| San Juan is the capital city of Puerto Rico, a partially | | | | which divers can observe nurse sharks and angelfish |
| self-governing, unincorporated territory of the United | | | | that make these reefs their home. |
| States. The Puerto Rico archipelago consists of | | | | For somewhere a little more special try Mona Island in |
| several islands including the main island (called Puerto | | | | western Puerto Rico which was deemed by |
| Rico) the island of Greater Antilles, and a number of | | | | Frommer's travel magazine as a "Caribbean version of |
| smaller islands and keys such as Mona, Vieques and | | | | the Galapagos Islands". The Mona waters hold over |
| Culebra. | | | | 270 different species of fish, including 60 reef dwellers |
| With a tropical climate, hundreds of beaches and | | | | in addition to larger marine animals such as whales, |
| continental shelf surrounding it on three sides, Puerto | | | | dolphins, marlin and sea turtles. Deep vertical walls |
| Rico has no shortage of coral reefs, caves, sea wall | | | | encircle the islands in addition to underwater caverns |
| and trenches which means it's a scuba-diving hot spot | | | | and steep drops. The remote nature of Mono Island, |
| and attracts divers of all experience levels. | | | | which takes 5 hours by boat and can be a rough |
| If you're looking for an easy and accessible dive spot, | | | | crossing, ensures that visitor numbers are kept to a |
| then Metropolitan San Juan, a beach dive in the | | | | minimum, and means that though you may not |
| Condado district is the most convenient place to get | | | | appreciate getting sea sick, at least when you arrive, |
| submerged. Though not as impressive as other dive | | | | you'll have the place pretty much to yourself. |
| sites in Puerto Rico, it's easy to get to, and the laver | | | | During the American vacations such as Spring Break, |
| reefs, caverns, tunnels and overhangs provide an ideal | | | | hotels in San Juan are packed full of mainland US |
| habitat for schools of grunts, copper sweepers and | | | | tourists; indeed the unusual political status of Puerto |
| snapper as well as jacks, bluehead wrasse, butterfly | | | | Rico means that citizens of the USA don't need a |
| fish, coral shrimp, octopus and batfish. | | | | passport to enter the country, which ensures that it is |
| Those looking for a more spectacular dive should visit | | | | a very popular holiday destination with American |
| the Humacao Region, which offers some 24 dive sites | | | | tourists, as well as Mexicans, Dominicans, Venezuelans, |
| with an array of overhangs, caves, and tunnels where | | | | Spanish, French and Asian tourists. |
| divers can see dolphins, goby cleaning stations and | | | | So if you want to dive deep in San Juan, ensure your |
| lobsters. With excellent visibility (often exceeding 30m) | | | | book your trip in advance. |
| this area offers excellent views of the coral, around | | | | |