East Puerto Rico Scuba Diving

Scuba Diving Lessons

Every year more people are drawn into the “Fascination of Scuba Diving”. Modern scuba equipment allows us to dive to depths of a hundred feet and more. This would not be advisable without proper scuba diving lessons! There are a few hazards like pressure related injuries, such as decompression sickness or air embolism that could happen to anyone without good training by a certified scuba diving instructor. As a scuba diver you must be able to calculate how long and how deep you can safely stay underwater. You also need to learn the correct descent and ascent rates.

Scuba means “self contained underwater breathing apparatus”. Sounds complicated? It is not half as complicated as it sounds. Your scuba diving instructor will teach you how to use a PADI diving table and how to calculate your dive time and depth under water. And with the right instructions and the right dive gear you will be able to go scuba diving in no time. Now, if you are looking for the ultimate adventure than you might want to get some Scuba Diving Lessons; and Puerto Rico sure is the right place to get started!

Scuba Diving Equipment

Since we are not able to breathe under water just like fish, scuba divers depend heavyly on their scuba diving gear. What we need to feel comfortable under water and to be able to breath in this, for us, strange environment are only a couple of items. It wasn’t always like that as you sure know. Not so long ago, men could only go diving under water with a huge effort on dive gear, a lot of helping hands and a pump that delivered the air through a pipe to the diver down below. Today we have been able to reduce all that to a simple and easily manageable set of dive gear.

Here is what we need to go scuba diving now:

• A Buoyancy Control Device, or Jacket to keep us floating on the surface and buoyant below
• A Dive Tank filled with fresh clean air so we can breathe under water
• A Regulator to control the air flow from the tank through the mouth piece into our lungs
• A pair of Fins for our far too small feet, so we can swim faster and without much effort
• A Diving Mask, so we can get a clear picture under water and see where we are swimming
• And in some regions it is recommendable to use a Wetsuit, to keep warm

Is Scuba Diving Dangerous?

Fact is, that a diver may be more of a threat to aquatic animals than they would be to us. Some corals for example, can be killed by simply touching them. Most aquatic animals don’t pose any risks to divers, there are however, a few marine life forms that may harm or injure a scuba diver. Common accidents include jelly fish stings, fire corals, and crown of thorns. Sharks and poisonous sea animals, can also injure scuba divers, if they behave improperly. Unprovoked attacks on scuba divers by animals are rarely heard of. Animals behave under water much as they do above, they attack only when they are provoked.

“Scuba diving, being a visual underwater experience, doesn’t include altering the underwater habitat in any way. Divers shouldn’t touch anything, be it a plant, a cute animal or even just an object under water, that could easily have become the home of an animal over time.”

Scuba Diving the Weightless Adventure

You sure have asked yourself by now, how it feels to be submerged 50 feet, surrounded by nothing more than blue water and tropical fish. It is very similar to a space walk. With all your gear on, feeling completely weightless just like flying through space. It’s adventurous!
Once you’ve found out that you actually can breath underwater just as normal as you can breath on the surface, a whole new dimension will open up for the new born scuba diver in you. And after you’ve learned to keep your buoyancy so perfect that you can control your ascent or descent solely by breathing in and out, the real fun begins. You will than be able to fully enjoy the view and your world has just grown by a whole 70%!

Scuba Diving Certification

Once you had your scuba diving lessons and you have finished your PADI Open Water Scuba Diving Course with East Puerto Rico Divers, you will be certified by your scuba diving instructor as a PADI Open Water Diver and you will be able to enjoy your scuba diving adventures anywhere you want. But first of all enjoy scuba diving here in Puerto Rico, the best kept secret of the Caribbean! See unspoiled and healthy coral reefs, colorful and strange looking tropical fish and dolphins, rays and sharks in all shapes and colors. And it’s not like you would have to stop there; there is always the Advanced Open Water Course or if you want to take it a step further, the Rescue Diver Course…….or even master scuba diver.

If you feel like getting started with your scuba diving lessons right away, please contact us here.
Click this link to find more details about the , or
read more about how You can learn to dive right here.

Welcome to Puerto Rico!

For centuries, travelers have known about Puerto Rico. It has long been a connecting point to all areas of the Caribbean. Today’s travelers are well familiar with the island as a major port of call for cruise ships, as well as for a major air terminal. Puerto Rico might well be the THE BEST KEPT SECRET IN THE CARIBBEAN !! You don’t have to go to somewhere remote and hard to get to, to see pristine, healthy,reefs and abundant aquatic life. It’s all here in Puerto Rico!

