INDEPENDENCE SERVICE - Fajardo & East Coast

The *Independence Service* is, without doubt, our favourite wreck dive on Puerto Rico’s east coast. There are bigger wrecks out there, sure, but few have the character of this old tug. She lies upright in about 20 metres, making her perfect for an extended bottom time, and even after all these years, you can still get a real sense of her scale. We always spend a good chunk of the dive poking around the superstructure, imagining the crew going about their daily work. Corals have really taken hold here. You'll find brain corals encrusting the bow and vibrant sea fans swaying from the mast, providing shelter for all sorts of reef fish. Look closely in the nooks and crannies – we’ve seen everything from moray eels peeking out of pipes to nurse sharks napping under the stern. Visibility is usually pretty good here, though it can get a bit surgey on a rougher day, so we’d suggest picking a calm morning. The *Independence Service* isn't a deep technical dive, but it's a fantastic, atmospheric wreck for anyone who loves history and healthy reef life.

Location: Fajardo & East Coast, Puerto Rico, Caribbean
Coordinates: 18.343334, -65.553340
Type: wreck
Maximum Depth: 20m

Marine Protected Area: Arrecifes de la Cordillera 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)

Nearest Dive Centres to INDEPENDENCE SERVICE

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

Gutong (Sparisoma aurofrenatum) - Reef Fish
Mustard hill coral (Porites astreoides) - Hard Corals
Parrotfish (Thalassoma bifasciatum) - Reef Fish
Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish
Barber (Acanthurus bahianus) - Reef Fish
Sammy Johnson (Scarus taeniopterus) - Reef Fish
Massive Starlet Coral (Siderastrea siderea) - Hard Corals
Dark Green Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) - Reef Fish
Gutong (Scarus iseri) - Reef Fish
Bicolor Damselfish (Stegastes partitus) - Reef Fish
Yellowhead Wrasse (Halichoeres garnoti) - Reef Fish
Great star coral (Montastraea cavernosa) - Hard Corals
Lettuce Coral (Agaricia agaricites) - Hard Corals
Cola (Ocyurus chrysurus) - Reef Fish
Finger Coral (Porites porites) - Hard Corals
Butterfly (Chaetodon capistratus) - Reef Fish
Doctorfish (Acanthurus chirurgus) - Reef Fish
French grunt (Haemulon flavolineatum) - Reef Fish
Longspine Squirrelfish (Holocentrus rufus) - Reef Fish
Sharpnose Pufferfish (Canthigaster rostrata) - Reef Fish

Recommended Packing List for INDEPENDENCE SERVICE

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