Suggestions for diving and accommodations in Ponce, PR?

[waterwabbit]

We're going to La Parguera, PR for a 4-day weekend! We're flying into the Ponce airport and looking to spend 4 days in one place. I've read alot about La Parguera Divers, but wanted to see what all our options were. Could someone answer a few questions and give some information?

1. Should we rent a car? How do we get from the airport to La Parguera/Lajas area?
2. Are there other areas besides La Parguera that we should think about diving?
3. We don't want to shell out the big bucks on a $200/night room - so any budget guesthouses you could recommend?
4. What are the other dive operations in that area?

This is a spur of the moment trip with not a lot of time, so we want it to be easy traveling, good diving, fun times and not too expensive!

Any advice is much appreciated. Thanks!

 

[julienpr]

Hello,

I lived in that area (Guanica, to be specific) for 5 years, about half way betwen Ponce and La Parguera. You will have to rent a car, and you will want to. Since you only have 4 days, get straight to La Parguera (about 1 hours drive west of Ponce).

La Parguera has many small, reasonable places to stay. Check with Lewis (owner) at La Parguera divers. I know him well, and think he has a great, safe, and easy going operation. Tell him "Paul, who had a windsurfing/kayaking guesthouse in Guanica" advised you to call. PS: Let him know that I am now living in Morocco

Try a night snorkeling trip with them to the Bioluminecsent bay! It is a blast.

La Parguera is in the Dry area of the island. But you can go for about a 2-hour loop drive up into the rain forest mountains. Well worth it!

PR dive operators will have you back to the dock by 1:00 or 2:00 at the latest. This will give you time to explore. La Parguera Divers has some sit-on-top kayaks that you can rent and go for an easy paddle through the mangroves. Sometimes you might feel lost, but that is part of the fun. If you have never paddled through a Mangrove forest, you will be in for a treat here.

A 45-minute drive will get you to the SW tip of PR. It is a very scenic promentory with a lighthouse. Below it is a wonderful cove-beach, that is great for swimming and sunning but not for snorkeling, but worth the drive.

La Parguera is known by the natives as a night-life area. But to them this means just walking the streets and drinking massive quantities of Coors Light, "the national drink of Puerto Rico" You can drive to Mayaguez for the evening. It is a "college town" with a few interesting places. But with only four days, I would not venture too far away from La Parguera for the evenings. If you are on an afternoon drive, grab dinner before returning to La Parguera, since LP really has only 2 two very good restaraunts. There are many places to eat, but Puerto Ricans have an affinity for very greasey food.

I think the diving out of La Parguera beats Bonaire for diversity and lushness, but it is a little more rugged since you will be diving on a wall (great!) in the open ocean. It is definately not a "glass water" setting like most of Bonaire.

If for some reason La Paruera is "blown out", you can drive northwest, 45 minutes to Taino Divers in Rincon.

Enjoy,

Paul Julien

 

[Tollie]

Julian has it pretty well covered but here are a few more observations.

Angel is the main guy at Parguera Divers and runs a great trip. They dive a shallow reef as well as the wall.

They are also associated with a Parador or local hotel. Ask about packages when you call Parguera Divers to make your reservations. They have a nice deal that includes dinner I believe.

For the Bioluminescent bay consider using Paradise Scuba... not a dis on Parguara just that we have had great reports from those using Paradise for the bioluminescent snorkel.

I would add in Desecheo Island, with Taino Divers as a must dive if you can do the drive up to Rincon. It will take about 1.5 hours so it will be an early day.

Yes you do need a car. Have fun.

Let us know how it went... with a great trip report

 

[waterwabbit]

Thanks guys! I really appreciate the advice. We booked with Parguera Divers for our diving, but decided to stay elsewhere because the Parador only had expensive, deluxe accommodations left for that weekend. We booked a room at Andino's Guesthouse - does anyone know what we should expect?

Paul, if we run into Lewis, I'll be sure to pass your message along.

We're so excited about our little trip and I'll be sure to let you know how it all went!

Thanks again for the great info.