We travel from Washington DC on a direct flight to San Juan, Puerto Rico. The flight was smooth and on time. There is no need for US passport as Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the United States, a territory. Puerto Rico uses the same currency as the rest of the United States, the US dollar. Traveling between Puerto Rico and the states is incredibly easy since there’s no money exchange involved. While the money is the same, costs can vary greatly between the island and the states. We arrived at Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport and rented a car with AVIS which is right at the airport, across the TAXI lane and baggage claim area, therefore no shuttle or bus needed to get to the car rental place.
Our trip destination is the famous "The Wall Reef" at La Parguera, Lajas, Puerto Rico. La Parguera is a Nature Reserve protected area located in the southwestern side of the island in Puerto Rico. The bay is full of mangrove forest in addition to salt marshes and lagoons located along the coast of the Parguera. The area includes numerous cays and coral reefs. The reserve is mostly famous for its bioluminescent bay, locally called Bahía Fosforecente, (Spanish for 'phosphorescent bay'), one of the three of its kind in Puerto Rico and one of the seven year-round places where bioluminescent can be seen in the Caribbean.
La Parguera is about 2 hours and 15 minutes from San Juan. It is in the Southwestern side of the island. The best way to get there is taking the main highway PR52 also called "La Autopista" in Spanish. There are toll gates along the way, but we had the SOLO-PASS included with the rental vehicle. I believe (could be wrong) that the cost is around $19 one way for a standard two axel vehicle. We stayed at a Vrbo place called, Media Luna in Lajas. Media Luna Guest House | La Parguera, Lajas PR I highly recommend, and his owner Javier is always available to answer questions and help with logistics.
The local scuba shop (PADI) run buy its owner Captain Kiko, Paradise Scuba & Snorkeling | Snorkeling & Scuba Diving Puerto Rico is just steps away from the pier. The shop is well equipped with rental gear, accessories, clothing, dive equipment, etc. Paradise Scuba & Snorkeling Center operates two comfortable dive vessels with all the US Coast Guard specifications with plenty of space, shades, comfortable seating area, fully equipped, and safe. Paradise also offers PADI scuba diving certifications. The largest boat, “The Teaser” can fit a maximum of 25 passengers. “TEASER” is a custom dive vessel built by Evans Boats, especially suited for snorkelers or divers. Is a USCG certified vessel for 30 passengers, is a 50 ft. long and 16 ft. wide boat and very stable.
We dive both days on The Teaser under the command of Capt. Angel and his first mate Chompi. Dive Masters Gaby and Chiqqui were also onboard and helped as extra hands for Capt. Angel. All crew members are experienced divers and have been with Paradise Scuba Center for at least a minimum of three years tenure. The trip out to The Wall at La Parguera is only about 25 minutes, Includes amenities such as freshwater showers, two bathrooms, rinse tank, tank racks. It has AM/FM stereo that’s iPod ready, so if you want you can bring your own music. All dives are guided by both DM's and in some cases Chompi also joins the dive for a total of three (3) DM's on the water. At least one DM will carry a lionfish sling spear and during the first dive the DM killed five lionfish then feed them to the triggers, barracudas, pork, and durgeons fish. I asked why he does it, and he said to condition the other fish to start eating the lionfish. I lost count of how many lionfish were killed on the second, third, and fourth dive.
On the boat they offer free soft drinks and water during the dives and free local beer Medalla after the last dive and upon return to the dock. The dock is situated in the heart of town and surrounded by souvenir shops, ice cream parlor, food kiosks, restaurants, bars, that will replenish any thirst or hunger after the dives. We visited at least six of the food shops and will have recommendations for few of them. The town was originally a fishing community that grew into a tourist attraction spot because the bioluminescent bay, later transitioning into a fishery town and boating community. On the weekends the village transforms into a party like alive town with music and street musicians.
Puerto Rican cuisine, known as cocina criolla, is a fusion of Taíno, African, and Spanish culinary. The Taíno people, the island’s first inhabitants, use yuca and plantains, while African use techniques like frying or stew. Spanish colonization uses ingredients such as garlic, pork, and rice. Together, these elements form a bold, comforting cuisine that reflects the island’s cultural heritage. At the heart of Puerto Rican cooking are tropical ingredients that showcase the island’s abundance. Plantains are featured in tostones and mofongo. Pork is "lechón asado". The town offers fresh seafood, tropical fruits such as guava, pineapple, and coconut are mixed in their sweetness to desserts and beverages. Other noteworthy dishes are:
Alcapurrias: Crispy fritters made from plantain or yuca dough, filled with seasoned meat or seafood.
