Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Snorkeling Playa Puerto Nuevo

General Description:  Typical local public beach with an outstanding guarded bay to snorkel.  100 yard swim to prime snorkeling area.

Degree of Difficulty:  Easy to Intermediate
 

Grid Coordinates:  18.491339, -66.398961


Maps:   USGS TPR5654820, Manati, PR

 
Finding the Beach:  When traveling from San Juan take freeway 22 to the Highway 2 Vega Baja exit.  Turn right follow highway 2 three miles drive though Vega Baja, and then take a right onto PR-686.  Follow PR-686 to the Play Puerto Nuevo beach entrance. 

Beach Overview:    This was the first beach that I snorkeled in Puerto Rico.   It was my second trip to the island during a business trip.   I had to give a presentation to a group on a web site I was helping develop at the Embassy Suites Beach Resort in Darado.   After my presentation I couldn't change into my swimsuit fast enough.  I jumped into my rental car and just started to drive not knowing where I was going.   I knew if I headed west the ocean would be on my right.  I could also see the central mountains to my left.  After driving a while I took a right and ended up at Playa Puerto Nuevo.   It was a great day; it was good to get out of the conference room and onto the beach.

This small sleepy town of Puerto Nuevo has a picturesque beach with a guarded cove for some outstanding snorkeling.   This is a public well-guarded policed beach part of the Puerto Rico National Beach System.  You will see all types of local people here enjoying the sun and the water.  This is well away from the tourist area like the resort in Darado.  Past the beach and on the beach itself there are roadside stands and restaurants that sell local fare.   It is a good stop after a long snorkel.
Snorkeling Instructions:    Enter the water towards the east side of the beach, near the rock outcrop guarding the cove.  Swim along the rock outcrop to view fish and coral.
There is a roped off swimming section of the beach.  Swim past the rope buoy.   Along the volcanic rock outcrop you will see fish as soon as you enter the water, but the prime snorkeling area is about 100 yards up from where the outcrop starts on the beach.






1 comment:

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