The diving environment in each area has unique characteristics, giving Puerto Rico a wide variety of diving both in terms of the underwater terrain and the diving conditions. East coast diving is easy as the sites are relatively shallow and the seas rarely rough. Fine white sand creates idyllic beaches but reduces visibility after ground swells. The diving terrain is typically gently sloping fringing reefs with both hard and soft corals, especially bushy gorgonians. It is easier to take the ferry and dive with a Culebra operator for a day.
Few divers mean uncrowded and undamaged sites.
Again there is a cheap efficient ferry service to Vieques, allowing you to travel across from Fajardo in the morning, make two dives and return on the afternoon ferry. Boat trip times vary from 5 to 20 minutes to reach the Wall depending where along the coast you are diving. Well served by dive stores and resorts, the area from Gu nica to La Parguera is slowly becoming recognised as a major asset in Puerto Rico's diving portfolio. A trip to Mona needs careful planning and lots of advance warning and even then the weather may thwart your plans. Along the west coast of the mainland there are sites a short distance from shore as well as some enjoyable beach dives.