CATALINA S. - La Parguera
Catalina S. isn't your typical La Parguera dive, and we love it for that. Forget deep walls; this is a shallow wreck that delivers big on character. The Catalina S., an old cargo carrier, ran aground in 1962, leaving its skeleton spread across the rocks just west of San Juan Harbour. You're not penetrating deep here, the maximum depth is a mere meter, but that’s the beauty of it. What we really enjoy about Catalina S. is the way the wreck has become part of the reef. Hull plates lie scattered, creating nooks and crannies that are perfect for macro life. Look closely and you’ll find juvenile grunt, small blennies tucked into crevices, and often a nurse shark or two taking a nap under a larger section of twisted metal. It’s a photographer's dream in calm conditions, especially with the sun sparkling through the shallow water, illuminating the vibrant algae and sponges that have colonised the ship. We'd suggest going on a calm morning, the visibility is usually best then, and you’ll have the place largely to yourself. It’s a relaxed snorkel or a very shallow dive, making it great for newer divers or anyone looking for a chill afternoon exploring history.
- Location
- La Parguera, Puerto Rico, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 18.474445, -66.139305
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 1m
Marine Protected Area: Río Espíritu Santo Natural Reserve
Best Time to Dive in La Parguera
The warmest water temperatures in La Parguera occur in January, averaging 27.3°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 27.3°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 27.3°C (air: 24.4°C)
- February: 27.3°C (air: 24.4°C)
- March: 27.3°C (air: 24.6°C)
- April: 27.3°C (air: 25.5°C)
- May: 27.3°C (air: 27.0°C)
- June: 27.3°C (air: 27.6°C)
- July: 27.3°C (air: 27.6°C)
- August: 27.3°C (air: 27.5°C)
- September: 27.3°C (air: 27.5°C)
- October: 27.3°C (air: 27.1°C)
- November: 27.3°C (air: 25.6°C)
- December: 27.3°C (air: 24.5°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in La Parguera
- Cerro Gordo Beach - 11m
- Enrique Reef - 5-15m (reef)
- Los Tubos - 10m
- Mar Chiquita
- Parguera s Wall (wall)
- The Wall - 15-40m (wall)
- TRANSCARIBBEAN - 6m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to CATALINA S.
- La Casa del Buzo - ["PADI"]
- Native Dive PR
- PR Dive - ["PADI"]
- Scuba Dogs - ["PADI"]
Marine Life in La Parguera
Home to 503 recorded species including 413 reef fish, 36 hard corals, 13 sharks & rays, 9 other, 8 whales & dolphins, 5 seagrass & algae.
Notable Species
- Gutong (Sparisoma aurofrenatum) - Reef Fish
- Parrotfish (Thalassoma bifasciatum) - Reef Fish
- Bicolor Damselfish (Stegastes partitus) - Reef Fish
- Sammy Johnson (Scarus taeniopterus) - Reef Fish
- Gutong (Scarus iseri) - Reef Fish
- Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish
- Dark Green Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) - Reef Fish
- Yellowhead Wrasse (Halichoeres garnoti) - Reef Fish
- Mustard hill coral (Porites astreoides) - Hard Corals
- Barber (Acanthurus bahianus) - Reef Fish
- Cola (Ocyurus chrysurus) - Reef Fish
- Great star coral (Montastraea cavernosa) - Hard Corals
- Massive Starlet Coral (Siderastrea siderea) - Hard Corals
- Butterfly (Chaetodon capistratus) - Reef Fish
- Coney (Cephalopholis fulva) - Reef Fish
- Lettuce Coral (Agaricia agaricites) - Hard Corals
- Graysby (Cephalopholis cruentata) - Reef Fish
- Slippery Dick (Halichoeres bivittatus) - Reef Fish
- Longspine Squirrelfish (Holocentrus rufus) - Reef Fish
- French grunt (Haemulon flavolineatum) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for CATALINA S.
Based on average water temperature of 27.3°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