Scuba Diving Puerto Rico

East Puerto Rico Diving is located in the middle of the east shore of Puerto Rico. The east coast of the island offers most spectacular scuba diving, with visibility frequently approaching 100 ft/30 meters. On our numerous dive sites, including the island of Vieques, you will find warm, clear waters, and enjoy healthy coral reefs, with a great chance of seeing some truly remarkable sea life. Along with stingrays, eels, angelfish and jacks, very often we see dolphins, turtles, manatees, and even sometimes, passing whales!

The Best Diving in the Caribbean!

What you will rarely see, while diving with East Puerto Rico Divers, is other dive boats! Only a few, even well traveled, scuba divers know that Puerto Rico offers scuba diving that is among the best in the Caribbean, for not to say, in the world!. You will see walls, dropping off thousands of feet, you will explore coral reefs that rarely have seen divers or fisherman!
For North American divers, the Scuba Diving Paradise of Puerto Rico is usually only a two to three hour direct flight away, with NO PASSPORT REQUIRED.

Enjoy scuba diving in the morning and be back in the sophisticated world of International Hotels, Casinos, and Restaurants of Puerto Rico for dinner!

Snorkeling Puerto Rico:

The top of the list on places for snorkeling in Puerto Rico are made by Playa Esperanza and Blue Beach. The underwater world of Puerto Rico will amaze you with its beauty and tranquil movements. Occasionally, a manatee or nurse shark may glide by. Appreciate the beauty of the antler coral that thrives along the ocean floor, schools of colorful tropical fish and the clear,warm water of the Caribbean. An even better way to discover the beauty of Puerto Rico’s underwater world and to enjoy snorkeling sites, which are otherwise hard or even impossible to get to, is to join in on one of our afternoon scuba diving tours. We will bring you to the best snorkeling spots in Puerto Rico; Jump in and be amazed!

Fort El Morro

Surly one of the most visited places in Puerto Rico is Fort El Morro. Sailing into the harbor of San Juan, you will be astonished by the view of El Morro. Built by the Spanish around 1500, the massive citadel of Fort El Morro was meant to prevent their European enemies from gaining access to San Juan, the largest natural port of the Caribbean. The Fortress El Morro was attacked many times during the years and withstood many famous enemies such as Sir Francis Drake and the British fleet, who attacked the fortress in 1595 and 30 years later the entire Dutch fleet.

Old San Juan

Old San Juan is located on the western half of the small island Isleta de San Juan. It is connected to the main island by two bridges and one causeway. The 47 mi² of Old San Juan offers the visitor many attractions such as the famous Commonwealth’s Capitol and most of Puerto Rico’s central government buildings. Colonial buildings dating back to the 16th and 17th century, alongside narrow cobblestone streets, characterize the picture of Central Old San Juan. Large parts of the old city are surrounded by massive walls, defensive structures and fortresses such as Fort San Felipe del Morro and the 17th century Fort San Cristóbal. A most famous fortress is the 16th century Fort El Palacio de Santa Catalina, also known as La Fortaleza, which today serves as the Governor’s Mansion. Don’t forget your camera, there are pictures to take on every corner of the town!

Beach Vacations:

A number of travelers already know about the white sandy beaches of Puerto Rico. One of the most photographed beaches in Puerto Rico is situated not far from East Puerto Rico Diving. Luquillo Beach lays about 30 miles east of San Juan an is known to be the most family friendly beach of Puerto Rico. A coral reef, perfectly placed to limit the rough oceans, evident at some other beaches in Puerto Rico, keeps the water in the bay calm, clear and warm. Luquillo Beach is well suited for families with small children. The beach provides Picnic Areas, Changing Rooms and Showers.

Surfing Little Malibu

Another famous beach in Puerto Rico is Playa Higuero which served for the world surfing championships. Playa Higuero is a world-class surfing beach also known as “Little Malibu”. The beach of Playa Higuero commonly experiences 16 foot wave breakers waiting to challenge even experienced surf boarders. There are many more beaches, one more beautiful than the other, on Puerto Rico. Some of them are secret, hidden spots like Rosado Beach, a quiet little cove providing the ultimate place to escape the busier beaches of Puerto Rico. The access to Rosado Beach can be a bit tricky. Our staff will be happy to provide you with more information about the most beautiful beaches of Puerto Rico, and how to get there best.

