Going to Puerto Rico on 3/2/04.....

[Scubadude]

Ahoy there fellow salts ! Going back to the roots for 10 days with my lady. :bounce: I have dived the west coast of Puerto Rico but never the east. Any recomendations. All are welcomed and appreciated. Good Viz, George

[Seawitch2]

George,

If you want to stay in the east coast, your best bet is going to Vieques or Culebra. The ferries run form Fajardo on a daily basis. The east coast is not very good for diving. Other option is going to Isabela. The have very nice walls and caverns in that area. I don't know when was the last time you were there, but there is a new express way that takes you from San Juan to Isabela in no time.

Have a wonderful time!! Have a pina colada and a few "surrullitos" for me. :beerchug:



Ahoy there fellow salts ! Going back to the roots for 10 days with my lady. :bounce: I have dived the west coast of Puerto Rico but never the east. Any recomendations. All are welcomed and appreciated. Good Viz, George

[Scubadude]

George,

If you want to stay in the east coast, your best bet is going to Vieques or Culebra. The ferries run form Fajardo on a daily basis. The east coast is not very good for diving. Other option is going to Isabela. The have very nice walls and caverns in that area. I don't know when was the last time you were there, but there is a new express way that takes you from San Juan to Isabela in no time.

Have a wonderful time!! Have a pina colada and a few "surrullitos" for me. :beerchug:
Hey witch ! Gracias for replying. I was there in 98 and the new expressway was already built. I will take your advise and check out Isabela, but for sure Vieques or Culebra. Big animals on that side I hear. Thanx again. I will have a cold Presidente and a few surrullitos on your behalf. ;-) Good Viz, George

[scuba-punk]

Presidente? Man, drink the local stuff - Medalla! :) I concur with SW, Culebra is really nice. I haven't been to Vieques yet, but I did enjoy Culebra over Fajardo. I'm going to P.R. in May with a group that I put together, and I've managed to get a 3 day camping/diving trip to Mona as part of the itinerary - WOOHOO! I can't wait. The next 7 weeks are going to drive me crazy. Have a great trip and let us know how the Mofongo and Tostones are :)

-Frank

[Seawitch2]

You guys, are making so hungry!!! Mofongo con camarones,MMMMMM. Ditto on the Medalla.

Frank, when in May are going to PR?. I camped in Mona years ago, and it was wonderful!! That was before I was certified, but the snorkeling was spectacular.


Presidente? Man, drink the local stuff - Medalla! :) I concur with SW, Culebra is really nice. I haven't been to Vieques yet, but I did enjoy Culebra over Fajardo. I'm going to P.R. in May with a group that I put together, and I've managed to get a 3 day camping/diving trip to Mona as part of the itinerary - WOOHOO! I can't wait. The next 7 weeks are going to drive me crazy. Have a great trip and let us know how the Mofongo and Tostones are :)

-Frank

[Scubadude]

Presidente? Man, drink the local stuff - Medalla! :) I concur with SW, Culebra is really nice. I haven't been to Vieques yet, but I did enjoy Culebra over Fajardo. I'm going to P.R. in May with a group that I put together, and I've managed to get a 3 day camping/diving trip to Mona as part of the itinerary - WOOHOO! I can't wait. The next 7 weeks are going to drive me crazy. Have a great trip and let us know how the Mofongo and Tostones are :)

-Frank
Balla Frank ! Que pasa ? I would drink Medalla but I can't get past that taste. :-( ! I will have to checkout one of those 2 east coast islands. Probably Culebras. Are there big animals there ? I will be leaving on April 2nd, I think I made a mistake on the first post regarding the subject, so I have time to do some research and make some calls. The west coast, I will be definetly diving. I dove there in 98, I liked it. Desecheo and La Parguera were pretty cool. La Parguera is kind of rough seas, lot of cross currents, but I can handle it. Like yourself, I would like to dive La Mona, it's supposed to be really cool. I booked my airfare today and now I have butterflys in my stomach. It's going to be rough until I leave. I will have a hard time sleeping now. I will report back after I return and tell you how it went. I'll have a Mofongo and some alcapurrias in your name. :beerchug: Salud ! ahhhhhhh :wink: Te veo bro ! Good Viz, George. P.S. If ever in Chicago, Look me up, We'll dive Lake Michigan.

[Scubadude]

You guys, are making so hungry!!! Mofongo con camarones,MMMMMM. Ditto on the Medalla.

Frank, when in May are going to PR?. I camped in Mona years ago, and it was wonderful!! That was before I was certified, but the snorkeling was spectacular.

Hey witch, can you camp and scuba dive from La Mona island ? If so, that might be an option for us. Do they supply sleepping bags and tents. Give me the scoop :bounce: :bounce:

[HammerNoMore]

Presidente? Man, drink the local stuff - Medalla!
OMG...Medalla ranks number two on my list of worst beers of all time...

James

[Scubadude]

OMG...Medalla ranks number two on my list of worst beers of all time...

