Explore Puerto Rico

Exploring the underwater wonders of Puerto Rico offers an unforgettable experience for divers of all levels. Nestled in the heart of the Caribbean, Puerto Rico is a haven for marine enthusiasts, boasting vibrant coral reefs, intriguing sea walls, and historic shipwrecks. The island's diverse underwater landscapes are teeming with life, from colorful schools of tropical fish to majestic sea turtles and mysterious rays. Whether you're a novice or an experienced diver, Puerto Rico's clear, warm waters provide ideal conditions for both shore and boat dives, ensuring a thrilling adventure each time you plunge below the surface.

One of the most striking aspects of diving in Puerto Rico is the island's accessibility and the variety of dive environments to explore. With dozens of islets and cays, divers can enjoy a new underwater vista each day. The island's west coast, in particular, is renowned for its stunning wall dives, where the seafloor drops dramatically to reveal a vertical panorama of corals and marine life. During the winter months, divers may even encounter humpback whales passing through the region. Additionally, Puerto Rico's location outside the hurricane belt during certain seasons offers relatively calm and predictable diving conditions, making it a reliable choice for year-round diving adventures.

Top Dive Sites Map

★★★★☆ Crashboat Wall and Anchor

This site is the remnant of an old pier. It is a shallow site, no more than 30-35 feet of depth with a sandy bottom. The wreckage on the bottom provides an artificial reef for a large variety of marine life. Visibility ranges between 10 feet (if it has been raining) to over 50 or 60 feet.

9,959
Logs
1,936
Divers
13.0 m
⌀ Depth
12.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ El Natural

This is a natural reef site ranging in depth from 30 feet up to about 70-80 feet, in a gradual descent. The shoreline is rocky so you need to be careful where you step, but the dive is a nice pleasure dive. Visibility can range from 15 feet to over 50 or 60 feet.

2,329
Logs
619
Divers
21.0 m
⌀ Depth
14.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Muelle de Azúcar

This is a shallow shore or boat dive on the remnants of an old sugar plant pier. The bottom is sandy and full of pier wreckage with a max depth of 40 feet. Visibility is usually very good, and there normally isn’t a strong current in the area.

159
Logs
76
Divers
19.0 m
⌀ Depth
12.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Escambrón

This is a shallow shore dive, no more than 30 feet of depth with a sandy/rocky bottom, not a lot of coral but plenty of diver friendly marine life. Visibility ranges between 10 to 30 feet. The site is ideal for check -out dives, training, or a long pleasure dive if you don’t want to travel far from San Juan.

595
Logs
349
Divers
9.0 m
⌀ Depth
5.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ MV Ambar (Wreck)

The MV Ambar is a wreck accessible only by boat, reaching a max depth of 160 feet. Due to the extreme depth of this wreck, this site is for expert divers only with proper training and equipment for decompression stops. Visibility is usually excellent, and divers may experience light to moderate currents in the area.

12
Logs
10
Divers
25.0 m
⌀ Depth
20.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Ancones

DPV dive...60 ft/18m...1/2 mile from shore, possible find of artifacts. Many different small cargo wrecks from the early 1900’s and ancient spanish defense battery and many invasions from brits, dutchs and french were defended by spanish army in 1600’s...

111
Logs
56
Divers
22.0 m
⌀ Depth
11.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ B-29 Aircraft Wreck

This is a deep dive of 127 feet/38m, and only accessible from a boat. Nitrox is recommended to be able to enjoy this site. The B-29 is a WWII plane, but there is not much left to see; only a few engine parts and some fusel arches.

82
Logs
59
Divers
26.0 m
⌀ Depth
19.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Shacks Beach

Shacks Beach Blue Hole / Caverns beautiful sea life such as, sharks, sea turtles, octopus, lobsters and so much more. max depth of about 35 ft dive times can be up to about 100 minutes!

123
Logs
46
Divers
12.0 m
⌀ Depth
11.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Desecheo Island

You have everything in this dive, from reefs to wrecks but you can only get there by boat. There is shallow diving, wall diving and reef diving. Depths vary from 20 to 200 feet.

508
Logs
180
Divers
23.0 m
⌀ Depth
28.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Los Tubos

This is a shallow shore dive with a sandy/rocky bottom and naturally forming arches. A number of old anchors can be found in the area, and the bottom is perfect for classes and practicing buoyancy control. Marine life will be mostly small tropical fish, with the occasional turtle or ray swimming by.

222
Logs
79
Divers
10.0 m
⌀ Depth
10.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ The Ledges

The Ledges is typically sheltered from the prevailing wind and waves which makes it a perfect snorkel site and shallow dive site. Currents are generally mild to moderate, shifting from one direction to the other with the tides.

180
Logs
91
Divers
11.0 m
⌀ Depth
11.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Cayo del Agua

A large cube-shaped rock is a key feature of this site which towers from around 60 feet deep down at the sand to about 30 feet at the top with beautiful coral and sponge growth all over and loads of fish. Currents can be mild to strong, hence the Beginner/Advanced Level.

43
Logs
36
Divers
18.0 m
⌀ Depth
5.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Aguadilla

It is located at a depth of 0 to 40 feet, it can be reached from the shore, the bottom is sandy. To enjoy what it has, it is recommended to use nitrox, so you can stay longer at depth. Perfect for night dives.

545
Logs
219
Divers
14.0 m
⌀ Depth
10.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Cerro Gordo Beach

This is a shallow shore dive, no more than 30 feet of depth with a sandy/turtle grass bottom. There is a natural reef about 50 feet offshore, with mostly soft corals growing on it. Marine life can be variable with the reef sometimes hosting lots of fish, other times not so much.

146
Logs
72
Divers
11.0 m
⌀ Depth
7.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Bajo Amarillo

Bajo Amarillo is an impressive formation on Culebra’s Atlantic side. The top of the “bump“ is less than 20 feet deep with depths reaching approximately 80 feet where the coral meets the sand, hence the Beginner to Advanced rating.

10
Logs
2
Divers
19.0 m
⌀ Depth
10.0 m
⌀ Visibility

Diving in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is a diver's paradise, offering a blend of shoreline and liveaboard adventures. One of the top dive sites is the Wall at La Parguera, where divers can explore a spectacular drop-off teeming with vibrant coral and marine life. For wreck enthusiasts, the wreck of the "SS Antonio Lopez" near Vieques is a must-see, surrounded by thriving aquatic habitats. Shore dives abound, with Playa Escambrón in San Juan providing easy access for novice divers to discover the colorful reefs and abundant fish. Night dives at sites like Desecheo Island offer unique experiences with bioluminescent plankton and nocturnal sea creatures. Whether seeking the thrill of deeper waters or the tranquility of coastal reefs, Puerto Rico's diverse dive sites cater to all preferences.

The best Months to dive in Puerto Rico

Diving in Puerto Rico is an inviting experience year-round due to its warm Caribbean climate. Water temperatures range from 26°C–29°C/79°F–84°F, ensuring comfortable conditions for divers throughout the year. Visibility is typically excellent, often ranging from 18 to 30 meters/59 to 98 feet, allowing for clear views of the vibrant marine life and underwater landscapes.

While diving is possible year-round, certain weather conditions can impact the experience. The hurricane season, from June to November, may bring stronger winds and occasional storms, potentially affecting diving conditions. Currents are generally mild, but can vary depending on the location and time of year. Planning dives outside the peak hurricane months can provide more stable conditions, making the rest of the year favorable for diving adventures.

Statistics

Historical data and trends

Dive Activity & Environmental Conditions

Centers Map

Culebra Divers

4 Calle Pedro Marquez, 00775 Culebra, PRI

Native Dive PR

BO Guatemala solar A Carr 446 km 0.6, 00685 San Sebastion, PRI

The Black Anchor Scuba Diving & Snorkeling

PR-107, 168 Ave.Dr. Albizus Campos Local 2, 00603 Aguadilla, PRI

GypSea Charters

Renaissance Villa Marina Yacht Harbor, 00740 Fajardo, PRI

Aquatica Underwater Adventures

Rt 110 km 32.9 Gate Ramey, 00603 Aguadilla, PRI

Mako Dive Co.

65 Calle Agustin Stahl, 00603 Aguadilla, PRI