El Yunque:

Visit El Yunque; the only sub tropical rain forest in the U.S. Forest Service System. Flourishing on the eastern side of the steep mountains of Luquillo, with it’s 28,000 acres of lush, tropical vegetation, El Yunque, remains the last virgin rain forest on the island and the largest stretch of pristine forest under public domain in Puerto Rico. El Yunque has welcomed more than one million visitors since it‘s opening in 1996!

We hope that we where able to give you a little insight in Puerto Rico and of what you can expect on your Puerto Rico Vacations. We will add more specific content on many aspects of Puerto Rico, Scuba Diving Lessons and our Scuba Diving Tours over time. Check back here frequently to find new pictures of the island, the spectacular Puerto Rican underwater world, the rain forest and it’s inhabitants, and of course, of our guests and ourselves.

Please feel free use our Contact Form for further inquiries and/or reservations.

Scuba Diving Lessons in Palmas del Mar

If you haven’t been diving Puerto Rico, it’s just about time to give it a thought, but if you have never been scuba diving at all, you are missing out on the greater part of the world! 70% of your possible holiday destinations are under water. And within this 70% you can find the most beautiful and unspoiled parts of mother nature. Have you ever been snorkeling above a colorful coral reef and you wished you could go down to have a closer look and take as much time as you like? If so, you certainly need some scuba diving lessons! Think about swimming with dolphins in the warm Caribbean sea, and discovering a whole new world full of strange lifeforms and incredible colors.

Diving Courses with East Puerto Rico Divers

East Puerto Rico Divers offers you the chance to learn scuba diving in only a few days with ease. We conduct PADI scuba diving lessons from beginner to divemaster here in Palmas del Mar. Our diving courses are held by professional PADI scuba diving instructors. Our well trained staff will teach you all you need to know about the underwater world and how you can safely enjoy your new hobby. Excitement guaranteed!

Open Water Diver Certification

We all started once with the , the beginner course. Within only four days you will learn the basics of scuba diving. You will learn about the PADI buddy system and how to handle your diving equipment, you will learn that you can breathe under water just like you can breathe on the surface and and you will also learn how to plan your own dives. After your exam, you will be a certified PADI Open Water Diver.

Advanced Open Water Diver Certification

With an additional five dives, where you learn how to navigate under water and how to dive deeper than your Open Water certification allows you. consists of five parts. Two are mandatory dives, deep and navigation, and three more dives are for you to select, pretty much according to your interests. Each dive has a theoretical part to it, which will be explained in detail, by your diving instructor.

Rescue Diver Certification

After you have been certified as an PADI Advanced Diver, you might want to make some fun dives, to train the skills you have learned so far and to gain some confidence. PADI requires you to have 20 dives logged by the time you start the Rescue Diver Course. If you have just finished your OWD and your AOWD you should have at least nine logged dives, four from the open water dives in your first course and five from your advanced lessons. is a bit demanding, because you will learn how to assist a fellow diver in case of an emergancy, so we take it serious. The course still offers a lot of fun for everybody though.

About Puerto Rico

When Christopher Columbus discovered Puerto Rico in 1493 he sure wasn’t aware of the fact that he found one of the most beautiful islands of the Caribbean Sea. Puerto Rico is situated south east of Florida, with Haiti and the Dominican Republic as neighbors in the west and the Virgin Islands to the east. After it’s discovery in 1493, the island enjoyed 15 more years in semi-freedom, until it was finally colonized by Spain in 1508. 13 years later, in 1521, the capital city of San Juan, was founded on the Atlantic side of the island. Puerto Rico stayed under the Spanish flag for 377 years until it was relinquished to the USA by Spain in 1898 as a result of the Spanish-American War.

Because of constitutional reforms during the early nineteenth century, the economy and the population of the island, saw a surge with hundreds of French, Corsican, Lebanese, Portuguese and Chinese families arriving in Puerto Rico. Along came large numbers of immigrants from Spain and former Spanish Colonies in South America. The local character of the island expanded to a colorful mixture of nationalities. There were other settlers like Irish, Scottish, Germans, and Italians arriving in the thousands because they were granted land from Spain during the Royal Decree of Graces in 1815 which allowed European Catholics to settle on Puerto Rico with a fair amount of free land.

Puerto Rico Today

Today Puerto Rico is a self governing, and very independent-minded, territory of the USA and enjoys a great deal of autonomy.
The climate of Puerto Rico is usually humid and hot. If you choose to wander off to higher ground, you will find some lower temperatures in the hillsides of the central and the south of the island.
During the hurricane season from May until October, Puerto Rico is like most Caribbean Islands, subject to an occasional hurricane warning.

