La Parguera in southwest Puerto Rico is famous for its bioluminescent bay where a resident dinoflagellate population puts on a nightly glow show.
Because of its biodiversity and endemic ground iguana, Mona Island is often compared to the Galapagos Islands and is worth the effort to reach it.
In Puerto Rico, visibility sometimes reaches 165 feet (50 meters) around Mona Island, making it home to the clearest waters in the Caribbean Sea.
Puerto Rico enjoys a hot and humid climate year-round, although June to November is considered the rainy season. It usually rains once a day, every day but for only short periods of time.
June to November is also considered hurricane season. If you are planning a trip to Puerto Rico during these months, consider taking out travelers insurance on the off chance a hurricane forms during your vacation.
Air temperatures during the summer months range from 80-85°F (26-30°C) while water temperatures are 79-83°F (26-28°C).
If you enjoy getting the best deals and diving at uncrowded dive sites, book your trip from June to November. Besides topside conditions, diving in Puerto Rico changes little from month to month.
December to May is the dry season in Puerto Rico. During these summer months, you can expect sunny, hot and mildly humid conditions.
Air temperatures during the winter months range from 70-80°F (21-26°C) while water temperatures are 75-79°F (24-26°C).
In addition to great topside conditions, December to May is also the best time to dive at Mona Island. Humpback whales migrate past the island from November until May.
However, December to May also represents high season for tourism in the Caribbean. Therefore, you should book early to get a good deal on accommodation and flights.
Puerto Rico is rich with coral life and tropical fish. Keep your eyes out for the spotted eagle ray, gliding through the ocean with its distinctive polka dot pattern. Make sure you visit Bioluminescent Bay where the dinoflagellate residents illuminate the water like underwater lighting when disturbed.
The reefs, mangroves and grass beds of Puerto Rico are home to 700 different species of fish, shark, whales and turtles, including oceanic white tip sharks, rays, grunt and snapper.
Barracuda are often found searching for prey on the reefs, and if you look under reef ledges you may find a nurse shark lazily stalking its prey.
Sea fans gracefully wave. As do colourful tube sponges, protruding like elasticated organ pipes from the sea’s bed.
As you descend the vertical walls that surround the island, endangered sea turtles may gracefully pass you by, and during the winter months, humpback whales can be found around Mona Island with their young.
There will be plenty to enter into your dive-log.
For better readability of the table, pass into the landscape mode.
