You may have taken a trip or two to Puerto Rico, visited its yards of white-ribbon sand beaches and snorkeled in its aquamarine gem of a sea. It may very well be time to take your adventurous side up a notch and try your gear on for scuba diving. When most travelers think of scuba diving, there may be an automatic impulse to think, “no way” or “I’m not brave enough.” That’s a natural reaction, especially for first-time scuba divers.
However, your first experience may very well be the one that gets you hooked on diving in the first place. From beginner to advanced, and from Fajardo to Guanica, you can rest assured that you will find the beach and the experience to match your mood and your skill. No matter what you choose, it will be perfect. There are no wrong diving locales in Puerto Rico.
Culebra
While much of Puerto Rico like Old San Juan is overflowing with night life, Culebra celebrates the natural wonders of the land like nowhere else. Culebra offers a laid-back vibe where you can take it slow and savor the moment. While many other places in Puerto Rico are vibrant and full of people, Culebra’s beaches are full of sea life. Culebra also has a nice mix of dives.
Geniqui Caves
The Geniqui Caves is for the more seasoned professional diver. It has many darkened caves that require you to bring your own light. Enchanting and intriguing caves filled with marine life wait for you to come in and explore if you are courageous, curious and experienced enough.
Vieques
Vieques is a much-loved destination for visitors because of its rolling hills, sandy-white beaches and minimal crowds. It’s a great place to dive, as well, because of its significant amount of picturesque corals.
Beginners enjoy diving in Vieques especially Anchor, Angel and Blue Tang Reef. These shallow reefs help you ease your way into the wonderful and colorful undersea world. Cayo Afuera is another pristine locale for diving. Tropical fish, giant sea turtles, and abundant marine life wait for you here.
Mona Island
Imagine an island with no inhabitants that has close to 300 different species of fish as well as marine life including dolphins, sharks and the humpback whale and you’ve got yourself a pretty good picture of what Mona Island is like. As if that’s not enough, how about adding some caves and walls for some of the most exhilarating diving there is.
Now that you’ve got some nice locales for your diving adventure, here are a few tips.
- Don’t Panic – Probably rule number one of diving should be not to panic. Take your time with your movements and do one thing at a time. Complete each action necessary and then go on to the next. Panicking under the water can be a costly mistake.
- Always check your equipment before going in the water.
- Make certain to go with a professional tour company or guide as well as with family or friends for a more secure experience.
- Take classes beforehand, as many times as you need to feel comfortable.
- Learn the appropriate hand gestures.
- Don’t make sudden gestures or movements. This will allow you to view the sea life without scaring it away.
With the waters of Puerto Rico as clear as ice and as warm as the sun, along with some good common sense approaches to scuba diving, you can be ready to dive in head first to explore, enjoy and be filled with awe at the wonderment the waters of Puerto Rico have to share with you.
