Airplane - Fajardo & East Coast

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.

Location
Fajardo & East Coast, Puerto Rico, Caribbean
Coordinates
18.296800, -65.307800
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
16m
Difficulty
Beginner

Wreck History - Airplane

Vessel Type
aircraft
Cause
unknown

Submerged in the warm, clear waters off the coast of Fajardo lies the intriguing wreck of a small airplane. Its origins are shrouded in mystery and local legend, with many divemasters sharing tales of it being a drug runner's plane that crashed during a clandestine operation decades ago. While its true history may be lost to time, the wreck has become a popular and accessible dive site for novice and experienced divers alike.

Sitting at a shallow depth of just 16 meters, the plane's skeletal frame is easily explored. The fuselage is largely intact, though time and the sea have stripped it of its skin, revealing the inner structure. Divers can swim around the wreckage, which now serves as an artificial reef for a variety of corals, sponges, and schools of colorful reef fish. It’s a fantastic site for underwater photography, combining the allure of a mysterious wreck with the vibrant marine life of the Caribbean.

Marine Protected Area: Canal Luis Peña Natural Reserve

Best Time to Dive in Fajardo & East Coast

The warmest water temperatures in Fajardo & East Coast occur in January, averaging 27.1°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 27.1°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 27.1°C (air: 24.7°C)
  • February: 27.1°C (air: 24.4°C)
  • March: 27.1°C (air: 24.7°C)
  • April: 27.1°C (air: 25.3°C)
  • May: 27.1°C (air: 26.5°C)
  • June: 27.1°C (air: 27.1°C)
  • July: 27.1°C (air: 27.3°C)
  • August: 27.1°C (air: 27.5°C)
  • September: 27.1°C (air: 27.5°C)
  • October: 27.1°C (air: 27.2°C)
  • November: 27.1°C (air: 26.3°C)
  • December: 27.1°C (air: 25.4°C)

Nearby Dive Sites in Fajardo & East Coast

Nearest Dive Centres to Airplane

Marine Life in Fajardo & East Coast

Home to 511 recorded species including 399 reef fish, 40 hard corals, 16 sharks & rays, 12 other, 10 whales & dolphins, 9 seagrass & algae.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for Airplane

Based on average water temperature of 27.1°C.

  • Shorty or Rashguard - warm 27°C water needs minimal exposure protection
  • Mask - essential for every dive
  • Fins
  • BCD - buoyancy compensator
  • Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
  • Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
  • Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
  • Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
  • Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories