WISHING STAR - Fajardo & East Coast

The Wishing Star is our favourite kind of wreck dive, a proper historical piece with a story behind it. We love a site that makes you feel like you’re stepping back in time. This former supply vessel, tragically sunk in '88 after a collision and then scuttled by the Coast Guard, lies upright at 52 metres. Dropping down, you feel the depth, but the visibility here often makes it feel less imposing. The wreck itself is a playground for advanced divers, a 50-metre steel canvas covered in decades of growth. You’ll find big tarpon lurking in the shadows of the wheelhouse, often startling you as they shoot out. Our pick for exploration is definitely the bow, where the damage from the collision is still visible, giving a real sense of its history. We've seen schools of horse-eye jacks swirling around the mast on multiple occasions, a fantastic sight. The deck has started to collapse in places, opening up new swim-throughs, but watch your buoyancy; silt-outs are easy to cause. This is a dive for those comfortable with deeper profiles and interested in wrecks with character.

Location: Fajardo & East Coast, Puerto Rico, Caribbean
Coordinates: 18.448334, -65.600000
Type: wreck
Maximum Depth: 52m

Marine Protected Area: Cabezas de San Juan 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 WISHING STAR

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 WISHING STAR

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