Snorkeling Boat Trip to Culebra

General Description:  This was a great paid boat trip. Taking a catamaran to two of the best snorkeling spots in the Caribbean.   Snorkeling off of a dive boat is always enjoyable.   We snorkeled two locations near the island of Culebra, Luis Pena Channel Natural Area and the West side of Flamenco Beach.  This was an awesome boat trip. 

Degree of Difficulty:  Easy

Grid Coordinates:  18.287030, -65.636018  (Marina)

Maps:  USGS Topo 20130920 Culebra

Finding the Marina:   From San Juan take Highway 66 to Highway 3.  Exit to the right headed east.   Follow Highway 3 past Fajardo.  Merge on to Highway 53 south.  Take the Highway 3 exit, the second exit past Fajardo.  Follow the signs to Marina Del Rey.  On this trip we decide to use East Island Excursions.  There will be signs guiding you to their office that is dock side.  It is good to allow for 2 hours for travel from San Juan the dive boat leave promptly at 0930 in the morning.

Trip Overview:     We stayed the night in Fajardo and went snorkeling the next day.  We arrived at the dockside office and checked in.  We were originally supposed to travel to the Icanos Islands, but the weather was not with us on this day.  So instead the Captain decided to take us to Culebra for the same price.   I was a little disappointed because we went to Culebra later in the week.   It turned out for the best, giving us a boat side perspective of the snorkeling areas on the Island. 

  

The ride to Culebra was about 40 minutes thru choppy seas. Once arrived off the beach of the Culebra Nature Area we were in the Luis Pena channel, shielded by a leeward island of the same name.  Once the boat tied up to the anchored buoy it was time to hit the water.

The boat a powered catamaran had two water entry decks with steps into the water. This was the best snorkeling that I have ever done in Puerto Rico.  There is a reason that this is a popular trip.  The variety of fish and coral was incredible.  In my memory this snorkel only has been topped by the red sea in the early 90’s.  

We were given about an hour and a half to snorkel.  The boat provided a lunch a complimentary drinks afterward.  This was all included in price of the trip and you could eat and drink at your own leisure.  After lunch we moved around the north side of the Island to Flamingo Beach and Bay.      

We anchor on the west side of Flamenco Beach one of the most picturesque beaches in the Caribbean.  Once there you could snorkel the rock jetty and follow the reef up the west side of the beach to view numerous coral and fish species.   You could also make the short swim to the beach, but I’m saving that for a trip later in the week.

Once we spent a couple of hours here it was time to get back to the Main Island of Puerto Rico and the Marina Del Rey .  The seas had calmed a little in the afternoon and the big cat made short work of the trip, we were dockside in 30 minutes.  

Snorkeling Instructions:     Whenever snorkeling off a boat always follow the crew guidance; be back on the boat when told to.   Always snorkel with a buddy and be sure to have fun and take pictures.