1997 Chapbook
  Puerto Rico

 

Aquatico Underwater Adventures, October 1995, Frederick Berg, Farmington Hills, MI. "After making reservations ahead, I arrived in area and called: Jesse says we will not be going out for the weekend. I asked why he could not call us at home, he said he forgot. Went looking for the wonderful shore diving, but the response from 3 shops was do not shore dive - because your stuff will not be there when you get back."

Captain Bill's, July 1995, Stephen Heitz, Buffalo Grove, IL. "Passengers helped load the tanks onto the boat and remove them after the dive. Spearing and lobstering (in season) every dive. Huge lobster under the boat. Captain saw I had 1100 psi available, put on my BC and reg. without asking and came up with a 10 lb lobster. Shore diving is limited; poor vis. Boat diving at Desecheo Island spectacular. Many swim-throughs, beautiful coral and pinnacles. Vis: 70 to 100 ft. Enough to see to satisfy the most discriminating diver, but not for a week. Dive our own profile 90 ft up to 30 ft. 12 miles off shore; fairly rough ride back."

Moon Dog Charters, November 1995, Mike de La Chapelle, Bellevue, WA. "Booked three days of diving with Aquatica Underwater Adventures through Rothschild Travel (NYC). Upon arrival in Rincon learned it had moved 45 min south to Joyuda Beach, an hour boat trip more to Desecheo Island. After trying to call Aquatica, I called Rothschild Travel to cancel. Our agent said he would call me back, but didn't so next morning we drove to Joyuda Beach. Owner had sold our places on the boat because he received a cancellation from Rothschild; refused to refund our money. Moondog Charters (Rincon) brought us to Desecheo for one day; diving was good. Skipper Frank Anderson is competent and pleasant. Large center console boat is fast, roomy and sea worthy. Took half hour."

Parguera Divers/Villa Parguera Parador, February 1995, Dennis Olvera, Carmel, IN. "Cayman had more pelagics and Saba had more interesting formations, but the vis and the corals were the best I had seen. Seas were calm. Primo site is "Fallen Rock", may be the I've done. La Parguera because is fairly easy to reach, offers superb diving, and not mobbed with newly certified divers. Super visibility, pristine corals, abundant tropicals, and incomparable services of Efra and Alex Figueroa."

Parguera Divers, May 1995, Anthony Raza & Dee Warren, New York, NY. "Diving very good and unspoiled. Efra and Alex seemed to be only dive operation on a stretch of reefs; took six divers. Impressive wall dives, shallow mushroom coral structures with swim-throughs. Book in advance. Vis 75 feet at better sites. First trip since being certified in Cayman. Town very nice, simple, and friendly fishing town. Good diving at half the price of Cayman."

Paraguera Divers/Parador Parlmar, November 1995, Mike de La Chapelle, Bellevue, WA. "Parador run down. Wall diving reminded me of Cayman, but vis 40' max. Could dive separately from group."

Parguera Divers/ Parador Parlamar, June 1996, Bob Greaves, Bonita, CA. "Nice diving, away from crowds. Good variety of fish, turtles, octopus. Vis: 80'­90', 5'­6' seas. Little current. Most was 7 divers. Freedom to do your own dive. Parlamar rather basic, but more than Ara Quete. Several decent restaurants within walking distance. 2.5 hours drive from San Juan. Hour boat ride to sites . Sandwiches provided on board. Efra & Alex Figueroa are good dive operators."


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