Puerto Rico?

[Kansas Beachbum]

Has anyone been diving in Puerto Rico? Looking for ideas for our next trip in May/early June.

 

[drrich2]

Over 6 years ago, I dove off east Puerto Rico by boat with Sea Ventures out of Fajardo. Wife & I spent part of our honeymoon at the Hyatt Durado, quite a ways off, but the dive guide (an instructor) came & picked us up, and people at Embassy Suites, took us and brought us back.

It was okay reef diving; had a good time. Viz. wasn't up to Bonaire or Cozumel, but had a good time on the 2 dives we did.

Richard.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Also used Sea Ventures and did Fajardo and Palmas when a student flew me down to do his checkouts in 2010. Fajarda was so so then. Palmas was nice. This was in January and diving on the north and west sides were out due to storms that had been happening all week. The nice thing was that once they saw we knew what we were doing when we jumped in the water the DM waved bye bye to me and my student and allowed us to dive our own plans. Didn't even have to go in the same direction he took the others.

 

[ibj40]

Has anyone been diving in Puerto Rico? Looking for ideas for our next trip in May/early June.

We dove on the west side of PR a couple of years ago. Stayed in Rincon, and dove two days out to Desecheo Island and then drove down to La Parguera and dove one day. If we had it to do over again, we would have done two days (or maybe even all three) at La Parguera. Dive shop in Rincon was Taino Divers, shop we used in La Parguera was West Divers.

 

[ginovega]

I am Puertorican and I am very familiar with diving sites and operator specially in the west side( where I am from) I go back every year and heading back end Feb. If u want PM and I will provide lots of information on the island. I am currently in the military stationed in the Atlanta GA area.

 

[Fishspearit]

Has anyone been diving in Puerto Rico? Looking for ideas for our next trip in May/early June.

In May/early June you should have good diving all around the island. The east end of the island can get a bit murky in winter with the easterly trade winds blowing across the banks between the VI and PR, but if you're diving the islands north of Fajardo, around Culebra, or the south side of Vieques it can still be nice. The south east area around Humacao/ Palmas Del Mar has some great spots, but visibility can be a little hit or miss out there because of the open fetch to the eastern trades. The west side of Puerto Rico is always good, but my favorite area and where I would recommend is the south side around Guanica and La Parguera. Short boat rides, great vis, nice walls, and lots of marine life. I lived there for 3 years and ran a dive shop on the east end of the island, but if I went back for a vacation I would plan to dive in the La Parguera area.

 

[jlevine]

There are additional threads about Puerto Rico in the Greater Antilles subforum. Enjoy your trip!

 

[ginovega]

I would suggest as a start by reading this book "The Complete Diving Guide The Caribbean" Volume three by Colleen Ryan and Brian Savage. htis volume covers PR, US VI and BVI. You can get the PR ( Including the Spanish Virgin island - Vieques and Culebra) only chapters in Kindle version from Amazon or in PDF version from the vendor at www.caribdiveguide.com . Eventhough this book was published in 1998 it will be a great start to undestand diving in PR. (Some info in outdated but as I said is a great start) If you decide to dive on the west coast of the island be aware that you dont need to fly to San Juan International. There are two additional Intl Aiports you can fly to which are closer to that side of the island. One is in Aguadilla, PR (Code : BQN) , Jet Blue and Spirit both have direct flight there. Also you have the Ponce Mercedita Airport (PSE) where Jet Blue flyes to. Both Airport are small and easy to access and not crowded at all.(Flight are late departure flights meaning you live close to midnight and arrive to the island in the early AM) I have flown to both locations so I am sepaking out experience. Both Airports locations have major Rental Car Companies...
As for Lodging I will look in tripadvisor as they show you many of the lodging accommodations around the island.
As mentioned before La Parguera is a great site, I am from Sabana Grande PR which is about 13 miles aprox from La Parguera. So I know the Parguera area very well. I am heading there to visit family late Feb'13. I will be also visiting Culebra so I can gather information for anyone in this forum. I will be diving the Parguera Wall (weather permiting) In addition, there are diving sites of the coast of Mayaguez. (I will be diving those also) A good friend of mine and owner of DiveShop_PR has a diving operation in that area with sites about 20 minutes boat ride. The Dive Shop Puerto Rico

Hope this help you. If you need more information about my island please do not hesitate to ask me.

Thanks

Gino