Puerto Rico’s warm, clear waters are home to playful dolphins, colorful fish, whales and other pelagics. Marlin and sailfish can be seen May through September, but dolphins, sharks and massive stingrays can be seen year-round. Read on to learn more about the marine life in Puerto Rico.
Dolphins
Rincon is one of the best places to see dolphins in Puerto Rico. Whether you’re on a dive boat or underwater, keep an eye out for bottlenose dolphins, spinner dolphins and Atlantic spotted dolphins.
Whales
Humpback whales visit Puerto Rico between January and March and the best place to see them is the Rincon area, Desecheo Island in particular. Puerto Rico, like most countries, prohibits scuba diving with whales. But you can view them from the dive boat or on a whale watching tour.
Some of the whales that cruise by Puerto Rico include:
- Blue whales
- Bryde’s whales
- Minke whales
- Pilot whales
- Pygmy sperm whales
- Sei whales
Sharks and Rays
Caribbean reef sharks, nurse sharks and blacktip sharks are the most common sharks in Puerto Rico. Whale sharks pass by, but are only seen on rare occasions.
Another rare shark that lives in Puerto Rico is the night shark. Unfortunately, the name “night shark” (tiburón de la noche) was given to this shark by fishermen who pull in their nets at night and find this shark as bycatch.
Puerto Rico is also home to eagle rays and massive southern stingrays. Eagle rays can be seen swimming in the blue, but you’ll often find stingrays partially buried in the sand.
Sea Turtles
Puerto Rico is an important location for sea turtle conservation, especially St. Regis Bahia Beach. The beach is a protected nesting site for endangered leatherback turtles. Divers can also see hawksbill and green turtles while exploring the waters near Vieques.
Both divers and nondivers can help protect endangered turtles by volunteering to visit and record sea turtle nests in locations throughout Puerto Rico. Visitors with more time can participate in a 6-day sea turtle nesting and patrol program that also includes rainforest hikes and informative lectures.
Manatees
Manatees are among the most beloved marine life in Puerto Rico. While it’s rare to see one while diving, manatee encounters are all but guaranteed at the Caribbean Manatee Conservation Center.
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Book an interactive tour and help conservationists prepare and feed the manatees — sometimes there are baby manatees! The memorable and rewarding experience supports the center’s conservation efforts.
Marine Life Large and Small
Puerto Rico is also home to colorful nudibranchs, anemones and shrimp. Schools of blue tangs and jacks can be seen cruising the reef along with other Caribbean reef fish, including the endangered goliath grouper. Don’t forget to look in cracks and crevices for lobsters and moray eels.
Ready to book a scuba diving adventure in Puerto Rico? Contact a PADI Dive Center or Resort or PADI Travel®.
