Tamarindo Chico - Fajardo & East Coast
Tamarindo Chico is a nice, easy entry point for anyone just getting their fins wet in Fajardo. The site sits around 10 meters deep, making it super comfortable for newer divers or those refreshing their skills. You’ll drift over sandy patches and some scattered coral heads, spotting the usual Caribbean suspects like parrotfish, blue tangs, and maybe a sleepy nurse shark tucked under an overhang. It’s a gentle introduction, a good place to just breathe and get comfortable in the water.
- Location
- Fajardo & East Coast, Puerto Rico, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 18.311000, -65.317100
- Maximum Depth
- 10m
- Difficulty
- Beginner
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
- Airplane - 16m (wreck)
- Bajo Amarillo - 20m
- Carlos Rosario Wall - 14m (wall)
- Cayo del Agua - 20m
- Cayo Diablo
- Cayo Diablo - 5-18m (reef)
- Cayo Lobo - 15m
- Culebra, Puerto Rico - 14m
- Culebrita South Reef - 5-20m (reef)
- Culebrita West
- Devon’s Drop - 15m (wall)
- El imperio
- Escambron
- INDEPENDENCE SERVICE - 20m (wreck)
- ISLA NENA - 12m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to Tamarindo Chico
- Black Beard Sports - ["PADI"]
- Culebra Divers
- GypSea Charters
- Scuba Dogs
- Sea Ventures Dive Center - ["PADI"]
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 Tamarindo Chico
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