Cayo Diablo

Overview

Cayo Diablo is an uninhabited cay off Fajardo with several boat-dive sites around it, nicknamed Turtle Town for its sea turtles. Star coral mounds with swim-through channels attract barracuda and eagle rays, and a regular moderate current runs here; operators rate it intermediate to advanced. Sources differ on depth: a 1998 guide gave 20–35 ft, while recent dive logs report deeper typical depths. It lies within Arrecifes de la Cordillera Natural Reserve; check current DRNA rules.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Site characteristics

• Reef^[1]

Habitat & marine life

• star coral mounds with swim-through channels^[3]
• Aggregate reef (Middle-Shelf) at station 'Cayo Diablo (1999)'^[6]
• Aggregate reef (Middle-Shelf) at station 'Cayo Diablo (2016)'^[6]
• barracuda^[1]
• eagle rays^[1]
• sea turtles^[2]

Marine life is what sources report having seen or commonly seeing — not a guarantee.

Access

• Boat dive^[1][2]
• most remote Fajardo reef, under 20 min by boat^[1]
• 30-40 min boat ride^[3]

Experience & conditions

• Aqua Adventure (Fajardo/San Juan operator; also scubapuertorico.net): “operator: intermediate to advanced”^[1]

Attributed descriptions from sources, not our rating. Conditions vary; your training, experience and the day’s conditions decide.

Safety considerations

• Current — regular moderate current^[1]

Ocean conditions change daily. Dive within your training, plan with current local information and consider a local professional guide. Full safety note.

Protected area

• Arrecifes de la Cordillera Natural Reserve (Reserva Natural Arrecifes de la Cordillera)

  Natural Reserve · Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources · Site position falls inside the official boundary^[5]

  NOAA's MPA Inventory classifies this area's protection level as "Uniform Multiple Use"; fishing: no site restrictions. Anchoring: restricted.^[5]

Regulations change. Check with DRNA (Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales) before diving.

Depth reports by source