TRANSCARIBBEAN - La Parguera
The Transcaribbean, now that’s a wreck with a story. Built in the heat of wartime, 1945, she ran aground near San Juan in ’63. Instead of hauling her out, they towed her down to La Parguera and intentionally sank her in just six metres. We love that – a wreck you can really take your time with, no decompression limits breathing down your neck. What we really enjoy about the Transcaribbean is her sheer size, even in shallow water. At nearly 140 metres long, you’re not just seeing a bit of scattered metal; you’re exploring a proper ship. The bow section is our favourite, still quite intact, with the chain locker a fantastic spot to peer into. We’ve seen tarpon cruise through the open holds, and the metal plates are just covered in sponges and anemones. Look closely in the nooks and crannies for schooling snapper and glassy sweepers. The best time to dive it is first thing in the morning before the day boats arrive, when the light filters down through the superstructure, creating these incredible, shifting patterns on the sand. It’s an easy dive, perfect for photographers or anyone who just wants to soak up the atmosphere of a grand old ship.
- Location
- La Parguera, Puerto Rico, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 18.475000, -66.133610
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 6m
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
- CATALINA S. - 1m (wreck)
- Cerro Gordo Beach - 11m
- Enrique Reef - 5-15m (reef)
- Los Tubos - 10m
- Mar Chiquita
- Parguera s Wall (wall)
- The Wall - 15-40m (wall)
Nearest Dive Centres to TRANSCARIBBEAN
- 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 TRANSCARIBBEAN
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