James


You got that right ! :clapping: I not one of those people that just because it's produced in the country, I'm going to drink it. It taste terrible and that's the bottom line. :yuck: People there drink it for that reason-Consume what your motherland produces. Well if the motherland produced something good, beilive me, I would consume it. Just like Barcardi, that is the worse Rum I have ever tasted. The locals don't even drink it...and it's produced in Puerto Rico. Good divin & good viz, George

[Seawitch2]

Hey witch, can you camp and scuba dive from La Mona island ? If so, that might be an option for us. Do they supply sleepping bags and tents. Give me the scoop :bounce: :bounce:

Hey, George,

You need a permit to camp in La Mona. I believe the permit is issued by the Department of Natural Resources, and it must be obtained in advance. They do not supply sleeping bags/tents. It's a bring a your own, rough camping site. Last time I was there, we had to bring everything - tents, food, supplies, etc. They did not have stores or supplies shop. Not to mention a dive shop. It is true rough camping. The only habitants on the island, besides the goats, were a couple of park rangers. It has been a long time since I've been there. But to my knowledge, since La Mona is a protected area, they have not changed much. If you don't mind the lack of amenities, is an amazing place. Talk about natural and uncorrupted beauty. That was a memorable experience.

Hope this helps!!!

Seawitch2

[scuba-punk]

I have to agree with you George, Medalla isn't the best asting beer around, but I'll drink almost anything (well, beer anyway). In most places around the island, the other big beerchoice seems to be Bud Light, and I definitely can't drink that stuff :) Speaking of good local brews though, Banks beer in Barbados is good stuff. And yes, I do like Presidente.

And I ABSO-FRIGGIN-LUTELY agree with you about Bacardi Rum. Yuck-o. Give me some Barrilitos or Palo Seco any day over that crap! What is the deal with all of the Lemon, Vanilla, Citrus garbage? My abuelito taught me that if you can't drink the rum - straight, no ice - and enjoy it, that it isn't any good.

We set up our Mona charter with Oceans-Unlimited. They are providing the tents, sleeing bags, camping permits, food, drinks, tanks, weights, transportation - well, pretty much everything short of alcogolic beverages. The need at least 8 people on the charter to make the trip. They also offer 2 and 3 tank dives to Desecheo. I'll have to let you know how it turns out, but I've read some nice things about them on Scuba Board.

As far as big animals on the east coast, I've seen nice sized nurse sharks, spotted eagle rays and lobsters with bodies as big-around softballs (the lobsters, not the rays - they were much bigger)!

Thanks for the invite to dive Lake Michigan. I love diving the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence, but haven't made it that far west yet. If you see a Yellow Xterra sporting a 'Bandera' from the rear-view and a Diver Down flag plate on the front - it'll be me...

-Frank

[Scubadude]

I have to agree with you George, Medalla isn't the best asting beer around, but I'll drink almost anything (well, beer anyway). In most places around the island, the other big beerchoice seems to be Bud Light, and I definitely can't drink that stuff :) Speaking of good local brews though, Banks beer in Barbados is good stuff. And yes, I do like Presidente.

And I ABSO-FRIGGIN-LUTELY agree with you about Bacardi Rum. Yuck-o. Give me some Barrilitos or Palo Seco any day over that crap! What is the deal with all of the Lemon, Vanilla, Citrus garbage? My abuelito taught me that if you can't drink the rum - straight, no ice - and enjoy it, that it isn't any good.

We set up our Mona charter with Oceans-Unlimited. They are providing the tents, sleeing bags, camping permits, food, drinks, tanks, weights, transportation - well, pretty much everything short of alcogolic beverages. The need at least 8 people on the charter to make the trip. They also offer 2 and 3 tank dives to Desecheo. I'll have to let you know how it turns out, but I've read some nice things about them on Scuba Board.

As far as big animals on the east coast, I've seen nice sized nurse sharks, spotted eagle rays and lobsters with bodies as big-around softballs (the lobsters, not the rays - they were much bigger)!

Thanks for the invite to dive Lake Michigan. I love diving the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence, but haven't made it that far west yet. If you see a Yellow Xterra sporting a 'Bandera' from the rear-view and a Diver Down flag plate on the front - it'll be me...

-Frank

Yea, I e-mailed Lisa from Oceans Unlimited. I like the 3 day dive package myself. 2 tanks a day to Desecheo. However I like the other pacakge even more, it's 3 tanks to Mona on the first day and the other 2 days, 2 tanks to Desecheo. I am going with the latter. My girlfriend hasn't decided yet which package. She better hurry up and make up her mind. She'll be watching me wave Adios ! Adios ! from the boat. :evil_4:
I have to agree w/ your abuelo, Barrilito, Palo Viejo, straight up, no chaser !

You know I also saw on Oceans-Unlimited's website the pictures from the campsite at Mona. That has to be awesome ! If I would have known about this before, I would have booked that and stayed there opposed to my dad's place in Anasco, that's just a skip from Rincon. We are staying at my girlfreind's mom's house for the first few days and then staying @ my dad's for the rest of the vacation. I think we are only going to dive the west coast after all. The first part of our vacation is going to be siteseeing, going to El Yunque, Old San Juan etc, etc. Anyway, talk to you later compay. Good Viz, George. P.S. Let me know how your camping trip went. I will be leaving on the 2nd of April and returning on the 11th. I will let you know how it went for us. Saborsito !

