Diving in Fajardo & East Coast
Why dive here
Fajardo & East Coast offers some of Puerto Rico's richest diving, with 493+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, blacktip reef sharks, bull sharks, dolphins and eagle rays. Water sits around 27°C.
Diving off Puerto Rico's east coast, around Fajardo, is all about easy, colourful reef dives with some interesting twists. We love how accessible it is, perfect for a relaxed dive trip where you're not battling big currents. You'll find yourself drifting past schools of cottonwicks and saddle squirrelfish, often spotting the cheeky planehead filefish camouflaged against sponges. Our favourite sites are often those closer to the offshore islands, where the water usually feels a touch clearer. Keep an eye out for mimic blennies peeking from their holes, and if you’re lucky, a lined seahorse gripping a piece of seagrass. We’d suggest trying an early morning dive if you can, before too many boats stir things up. The caves here are generally shallow and more like swim-throughs, less about deep penetration and more about dramatic light. Don't expect huge pelagics, but the macro life, like the lamellose wentletrap if you have a good guide, is often overlooked and pretty cool. It’s a consistently pleasant dive, great for building confidence or just unwinding underwater.
Fajardo & East Coast Dive Site Map
Dive sites and dive centres in Fajardo & East Coast
Fajardo & East Coast Dive Sites
33 dive sites in Fajardo & East Coast
Airplane
We’ll be honest, the Airplane site off Fajardo isn’t going to blow your mind with a riot of colour, but it’s still one of our favourite easy dives in Puerto Rico. At a comfortable 16 metres, it’s a brilliant spot for newer divers, or just a relaxing second dive after exploring some of the nearby walls. The wreck itself is a small, single-engine plane, broken into a few pieces. It’s been down there long enough for some serious growth to take hold, which we love seeing. You’ll find plenty of grunts and snappers schooling around the fuselage, and we’ve often spotted eagle rays cruising past in the blue. Look closely in the nooks and crannies – the plane’s engine block, in particular, has become home to some surprisingly large lobsters and moray eels. We usually kick out to it from the mooring, dropping down slowly, watching the plane materialise from the Caribbean haze. It’s a gentle drift, often with very little current, making it super easy to take your time and soak it all in. Definitely one to add to your Fajardo itinerary if you’re looking for a simple, charming wreck dive.
Bajo Amarillo
Bajo Amarillo, off Fajardo, is one of those easy-going spots perfect for getting back in the water. We usually drop onto a sandy bottom at about 20m, then cruise along a series of coral heads and rocky outcrops. You’ll spot plenty of grunt and snapper hanging out, and sometimes a green moray peeking from a crevice. It’s a comfortable dive, good for beginners or anyone who just wants a relaxed afternoon underwater without any major thrills. We often pair it with another site for a two-tank trip.
Carlos Rosario Wall
Carlos Rosario Wall offers a relaxed entry into wall diving, perfect if you’re new to the vertical drop-off experience. It’s not a deep dive, topping out at 14 metres, which makes for plenty of bottom time. We’ve drifted along, spotting green sea turtles grazing on sponges and the occasional barracuda hanging motionless in the blue. Keep an eye out for moray eels tucked into the crevices. It’s a solid pick for beginners looking to get comfortable with reef walls without the added complexity of strong currents or big depths.
Cayo del Agua
Cayo del Agua is a good call for an easy afternoon dive off Fajardo. The site sits right around 20 metres, making it perfect for newer divers or those looking for a relaxed bottom time without any surprises. We typically see a good mix of smaller reef fish here, parrotfish grazing the patches of coral, and sometimes a few spotted eagle rays cruising by in the blue. Visibility is often decent, letting you take your time exploring the reef. It’s a comfortable, low-stress dive, ideal if you're just getting your fins wet in Puerto Rico or want to shake off some rust.
Cayo Diablo
Cayo Diablo offers a straightforward dive, typically a drift along a sloping reef. You'll often find a good mix of Caribbean reef fish here – angelfish, parrotfish, and snapper are common. It's a solid choice for an easy afternoon dive, particularly if you’re looking to relax and enjoy the gentle currents. Suitable for most divers, especially those comfortable with a bit of a drift.
Cayo Diablo
Cayo Diablo is a genuinely excellent spot, especially for newer divers or anyone looking for a relaxed, colourful Caribbean dive. We've done it many times and it always delivers on the promise of a pretty reef with plenty of activity. The depth stays between 5 and 18 metres, making for long bottom times and plenty of light reaching the corals. What we really love about Diablo is the sheer number of small reef fish. You'll see schools of Spanish grunts hanging out under ledges, colourful parrotfish crunching on coral, and we almost always spot several yellow jacks darting around. Keep an eye out for the loggerhead turtles too – they often cruise by on the reef edge. The coral itself is healthy, with some nice stands of elkhorn and pillar coral. It's a gentle drift, usually, making it easy to just relax and watch the reef unfold. For a straightforward, vibrant reef experience on Puerto Rico's east coast, Cayo Diablo is a solid choice.
