B-29 Aircraft Wreck - Rincon & West Coast

We’ve dived a few plane wrecks in our time, but the B-29 off Rincon is a special one. It’s not a full bomber, mind you, more a collection of large pieces, but knowing the history – a stripped-down B-29 being towed from the Virgin Islands to Miami in 1968, only to sink in a storm – gives it real character. Dropping down to 25 metres, the first thing you notice is the size of the main sections. A massive wing, surprisingly intact, lies on its side, and you can see the engine nacelles clearly. The fuselage section is broken open, and that’s where things get interesting. This isn’t a penetration dive, but you can poke around the edges of the fuselage, peeking into what would have been the crew compartments. Schools of snapper and grunts swarm around the metal, using it as shelter, and we often spot a nurse shark tucked under the wing, almost camouflaged against the dark metal. Our favourite part has to be the way the light filters through the structure, catching the silver scales of the fish. It’s an intermediate dive, suitable for anyone comfortable at depth and with good buoyancy; strong currents can sometimes whip through, so a surface marker buoy is a good idea. This wreck is less about identifying specific aircraft parts and more about the atmosphere and the surprising amount of life it now supports.

Location
Rincon & West Coast, Puerto Rico, Caribbean
Coordinates
18.508700, -67.146800
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
25m
Difficulty
Intermediate

Wreck History - B-29 Aircraft Wreck

Year Sunk
1949
Vessel Type
aircraft
Cause
accident

The Boeing B-29 Superfortress is one of the most iconic aircraft in history, a technological marvel of its time, famed for its high-altitude pressurized cabins and its role in the final stages of World War II. After the war, these strategic bombers continued to serve with the U.S. Air Force, including at Ramey Air Force Base in Puerto Rico, which was a key Strategic Air Command outpost during the Cold War.

This particular B-29 was not a casualty of war, but of a post-war training accident. In 1949, during a routine flight out of Ramey, the aircraft experienced a catastrophic engine failure, forcing the crew to perform an emergency water landing off the coast of Aguadilla. Thanks to the skill of the pilots, the ditching was successful, and all crew members were able to evacuate safely before the massive plane sank to the bottom of the Atlantic.

Today, the B-29 is one of the Caribbean's most famous aircraft wrecks and a fantastic dive site accessible to recreational divers. Lying at a depth of around 25 meters, the wreck is broken into several large, recognizable sections. Divers can explore the distinct cockpit section, the enormous wings with their engines still attached, the tail assembly, and the scattered fuselage. Over the decades, the wreck has transformed into a vibrant artificial reef, attracting a huge variety of marine life, including schools of snapper, sergeant majors, and colorful corals that now encrust this piece of aviation history.

Marine Protected Area: Tres Palmas de Rincón Marine Reserve

Best Time to Dive in Rincon & West Coast

The warmest water temperatures in Rincon & West Coast 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: 25.6°C)
  • February: 27.3°C (air: 25.3°C)
  • March: 27.3°C (air: 25.3°C)
  • April: 27.3°C (air: 25.9°C)
  • May: 27.3°C (air: 27.0°C)
  • June: 27.3°C (air: 27.8°C)
  • July: 27.3°C (air: 28.0°C)
  • August: 27.3°C (air: 28.2°C)
  • September: 27.3°C (air: 28.3°C)
  • October: 27.3°C (air: 28.1°C)
  • November: 27.3°C (air: 27.1°C)
  • December: 27.3°C (air: 26.3°C)

Nearby Dive Sites in Rincon & West Coast

Nearest Dive Centres to B-29 Aircraft Wreck

Marine Life in Rincon & West Coast

Home to 514 recorded species including 430 reef fish, 36 hard corals, 13 sharks & rays, 7 whales & dolphins, 5 seagrass & algae, 4 other.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for B-29 Aircraft Wreck

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