Pastelillos: Savory turnovers with a flaky crust, filled with meat, cheese, or seafood.
Asopao: A rich rice stew, similar to gumbo, featuring chicken or seafood as its main ingredient.
Tembleque: A creamy coconut pudding with a hint of cinnamon, perfect for dessert lovers.
Each of these dishes offers a flavorful glimpse into Puerto Rico’s culinary heritage, making it a true food lover’s destination.
The two-day dives included trips to The Wall and several diving spots like: Hole in Wall Reef, Chimney Reef, Black Wall Reef, and Forest Reef.
The Hole in Wall reef is one of Puerto Rico’s most dramatic underwater formations, La Parguera Wall plunges from 40 to 150+ feet into azure Caribbean depths of over 300+ft, offering a vertical terrain of intricate coral structures and marine biodiversity. The water is extremely clear with a slight current and warm water. You can see the depths from 70-80 ft without venturing down in the abyss. If you look into the depth, you will see Reef Sharks cruising by the bottom. We saw huge green turtles, durgeons, green moray eels, blue Triggerfish, clinging crabs, nurse sharks, and spade fish.
Chimney Reef is a 40 to 70 feet plateau above The Wall with a cave-chimney type hole that you can swim thru. Huge red clinging crabs reside in the cave entrance, and moray eels live above the chimney hole. Lots of Hogfish, damsels, pork, barracudas, wrasses, blue Hamlet, trigger fish, durgeons, and sponges of yellow, blue, purple colors. There are lots of gorgonians, black corals, sea fans, and soft corals all over the rocks. Is a very healthy and diverse reef.
Black Wall is a deep wall dive, ranging from 60 feet to recreational limits, there are forests of black coral, enormous black and red gorgonians and elongated yellow and purple tube sponges, creating a rainbow of colors. Hogfish, black durgeons and triggerfish, chromes, damsels, nurse sharks are the most common creatures here. If you look into the depth, you will see Reef Sharks cruising by the bottom. We were lucky to see two but too deep for us to film or photograph.
Forest Reef is full of bar jacks and Atlantic Spade Fish locally known as "Palaguema" fish. There are plenty of barracudas, sponges of many colors, small reef fish of many kinds, hamlets, spiny lobsters, black gorgonians, red gorgonians, and soft corals.
I will be posting pictures once I arrive home and have the time to download from my TG6 camera. Thank you for reading, hope you enjoy the report, and perhaps you can dive this place in Lajas, PR
Our trip destination is the famous "The Wall Reef" at La Parguera, Lajas, Puerto Rico. La Parguera is a Nature Reserve protected area located in the southwestern side of the island in Puerto Rico. The bay is full of mangrove forest in addition to salt marshes and lagoons located along the coast of the Parguera. The area includes numerous cays and coral reefs. The reserve is mostly famous for its bioluminescent bay, locally called Bahía Fosforecente, (Spanish for 'phosphorescent bay'), one of the three of its kind in Puerto Rico and one of the seven year-round places where bioluminescent can be seen in the Caribbean.
La Parguera is about 2 hours and 15 minutes from San Juan. It is in the Southwestern side of the island. The best way to get there is taking the main highway PR52 also called "La Autopista" in Spanish. There are toll gates along the way, but we had the SOLO-PASS included with the rental vehicle. I believe (could be wrong) that the cost is around $19 one way for a standard two axel vehicle. We stayed at a Vrbo place called, Media Luna in Lajas. Media Luna Guest House | La Parguera, Lajas PR I highly recommend, and his owner Javier is always available to answer questions and help with logistics.
The local scuba shop (PADI) run buy its owner Captain Kiko, Paradise Scuba & Snorkeling | Snorkeling & Scuba Diving Puerto Rico is just steps away from the pier. The shop is well equipped with rental gear, accessories, clothing, dive equipment, etc. Paradise Scuba & Snorkeling Center operates two comfortable dive vessels with all the US Coast Guard specifications with plenty of space, shades, comfortable seating area, fully equipped, and safe. Paradise also offers PADI scuba diving certifications. The largest boat, “The Teaser” can fit a maximum of 25 passengers. “TEASER” is a custom dive vessel built by Evans Boats, especially suited for snorkelers or divers. Is a USCG certified vessel for 30 passengers, is a 50 ft. long and 16 ft. wide boat and very stable.
We dive both days on The Teaser under the command of Capt. Angel and his first mate Chompi. Dive Masters Gaby and Chiqqui were also onboard and helped as extra hands for Capt. Angel. All crew members are experienced divers and have been with Paradise Scuba Center for at least a minimum of three years tenure. The trip out to The Wall at La Parguera is only about 25 minutes, Includes amenities such as freshwater showers, two bathrooms, rinse tank, tank racks. It has AM/FM stereo that’s iPod ready, so if you want you can bring your own music. All dives are guided by both DM's and in some cases Chompi also joins the dive for a total of three (3) DM's on the water. At least one DM will carry a lionfish sling spear and during the first dive the DM killed five lionfish then feed them to the triggers, barracudas, pork, and durgeons fish. I asked why he does it, and he said to condition the other fish to start eating the lionfish. I lost count of how many lionfish were killed on the second, third, and fourth dive.
On the boat they offer free soft drinks and water during the dives and free local beer Medalla after the last dive and upon return to the dock. The dock is situated in the heart of town and surrounded by souvenir shops, ice cream parlor, food kiosks, restaurants, bars, that will replenish any thirst or hunger after the dives. We visited at least six of the food shops and will have recommendations for few of them. The town was originally a fishing community that grew into a tourist attraction spot because the bioluminescent bay, later transitioning into a fishery town and boating community. On the weekends the village transforms into a party like alive town with music and street musicians.
Puerto Rican cuisine, known as cocina criolla, is a fusion of Taíno, African, and Spanish culinary. The Taíno people, the island’s first inhabitants, use yuca and plantains, while African use techniques like frying or stew. Spanish colonization uses ingredients such as garlic, pork, and rice. Together, these elements form a bold, comforting cuisine that reflects the island’s cultural heritage. At the heart of Puerto Rican cooking are tropical ingredients that showcase the island’s abundance. Plantains are featured in tostones and mofongo. Pork is "lechón asado". The town offers fresh seafood, tropical fruits such as guava, pineapple, and coconut are mixed in their sweetness to desserts and beverages. Other noteworthy dishes are:
Alcapurrias: Crispy fritters made from plantain or yuca dough, filled with seasoned meat or seafood.
Pastelillos: Savory turnovers with a flaky crust, filled with meat, cheese, or seafood.
Asopao: A rich rice stew, similar to gumbo, featuring chicken or seafood as its main ingredient.
Tembleque: A creamy coconut pudding with a hint of cinnamon, perfect for dessert lovers.
Each of these dishes offers a flavorful glimpse into Puerto Rico’s culinary heritage, making it a true food lover’s destination.
The two-day dives included trips to The Wall and several diving spots like: Hole in Wall Reef, Chimney Reef, Black Wall Reef, and Forest Reef.
The Hole in Wall reef is one of Puerto Rico’s most dramatic underwater formations, La Parguera Wall plunges from 40 to 150+ feet into azure Caribbean depths of over 300+ft, offering a vertical terrain of intricate coral structures and marine biodiversity. The water is extremely clear with a slight current and warm water. You can see the depths from 70-80 ft without venturing down in the abyss. If you look into the depth, you will see Reef Sharks cruising by the bottom. We saw huge green turtles, durgeons, green moray eels, blue Triggerfish, clinging crabs, nurse sharks, and spade fish.
Chimney Reef is a 40 to 70 feet plateau above The Wall with a cave-chimney type hole that you can swim thru. Huge red clinging crabs reside in the cave entrance, and moray eels live above the chimney hole. Lots of Hogfish, damsels, pork, barracudas, wrasses, blue Hamlet, trigger fish, durgeons, and sponges of yellow, blue, purple colors. There are lots of gorgonians, black corals, sea fans, and soft corals all over the rocks. Is a very healthy and diverse reef.
Black Wall is a deep wall dive, ranging from 60 feet to recreational limits, there are forests of black coral, enormous black and red gorgonians and elongated yellow and purple tube sponges, creating a rainbow of colors. Hogfish, black durgeons and triggerfish, chromes, damsels, nurse sharks are the most common creatures here. If you look into the depth, you will see Reef Sharks cruising by the bottom. We were lucky to see two but too deep for us to film or photograph.
Forest Reef is full of bar jacks and Atlantic Spade Fish locally known as "Palaguema" fish. There are plenty of barracudas, sponges of many colors, small reef fish of many kinds, hamlets, spiny lobsters, black gorgonians, red gorgonians, and soft corals.
I will be posting pictures once I arrive home and have the time to download from my TG6 camera. Thank you for reading, hope you enjoy the report, and perhaps you can dive this place in Lajas, PR
