Isla Cardona
Also known as: Cayo Cardona · Isla Sor Isolina Ferré · Isla de Cardona · Arrecife Cardona
Snorkel spotFrom Puerto Rico Dive Sites, the sourced field guide
Isla Cardona
| Region | Ponce & South Coast |
|---|---|
| Municipality | Ponce |
| Island | Isla Cardona |
| Access | Boat dive |
| Site type | Not established |
| Depth (reported range) | Unknown |
| Snorkel | Snorkel-friendly |
| Location | Pinned on location: a DRNA mooring buoy at the site.Location evidence: Official GIS[4] |
| Confidence | Moderate confidence |
| Last researched | 2026-10-17 |
Overview
Isla Cardona is a small cay at the entrance to the Port of Ponce and a snorkel spot reached by boat, about five minutes from the La Guancha boardwalk (2025). The cay is administered by DRNA, and entry to its 1889 lighthouse is prohibited because of storm damage; recent hurricanes have reduced the cay to about 6 acres. A coral reef surrounds it, calming the waves and forming a natural pool. A 2025 newspaper article says the reef invites 'buceo' (diving) enthusiasts, and an encyclopedia entry quoting a travel blog says the islet has nice snorkeling.[1][2]
Habitat & marine life
- coral reef surrounds the cay, acting as a natural barrier that calms waves and forms a pool[1]
Marine life is what sources report having seen or commonly seeing — not a guarantee.
Access
- Boat dive[2][1]
- administered by DRNA; 1889 lighthouse (NRHP)[2]
- about 1.3 nmi at the entrance to the Port of Ponce; about 5 minutes by boat from Paseo Tablado La Guancha; about 6 acres, reduced by recent hurricanes[1]
- administered by DRNA; entry to the 1889 lighthouse (NRHP 1981) prohibited because of storm damage[1]
- 2024: Poseidon Marine was running trips to the islet; shore described as fine but needing debris clean-up; lighthouse off-limits since 2021 (collapse risk, exposed rebar)[3]
Snorkeling
- snorkeling: article (quoting a travel blog) says the islet has nice snorkeling[2]
- 'buceo' not specified as scuba or snorkel[1]
What sources say about snorkeling here. Conditions change — check the sea state before you go.
Recent diver reports
Dived here recently? Share a quick report
First-hand reports from divers, reviewed before they appear. Conditions change daily; a report describes one day.
Safety considerations
No site-specific hazards are recorded in our sources. That does not mean there are none.
Ocean conditions change daily. Dive within your training, plan with current local information and consider a local professional guide. Water safety guide.
See also
Straight-line distance only — not travel time, and not necessarily reached from the same departure point.
- Playa Pelícano (Caja de Muertos) — 8.5 mi
- Caja de Muertos Northeast Reef — 9.3 mi
Sources & verification
Last researched: 2026-10-17 · Last independently verified: not yet field-verified · Confidence: Moderate confidence
- 1.Isla Cardona: Un paraíso en Puerto Rico que pocos conocen — