on the shore diving in the eastern main island, although I read the visibility tends to be poor because of run-off from the El Yunque rain forest. I drove through Loiza, and the water at the beach was sure murky. When you ask about the bio-bay, are you inquiring about the one in Vieques? (I think there is also a bio-bay on the main island that is not supposed to be as good). We went on a kayak tour in the Vieques bio-bay. Even though we made reservations a few weeks in advance, this didn't appear to be necessary as most people seemed to be walk-ins that just signed up that day. You have to check your dates, because if there is a full moon, I don't think they run tours. You can find the best days for the tour if you check on-line. By the way, despite the "glowing" reports I had heard about the bio-bay, I was only moderately impressed. The glow was not as bright as I was led to believe beforehand. I had read that it was so bright that "you could read a book by it", but that was not the case when I was there. In my opinion, the main reason to go to Vieques is for the island itself, not just the bio-bay.

 

[Treetop]

I found some info, if anyone else finds it useful.
Shore dive spots I have collected to try so far are,
Off Normandy Hotel in San Juan - a reef at 30'
La Natural and Crash Boat off shore in aguadilla(?)
And possibly some in fajardo.
I will post reviews and possibly pics when I return.
Cheers.

 

[DarrylStans]

Shore diving at Crashboat, El Natural and Shacks are all excellent:blinking:; and 3 completely different dives. All are in the Northwest. Crashboat is easy without assistance, take a guide if you want to see a seahorse. El Natural is a good dive but can have currents and Shacks requires a guide. Survivor and dead end road reef are not mentioned as they don't make the guidebooks.

Many of the LDS in the east do their checkouts in the west for the vis.

Enjoy the island.

D

 

[gypsyjim]

We were in PR in Feb. Did the bio bay/kayak at Fajardo: it was just OK, but they say it's much better when it's hot, and at the new moon. Many walk ins available.
Dived the Humacao area this time, but weather was against me all week, even when I drove down and drove to SW. My favorite is still Rincon and Taino divers. Culebra has some good diving too, and very good snorkeling, but have yet to try Vieques.