Instant Reader Report
on Caribe Aquatic Adventure / Intercontinental San Juan in
Puerto Rico / [N/A] on
2002/07
by
Jon Lamos , FL, USA
Report Number 020723080510974

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Send an email to the author of this report

 Australia, Caymans, Turks & Caicos, Bahamas, Virgin Islands, Florida
Keys 

Dive Conditions

only restriction was 500 psi  

[None]  

Overall Rating

We went to San Juan for a few days in July.  Karen & Tony Vega of
Caribe Aquatic Adventures have a dive operation with shore dives in San
Juan and "dive picnics" to the Eastern shore of Puerto Rico
around Fajardo. Tony is an island native and the dive operation has been
open for around 30 years.  Karen arranges the trips and Tony serves as
dive master/guide for the dives.  English is spoken fluently.  There are
local shore dives that offer experiences with sea horses and a few swim
throughs.  The visibility was very poor (10-15 feet)on our day of shore
diving and one dive was enough.  Tony led the shore dive which ranged in
depth from 10-30 feet.  A few interesting fish/lava swim throughs and Tony
has fish feeding sites with some good fish life.  Restricted only by PSI,
the dive lasted close to 90 minutes ... although if desired he would have
returned earlier.  The true hidden treasure of this dive operation,
however, is their dive trips to the Fajardo area.  Tony picked us up at
our hotel in the morning for the hour drive to Fajardo.  He knows all the
locals and has a small dive boat that he uses in that area with a local
captain.  The boat was adequate for divers, but photographers would be
disappointed with no facilities for equipment.  Tony will carry all
equipment/tanks/food/drinks to the boat, but we elected to help him. 
Lunch is provided as are adequate drinks of all types.  Lunch was hand
made cuban sandwiches with special needs addressed if needed.  Tony
stopped at local fruit stands on the drive to the boat to select fresh
fruit ... which was fantastic!!  Tony's knowledge of the area is
unmatched.  Tony picked some excellent dive sites with some of the
healthiest coral that I have seen anywhere.  Few/no large fish/pelagics,
but abundant tropical fish.  Tony limits the dive to 4-6 divers, so the
trip is basically a private charter.  The entire trip including
tanks/weights/food & drinks/drive to Fajardo, etc. was $130 each and
very reasonable compared to the rest of the operation.  Visibility in the
Fajardo area was 50-70 feet and is often much better.  There are wall
dives to 70 feet and terrific coral topography with swim throughs.  The
trip offers two tank dives with time on a deserted island where snorkeling
is available between and after dives and where the food is served.  The
trip is an entire day with pick up at 9 and drop off at 6.  This is an
excellent dive trip if you like personal and relaxed diving with full use
of air.  If, however, you are in search of large pelagics .... this is not
the place for you.  The West end is probably better diving, but not
accessible as a day trip from San Juan. 

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