Snorkeling & Diving in Clear Water

I first became a certified diver at age 16.  That was seventeen LONG years ago. Since that time then I have enjoyed diving around the world in such places as Fiji, Tonga, South Africa (with Great Whites), The Keys, St. Croix, Hawaii, about 8 of the Bahama Islands, and Culebra.

I can honestly tell you that the diving around Culebra is not the best in the Caribbean.  It’s good but it is not the best.  My feeling is that when it comes to diving then you want deeper waters.  Culebra is not known for deeper waters.  Nearly all of the dive sites around the island are no more then 40 feet deep.  And the best reef life is found in the shallower waters.  So whenever I go to Culebra then I snorkel.  And I snorkel a lot!  Nearly every day I have ever spent in Culebra then I have hit the water at least once.  I feel fairly confident in saying that I know the waters their probably better then most of the long time island residents.

The shallower waters off the southwest shores of Culebra offer some of the best snorkeling you will find anywhere.  President Theodore Roosevelt wisely established this part of Culebra as a National Wildlife Reserve in 1908.  Since that time then this area has been able to prosper.  You will find turtles, rays, octopus, parrotfish, numerous smaller fish, and super healthy reefs.  You can also dive these areas but I just prefer snorkeling since the waters are typically less then 20’ deep.   

Melones Beach

This is not really a beach.  You can drive right to it as the road ends at the “beach” which amounts to about 10 square feet of sand and then the rest is pebbles.  Once you are there then you will want to snorkel about 45 yards out from shore and then head west.  The reef begins to the west about 125 yards from the parking lot and continues all the way down the coast.

This is my favorite snorkeling spot on the island.  It is so easy to get to and then once you are on the reef then you can casually snorkel in about 8-10’ of water. 

It is like snorkeling in an aquarium.  Turtles are fairly common.  Stingrays are very common if you head just outside the reef where the water gets to about 15-20’ deep.  Fish are everywhere including some of the largest parrotfish you will ever see.

Carlos Rosario

This is the best diving spot on the island.  It is also a fantastic snorkeling spot if you don’t mind slightly deeper waters.  The best parts of Carlos Rosario average depths of about 15-25’ deep.  You can get there by boat or you can actually hike to it.  For details on how to hike to it then see the “Carlos Rosario” description under Beaches.

You can pretty much find every kind of coral and fish at Carlos Rosario.  The area is not known for any particular species but is just a super healthy reef with lots and lots of life.  A super sized barracuda we call “Molly” also resides at Carlos Rosario.  My girlfriend is 5’ 0”.  This barracuda measures the same length when they swim side by side. 

It is a scary looking beast but of course has never been a problem for any of the thousands upon thousands who have snorkeled and dove here in the past years.  My guess is that some of the dive operators probably feed her as she is quite tame.

Tamarindo

Tamarindo is nice because you can drive right to it.  Rarely will you see too many people at this beach.  It is mostly pebbles but has stretches of pure sand here and there.  The reef is near the shoreline and is super shallow.  There are pockets of sea fans of every color.  Lots of baby fish.  If you swim out into the deeper waters then you have a great chance of running into an Eagle Ray.  I specifically snorkel this area to find Eagle Rays.  There are also turtles pretty common here.

The best reef can be found at either the east or west end with the west end being the better of the two.  If you do go to the west end then be cautious of currents as you snorkel out past the point.  There is usually a pretty strong current which will begin to pull you out and it may be a struggle for you to swim back in if you are not in shape. 

We like to ride this current out and then get our exercise swimming back in.  There are some huge coral pillar formations out near the end of the point.  These pillars extend ten feet high.

Punta Soldado

I have heard this area is known for its nude sun bathers.  Out of all the times I have been to this beach then I have seen it once.  But I come here to get in the water and not frolic with nudists!

A reef runs the east end but I think the west end is a little better.  And actually the best snorkeling is found by snorkeling out past the point at the west end and then continuing to the west.  There are lots of cool rock formations.  You can snorkel to the west until you are tired.  The reef extends to the west for nearly two miles.

Zoni Beach

Decent snorkeling can be found by swimming around the point at the south end of Zoni and then continuing to the south.  This is not recommended for beginning snorkelers as the waves at Zoni can be rough and it is a shallow swim over a reef to get around the point.

Flamenco

This famous beach is not known for snorkeling but it actually has some pretty good areas.

I see lots of turtles at Flamenco and sometimes Eagle Rays.  The best areas are found at either the northwest or northeast end of the beach.  From either side then it is a shallow swim for quite a ways until you get out far enough where the water deepens to 15-25’.