[Scubadude]

Hey, George,

You need a permit to camp in La Mona. I believe the permit is issued by the Department of Natural Resources, and it must be obtained in advance. They do not supply sleeping bags/tents. It's a bring a your own, rough camping site. Last time I was there, we had to bring everything - tents, food, supplies, etc. They did not have stores or supplies shop. Not to mention a dive shop. It is true rough camping. The only habitants on the island, besides the goats, were a couple of park rangers. It has been a long time since I've been there. But to my knowledge, since La Mona is a protected area, they have not changed much. If you don't mind the lack of amenities, is an amazing place. Talk about natural and uncorrupted beauty. That was a memorable experience.

Hope this helps!!!

Seawitch2


Yo witch, I was telling Scuba-punk that the dive operation that I am going to dive with supplys the gear for camping. Just FYI., O.K. ? :rose: I discovered this today. :wink: Later. Good Viz, George

[Seawitch2]

Yo witch, I was telling Scuba-punk that the dive operation that I am going to dive with supplys the gear for camping. Just FYI., O.K. ? :rose: I discovered this today. :wink: Later. Good Viz, George

Hey G.,

Thanks for the information!! That's good to know. I may go to PR in May and you just opened anothe diving option. :bounce: Would you PM the name of the operation your using? Gracias!!!

[Scubadude]

Hey G.,

Thanks for the information!! That's good to know. I may go to PR in May and you just opened anothe diving option. :bounce: Would you PM the name of the operation your using? Gracias!!!


http://Oceans-Unlimited.com/. Go for it witch ! It's got to be a great way to go. ! I 'll tell you how they are when I get back on the 11th of April. CIAO ! & Good Viz, George

[scuba-punk]

SW, I'm going to be there May 15-22, diving Mona May 18-20. We have 7 of the 8 minimum slots filled, so they (Oceans Unlimited) are going to open the charter to fill the rest of the slots (i think they max out at 12 people). If that's where you are going to be there, come along!

-Frank

[Scubadude]

Presidente? Man, drink the local stuff - Medalla! :) I concur with SW, Culebra is really nice. I haven't been to Vieques yet, but I did enjoy Culebra over Fajardo. I'm going to P.R. in May with a group that I put together, and I've managed to get a 3 day camping/diving trip to Mona as part of the itinerary - WOOHOO! I can't wait. The next 7 weeks are going to drive me crazy. Have a great trip and let us know how the Mofongo and Tostones are :)

-Frank

Yo Punk, My lady found out that there is some pretty good diving in Culebra. I need you to tell me what dive operation you dove with and what kind of diving I can expect. What are the main attractions underwater there ? Any big animals ? Let me know as soon as you can. My lady was at a banquet from work tonight and she got some pretty good info regarding Culebra. She came back pumped up about it. :jump013: :bogey: Tell me about the prices too. You can call me too if you want, 773-262-5862. What ever you do, get back to me please. Thanx, Good Diving & Good Viz

[scuba-punk]

I can't even remember prices, it's been a while. If I remember correctly, there was only one dive shop Culebra Divers (www.culebradivers.com).

Google Searching...

It looks like their price is $85 for a 2-tanker. Some of the shops in Fajardo will take you out, but most of them start at $100 a day for 'local' reefs and the Culebra Trips are more expensive. As far as animals go, big Spotted Eagle Rays and Atlantic Spadefish. Fish and coral health were the big pluses for me! Even snorkeling at Flamenco Beach was very cool. Lots of small coral heads that are loaded with fish. We even saw a turtle while snorkeling at the beach.

-Frank

[Scubadude]

I can't even remember prices, it's been a while. If I remember correctly, there was only one dive shop Culebra Divers (www.culebradivers.com).

Google Searching...

It looks like their price is $85 for a 2-tanker. Some of the shops in Fajardo will take you out, but most of them start at $100 a day for 'local' reefs and the Culebra Trips are more expensive. As far as animals go, big Spotted Eagle Rays and Atlantic Spadefish. Fish and coral health were the big pluses for me! Even snorkeling at Flamenco Beach was very cool. Lots of small coral heads that are loaded with fish. We even saw a turtle while snorkeling at the beach.

-Frank

Hey Yo !, What's up ? Thanx for that info. I found a website that is called Culebra.org. Very informative. I also found the website to Culebra Divers. Not bad prices, considering. Like you stated in your response to me, $85.00 a day for a 2 tank boat trip. We're going for it. Now it looks like we are going to dive more than we anticipated. Great ! :jump013: I'm glad that my lady thought of it. Now we can do a day of diving there, or 2. Then go west and dive Mona & Desecheo. Thanx again for the quick response and info. Bro. I'll have a shot & beer in your name. :beerchug: Good Divin & Good Viz, George