Culebra Snorkeling, Discover, or Certified Scuba Diving Tour

Fajardo: Diving depths range from 15 to 80 feet (6 – 30 meters) depending on weather and sea conditions. Vieques: Diving depths range from 60 – 120 feet. (18 – 27 meters) depending on weather and sea conditions. Culebra: Diving depths range from 20 to 60 feet (7 – 20 meters) depending on weather and sea conditions.

Fajardo: About 8 different dive sites just offshore a chain of tiny coral island atolls we call “cayos”. Culebra: About 3 dive sites. Vieques: About 10 different dive sites.

There are some mild currents but they do not generally affect the diving areas.

No prior experience is needed! This tour is designed for first-time or non-certified divers who want to try scuba diving without committing to a full certification course. A certified instructor will guide you through the basics before you dive. However, since this is not a certification course, you won’t be able to scuba dive on your own afterward.

Flying directly after scuba diving is incredibly dangerous and could result in a life-threatening illness called the Bends/Decompression Sickness. The Divers Alert Network (DAN) guidelines for flying after diving include:

• A single no-decompression dive, a minimum preflight surface or any driving to above 1000 ft (305 m) interval of 12 hours suggested.
• Multiple dives per day or multiple days of diving, a minimum preflight surface or any driving to above 1000ft (305m) interval of 18 hours is suggested.
• Dives requiring decompression stops are recommended to have longer than 18 hours.

Please discuss with your dive guide ahead of time what is suggested!

Any activity that brings you above 1000 ft (305 m) can trigger the Bends/Decompression Sickness. Please check your hike elevation to ensure that at no time you will be going up in elevation. If the hike does go to elevation, you must treat it like a preflight interval as listed above in the flying FAQ.

There is no obligation to go snorkeling. If you do not feel comfortable you’re more than welcome to stay on board. There is no price difference for that.

Fajardo and Culebra: Visibility ranges from 20 to 70 feet (6 to 21 meters), with the ocean floor usually being the limit.

Fajardo: 27 minutes approximately from the pier.

Culebra: 1 hour approximately from the pier.

Vieques: 45 minutes approximately from the pier.

After 10:00 am it can be windy. Usually May through December have the calmest seas. Fajardo, having more protection from the wind and swells usually has calmer seas than Fajardo. Motion sickness pill taken at least 1 hour before departure is recommended for those prone to motion sickness.

The Blue Flag Award and the PADI Green Star Award recognize sustainability efforts in marine environments but apply to different aspects of ocean conservation.

• Blue Flag Award: This international certification is given to beaches and marinas that meet high environmental, safety, and water quality standards. It ensures that a beach is clean, well-managed, and supports conservation efforts.
• PADI Green Star Award: This award is given to PADI dive centers that demonstrate a strong commitment to sustainability. It recognizes eco-friendly practices such as energy conservation, responsible waste management, and participation in marine conservation initiatives.

Both awards highlight dedication to protecting marine ecosystems, whether through sustainable tourism or responsible diving operations.

Yes! There are always PADI Instructors on the boat. All our Dives are guided dives with our PADI Professionals. All of our snorkel guides are certified to provide CPR and are very well trained and knowledgeable on the areas. They will jump in the water with you.

A wide variety of fish including: Grunts, Doctorfish, Ocean Surgeon, Surgeonfish, Squirrelfish, and Blackbar Soldierfish, with Grey, French Angelfish. Turtles and a variety of Rays are frequently seen along with Moray Eels, Lobsters, Crabs, Mollusks, Hermit Crabs, Anemones, Feather Duster Worms, and Garden Eels. Numerous types of hard coral formations with encrusting sponges, gorgonians, sea fans, barrel sponges and soft corals dotting the seascape.

Common sunscreens contain chemicals that can harm coral reefs, as the particles are small enough to be absorbed by corals, causing toxicity and coral bleaching. Reef-friendly sunscreens are formulated without these harmful chemicals. Reef-SAFE sunscreens go a step further by using non-nano particles, which are too large for corals to ingest, helping to preserve marine ecosystems. 

Please avoid sunscreens with oxybenzone, octinoxate, and parabens. Consider wearing sun-protective clothing, like long-sleeve rash guards, as an alternative to sunscreen. If you choose a mineral-based sunscreen, ensure it is labeled ‘non-nano.’

Yes, snorkels allow you to breathe with your face in the water at the surface. If you’d like to dive down, though, water will enter the snorkel, so you’ll need to hold your breath until you resurface. Once back at the surface, you can clear the snorkel by blowing out the air in your mouth hard. That should clear the snorkel, but if it doesn’t, tread the water, remove the snorkel from your mouth and dump the mouthpiece out.

Standard eyeglasses can’t be worn with a snorkel mask, but prescription masks are available for those who need vision correction while snorkeling. If you’re interested, consider looking into a prescription mask option before your tour. Alternatively, contact lenses can be worn under a snorkel mask, though it’s best to close your eyes if water enters to prevent losing a lens.

You can snorkel with a beard or mustache but it can prevent a tight seal between the mask and your face, which may cause water to leak in. It is often recommended to shave at least your mustache before snorkeling. If you’d prefer not to shave your mustache, please bring petroleum jelly or chapstick with you. If you coat your mustache in that chapstick or jelly, it may be able to seal and prevent water from getting in.