ISLA NENA - Fajardo & East Coast

The Isla Nena wreck in Fajardo isn’t your typical deep-sea behemoth, and we love that about it. It’s an old ferry, sunk back in ‘91, and she sits shallow, just 12 metres down. What makes her special is the history, but even more so, the way the reef has just swallowed her whole. You can glide over her deck, imagining passengers, and then peer into the shadows where schools of snapper dart in and out, their scales flashing silver. We find ourselves drawn to the bow, where the structure is most intact, often finding nurse sharks tucked into crevices. The visibility here can be excellent, especially in the mornings before the boat traffic picks up. Our favourite part is the engine room access, a tight squeeze but worth it for the light rays filtering down and the chance to spot a moray eel peeking from a pipe. This site is fantastic for newer wreck divers or anyone who appreciates a chill dive with plenty to explore without worrying about depth or deco. Bring a good torch; the nooks and crannies are begging to be illuminated.

Location: Fajardo & East Coast, Puerto Rico, Caribbean
Coordinates: 18.430834, -66.108330
Type: wreck
Maximum Depth: 12m

Marine Protected Area: Río Espíritu Santo 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 ISLA NENA

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 ISLA NENA

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