 Puerto Rico's World-Class Underwater Wonders
Scuba Offers a Different Perspective on Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico, an emerging destination for scuba divers of all levels, offers a diverse array
of activities both below and above water. The island's surrounding waters offer an adventure-filled collection
of spectacular reefs, walls, caverns, cays and mangroves, all filled with marine life. What makes Puerto Rico unique
is that activities are boundless beyond the ocean and the island's diversity can be enjoyed through its history,
culture, entertainment, nightlife, nature, adventure, golf and other sports. Divers can explore all the great wonders
of the underwater world while having the opportunity to enjoy the authentic Latin experience of Puerto Rico.
Planning a Diving Trip to Puerto Rico
One of the best ways to research and prepare for a diving trip to Puerto Rico is to visit the online travel
planner at www.travelandsports.com. Developed by the Puerto Rico Tourism
Company (PRTC) and dive operators, the scuba diving/snorkeling section of the site provides scuba enthusiasts with
an easy-to-use tool for accessing information on Puerto Rico as a dive destination. Whether amateur or expert,
divers can learn more about the specific diving regions of Puerto Rico, and obtain information on diving tour operators
endorsed by the PRTC, accommodations and other attractions of interest.
Puerto Rico's Diving Regions
On the eastern side of the island, the coastal towns of Fajardo and Humacao are wonderful places to dive.
Fajardo offers exciting dive sites such as Superhero and Palomino Wall, where divers can explore small caverns,
reefs, mini walls and channels decked in a variety of splendid corals. Off the coast of Humacao, more than 30 sites
within a five-mile radius dazzle divers with beautiful caves, colorful marine life, overhangs and tunnels.
In the southwestern part of the island, paralleling the coast from Cabo Rojo to the town of
Guánica, a magnificent 20 mile-long wall is abundant with marine life. One of the Caribbean's hottest dive
sites, the black coral La Parguera Wall wall descends in slopes and sheer drops from 60 to 120 feet before
disappearing into 1,500 feet of sea. In this region, the reefs are virgin, virtually undiscovered, offering the
unique opportunity to explore the waters once dominated by Spanish Galleons and Pirate Ships. Muskets, cannons
and gold coins are some of the most recent finds in the area.
La Parguera, a sleepy seaside area in the town of Lajas, is also where you will find the region's
biggest draw of all: the Phosphorescent Bay. A microscopic life form called dinoflagellates, makes the water
glow in the dark like an inverted sky. La Parguera is one of the few places on earth (and one of two in Puerto
Rico) where these fireflies of the sea are always visible. runs for over 20 miles at an average distance of six
to seven miles from shore.
 On the western side of Puerto Rico, experienced divers will find small, uninhabited islands
including Desecheo, located 13 miles off the northwest coast city of Aguadilla. This untouched island features
24 dive sites including a "fore reef" formation. Mona Island, another pristine treasure, is located
40 miles west of the city of Mayagüez. Divers refer to Mona as the Galapagos of the Caribbean for its
outstanding underwater caverns, more than 270 species of fish, and large marine animals such as turtles, whales,
dolphins and more than 60 reef fish species. In Aguadilla, Crash Boat Beach is a great location for snorkeling
and night dives.
In the northern region of Puerto Rico, novice divers will find many sites from which to choose.
At the Condado reef in San Juan, divers can enjoy a great variety of small tropical fish including French
angels, jacks and butterfly fish, among others. Cerro Gordo, located five miles from the town of Dorado
is another exhilarating beach dive, just a few yards off the shore. Near the town of Isabela, Shacks Beach
features an open underwater cavern with cathedral-like displays of light and shadow.
Scuba diving in Puerto Rico is a quickly growing industry, making equipment and facilities
increasingly accessible. The Hyperbaric Medical Facility, which provides hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the treatment
of medical illness in a relaxed environment, is an example of how committed Puerto Rico is to this sport. Located
in San Juan's Medical Center, this facility is one of the most advanced in the world and the largest in all of
Latin America, with the capacity to treat 18 people simultaneously.
Scuba Diving Packages
What is the best way to spend a great diving vacation in Puerto Rico? Scuba tour operators are currently
offering affordable and convenient packages for divers. For more information, visit the Puerto Rico Travel &
Sports Guide website at www.travelandsports.com,
where you will find a complete list of local dive operators and their contact information.
For more information about scuba diving in Puerto Rico, call ( 800) 866-7827 or visit the Puerto
Rico Tourism Company at www.gotopuertorico.com.
 The
Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PRTC), founded in 1970, is a public corporation responsible for stimulating, promoting
and regulating the development of the tourism industry. It markets Puerto Rico as a tourism destination through
advertising, public relations and promotional activities; promotes tourism among local residents; provides visitor
orientation and technical assistance to investors; evaluates tourism facilities and establishes standards of quality;
and regulates and oversees gaming operations. PRTC has offices and representatives in the U.S. mainland, Canada,
Europe and Latin America.
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