Cayo Lobo
Cayo Lobo is a solid choice if you're diving out of Fajardo and looking for something mellow. It’s a shallow spot, topping out at around 15 metres, which makes it perfect for newer divers getting their fins wet or for a relaxed second dive. You’ll drift along some nice coral formations, keeping an eye out for parrotfish munching on the reef and plenty of sergeant majors darting around. It’s not going to blow your mind with massive pelagics, but it's a pleasant, easy dive with reliable visibility most days. We often see a turtle or two cruising by, which always makes for a good end to the dive.
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Culebra offers a relaxing dive, perfect for newer divers or those looking for a laid-back afternoon. At a mellow 14 meters, you'll find plenty of time to explore the sandy bottom and the small coral patches dotted around. We've often seen juvenile drum and schools of grunts taking shelter here, along with the occasional queen conch making its slow journey across the sand. It’s a gentle introduction to Caribbean diving, without any tricky currents or challenging navigation.
Culebrita South Reef
Culebrita South Reef gives you a laid-back Caribbean dive, often with gentle conditions. We’ve seen plenty of nurse sharks here, usually tucked under ledges, alongside schooling snapper and the occasional turtle cruising by. It’s a good spot for newer divers, or anyone looking for a relaxed multi-level profile without strong currents. Expect healthy patch corals and the chance to linger over smaller reef inhabitants.
Culebrita West
Culebrita West offers a gentle drift along a sloping reef. We often spot hawksbill turtles here, munching on sponges, along with the usual parrotfish and angelfish. The currents are generally mild, making it a good choice for newer divers or those looking for a relaxed afternoon dive. It’s a solid, easy dive, nothing too dramatic, but consistently pleasant.
Devon’s Drop
Devon’s Drop gives us a nice, easy wall dive off Fajardo. It’s a gentle slope down to 15 metres, perfect for newer divers looking to get comfortable with that kind of profile. We often spot plenty of grunt and snapper schooling along the ledges, and the visibility here is usually pretty reliable, making for a relaxed drift along the reef. It’s a solid pick for a morning dive, getting you wet without any fuss.
El imperio
El Imperio, off Puerto Rico's East Coast, offers a shallow reef dive. We often find schooling fish here, like grunts and snappers, hanging around the coral heads. It's a good spot for newer divers or those looking for a relaxed second dive, with depths staying under 15 metres. Visibility is generally solid, making it easy to spot the smaller reef residents.
Fajardo & East Coast Dive Centres
5 dive shops and operators in Fajardo & East Coast
Ocean Wildlife in Fajardo & East Coast
493 species recorded in Fajardo & East Coast
Fajardo & East Coast Daylight & Sunrise/Sunset
Sunrise and sunset times for Fajardo & East Coast, calculated from coordinates
Today - Monday 24 August
Sunrise
06:07
Sunset
18:44
Daylight
12h 37m
Golden Hour
18:15
First light (dawn) at 05:45 · Last light (dusk) at 19:06
Monthly Averages
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 06:57 | 18:06 | 11h 8m |
| Feb | 06:51 | 18:23 | 11h 32m |
| Mar | 06:32 | 18:32 | 12h 0m |
| Apr | 06:07 | 18:39 | 12h 32m |
| May | 05:50 | 18:49 | 12h 59m |
| JunLongest | 05:47 | 19:00 | 13h 13m |
| Jul | 05:54 | 19:03 | 13h 8m |
| AugNow | 06:05 | 18:51 | 12h 46m |
| Sep | 06:11 | 18:27 | 12h 16m |
| Oct | 06:16 | 18:01 | 11h 45m |
| Nov | 06:29 | 17:46 | 11h 17m |
| DecShortest | 06:46 | 17:49 | 11h 2m |
Times are approximate local times based on longitude. Actual times may vary slightly depending on the exact timezone observed in Fajardo & East Coast.
Where to Stay near Fajardo & East Coast
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Marine Protected Areas near Fajardo & East Coast
24 protected areas near Fajardo & East Coast - please respect local regulations when diving
La Parguera Natural Reserve
Cabezas de San Juan Natural Reserve
Punta Yegüas Natural Reserve
Bosque Natural de Boquerón Natural Reserve
Caja de Muertos Natural Reserve
Arrecifes de la Cordillera Natural Reserve
Río Espíritu Santo Natural Reserve
Punta Guaniquilla Natural Reserve
Bahías Bioluminiscentes de Vieques Natural Reserve
Arrecifes de Tourmaline Natural Reserve
Hacienda La Esperanza Natural Reserve
Punta Petrona Natural Reserve
Showing 12 largest of 24
Getting to Fajardo & East Coast
Culebra
Charlotte Amalie
San Juan
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