Shore dives Puerto Rico?

[Shellfishgene]

Hi all!

I'm going to Puerto Rico in a few days, and we were wondering if it's possible to dive from the shore/beach anywhere. We have all our own equipment except tanks and weights with us, would it be possible to just get those things from a dive shop and dive from the beach somewhere?
Diving seems rather expensive on PR, and I have a suspicion the shops won't let anyone just rent tanks and weights...


Cheers

 

[KP3S]

Yes, you can rent tanks and weights on the island. There are plenty of shore dive sites depending where you are going to be staying on the Island, 2 of the best are located in Aguadilla, on the West side. Crashboat Beach and El Natural shore Reef. Both are 1 mile apart and there are 2 dive shops near by, for more info please visit my information page http://www.divewestpr.com and happy diving.

 

[Shellfishgene]

Hey KP3S,

thanks for the info! We'll be staying in on the west side for half our trip, and on the east side the other. The shacks beach one is really close!
Would you know of other spots on the east side, too, or is the diving there generally not as good (from the shore)?

Cheers

 

[KP3S]

Skacks Beach is usually for sutffers because most of the times the ways are strong. I have not done any diving on the East but there are several boats that will take you to Viequez and Culebra Islands amd at least one that makes a trip to USVI as a day trip.
I am sure some one else can tell you some of the shore dive dive on the East side, good luck and have a safe dive.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

I wanted to dive the east side of the island from shore last January. Problem was it had been raining for a week before I got there and any thing in Fajardo and Palmas anyway required going out a long ways before getting out of what the captain called the mud line from runoff. We stayed in San Juan and could have dove the area around our hotel under normal conditions. It was not normal. waves were in the 4-6 ft range and breaking hard due to the tail end of the storm that brought the rain. But in checking around before my trip I found a number of shops willing to rent gear, tanks, and weights on the island. Several in San Juan proper. I could have went back this year but other commitments came first. I have a student who goes there every January on business so I may be looking at a return next year and will be sure to try and hit the west side.

 

[KP3S]

Jim, I am available to do shore dives in the West side and some boat dives with 30 days notice. I am a disable veteran and I have to plan well in advance my boat dives. Just pm in December 2011 if you are planning on coming to Puerto Rico next January. :cool2:

 

[Rhone Man]

Seconding what Jim said. Run-off from rain in larger Caribbean islands can affect viz for shore dives. Better to get further from shore on a boat if that option is avialable.

 

[Bhtmec2]

Seconding what Jim said. Run-off from rain in larger Caribbean islands can affect viz for shore dives. Better to get further from shore on a boat if that option is avialable.

Thats why we never dive anywhere near rivers here.........

Looking to find where to dive this weekend........

 

[jlevine]

I'm jealous...I wish I were there now!