Puerto Rico Vacations

The island has become a paradise for Caribbean cruise ships bringing visitors from around the world. The town of Old San Juan is the most popular tourist destination on Puerto Rico today.
Unlike other Caribbean islands, Puerto Rico has a very high standard of living with a vibrant industrialized economy. Puerto Rico has a fair amount of manufacturing due to favorable taxation from the U.S.

Puerto Rico in Facts and Numbers:

• Official Name: Puerto Rico, Commonwealth Territory of the USA
• Population: approx. 4,000,000 (last counted July 2003 est.)
• Capital: City San Juan – approx. 450,000 Citizens
• Land Area: 9,100 sq km
• Highest Mountain: “Cerro del Punta” 4,389 ft. (1,338m)
• Languages: Spanish, English
• Official Currency: US Dollar
• Religions: Catholic/Protestant
• Latitude/Longitude: 18º 15N, 66º 30W

Flag of Puerto Rico:

Map of Puerto Rico:

Puerto Rico Scuba Diving Tours – Scuba Diving Lessons with East Puerto Rico Diving

East Puerto Rico Diving, Palmas del Mar

Enjoy your Scuba Diving Vacations in Puerto Rico

The Crew

We are a small group of enthusiastic, dedicated scuba divers who are willing to share our favorite dive spots on Puerto Rico with You!
All members of East Puerto Rico Diving are professional PADI Scuba Diving Instructors and well experienced captains who know the area better than anyone else. We are excited about being able to offer you and your friends and family a truly unique and remarkable scuba diving experience.

Scuba Diving Tours

We offer two tank dive trips in the mornings for our fellow fun divers and afternoon trips for those who would like to discover scuba diving for the first time. We also welcome non diving guests on our afternoon diving tours, where we will bring you the best sites for snorkeling in Puerto Rico and show you the best spots to discover.
We also offer scuba diving lessons for those who would like to take the sport a step further.
East Puerto Rico Diving offers all scuba lessons from PADI Open Water Diver up to Dive Master Level. We accommodate course referrals from most scuba diving training agencies.

Night Diving

In addition to our daytime program we also offer the most exciting night dives!
Enjoy the spectacular star filled sky on our way to the dive site and discover the creatures that hide during the day and find sleepy fish whom won’t mind if you come a bit nearer by than normally.

Scuba Diving Equipment and Full Boat Charters

Our RENTAL DIVE GEAR is high quality, and new. We also offer FULL BOAT CHARTERS for sight seers, snorkeling tours, or larger groups of scuba divers.

The reason we are here is because this is where we want to be!

Please contact us at:
East Puerto Rico Diving
Humacao 00792
Palmas del Mar
Puerto Rico
Call Toll Free: 866-449-0932
Or Call from Abroad: +1 787-774-7510

Or simply use our Contact Form for inquiries and Reservation

Advanced Open Water Scuba Diving Lessons

The second part of the PADI scuba diving training is based on the premise that scuba diving gives the diver a chance to explore new interests. Once you are familiar with the basic skills you might want to exceed the 54 feet / 18 meters limit of the OWD certification and discover different plants and creatures, conquer new tasks and experience new underwater adventures. In the end of the day it’s all about feeling more confident under water; thus having lots more fun!

The structure of the PADI AOWD course is slightly different from what you have experienced in your open water diving lessons. Only two of the 5 lessons are mandatory, those would be “Navigation” and “Deep Diving”. The navigation lesson will teach you to navigate under water by using a compass and natural signs, such as rock formations and sand patterns, to find your way around underwater, and most important, back to your entry point.

In the deep diving lesson you will learn in theory and practice how to dive deeper and handle greater pressure. You will learn about nitrogen narcosis and how to avoid it. The PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Certification brings you to the limit of recreational diving, (scuba diving without decompression stops) to a max. depth of 40 meters.

After you have completed the two mandatory dives, you need three more dives to obtain the AOWD certification or one more dive to be certified as a PADI Adventure Diver. Until here the PADI scuba diving education is the same for all students. From here on after PADI gives you the freedom of choice to follow your particular interests and maybe even develop a whole new hobby.

To complete your Advanced Open Water Course you may choose three of the following lessons:

• Multilevel and Computer Diving – To improve your dive planing
• Night Diving – To discover a whole new environment
• Peak Performance Buoyancy Dive – To better your buoyancy skills
• Search and Recovery Dive – To better your navigation skills
• Underwater Naturalist Dive – To learn more about underwater life
• PADI AWARE – Fish Identification Dive – To recognize what you see under water
• Digital Underwater Photography Dive – To shoot your first
• Diver Propulsion Vehicle Dive (DPV) – To save energy underwater and to have lots of fun
• Enriched Air Dive (Nitrox) – To stay longer at deeper levels

Once you are certified as an Advanced Diver you will feel far more confident under water and maybe you even want to learn more about scuba diving. If this is the case, you may want to find out more about the PADI Rescue Diver Course.

If you have any additional question, feel free to use our Contact Form, we will respond a.s.a.p.

Rescue Diving Lessons in Puerto Rico

Buddy System

Since the very beginning of your scuba diving career you have learned the scuba diving is a buddy sport. The reason is obvious; in case something happens to you or to your buddy, assistance will never be far away! Like everybody else, we hope to never come in to a dangerous situation, but what if…? Do you feel confident enough to help your buddy if he/she gets tangled up in seaweed and starts to panic? Do you know what to do if your buddy suddenly looses consciousness under water? The worst case scenario in an underwater accident is if the buddy is near a panic attack himself and therefor is unable to think clear and offer the appropriate help!

PADI Rescue Diver Course

In the series of scuba diving lessons of all diving organizations worldwide, the Rescue Diver Course is considered to be the most valuable course to avoid diving accidents. Once a student has passed his rescue diver lessons he becomes a most valuable member of the diving community. Equipped with self confidence above and under water, ready to help other divers at any time, he will be welcomed into any group of scuba divers.
In the PADI Rescue Diver Course you will learn to look beyond yourself. You will learn to consider the safety and well-being of other scuba divers and value them as much as your own and most important, you will learn what to do and how to help in almost any perilous situation. You will also learn to manage more complex dive emergencies and to apply direct intervention techniques to assist others in case of an emergency. The Rescue lessons are demanding, though realistic in its conduct, content and approach. Although the nature and context in which rescue training may be used is serious, the course will be an enjoyable challenge that builds your confidence.

Prerequisites

A medical first aid course is prerequisite to become a certified PADI Rescue Diver. If you have taken medic first aid lessons within the past 24 month (e.g. driving license, fire department, school or hospital) please bring your certification. If you don’t have a medical first aid certification you can become a PADI Emergency First Responder (EFR). The EFR Course will take one day only and is conducted by a certified PADI EFR Instructor at the East Puerto Rico Diving Center in Palmas del Mar.
The PADI Rescue Diver certification and a valid medic first aid certification are also a prerequisite for all PADI leadership-level training such as PADI Dive Master and Scuba Diving Instructor.

We are located at the new Palmas del Mar Yacht Club

Driving Directions from San Juan:

• Take Highway 52 south to Caguas,
• Look for Highway 30 to Humacao.
• Near Humacao,watch out for the Palmas Del Mar signs.
• Merge with Highway 53 for a short distance.
• Take the exit to Highway 906 East (the 2nd exit past the tollbooth)
• The main gate of Palmas del Mar Yacht Club is just up the road.
• Ask the guards how to find East Puerto Rico Divers – it’s easy.

The total drive time from San Juan is about one hour with average traffic.

East Puerto Rico Diving – Your specialist for PADI in Puerto Rico

What you can do in Palmas del Mar besides Scuba Diving

Palmas del Mar might well be the most beautiful region of east Puerto Rico! Several beautiful beaches are just minutes away from the center. The tropical, green region, invites to nature walks and relaxing in the shade of palm trees on beautiful white sandy beaches. Palmas del Mar offers several most beautiful beaches, such as;

Pass-a-Grill Beach, St.Pete Beach and the “North Beach” of Fort de Soto are just ten minutes out on a bike. The Famous Tierra Verda North Beach is just a 15 minutes bike ride out of the Center of Palmas del Mar.

Other nearby activities in Palmas del Mar are:

• Basketball
• Biking

• Boating
• Fitness Centers
• Golf
• Great Sightseeing
• Gym
• Hiking
• Jet Skiing
• Many Restaurants
• Para Sailing
• Sailing
• Scuba Diving
• Shuffleboard
• Shopping Possibilities
• Sport Fishing
• Swimming
• Snorkeling
• Tennis
• Tube Riding
• Water Skiing
• Wake Boarding
• Windsurfing

As you can see, Palmas del Mar offers a long list of things to do! Once you have arrived in Palmas, don’t forget to visit the East Puerto Rico Diving Office at the Palmas del Mar Yacht Club and ask us for our special scuba diving charter deals and our unforgettable scuba tours! Here is the first of our summer special diving packages at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, here in Palmas del Mar! The Four Points by Sheraton is located right at the beach in Palmas del Mar.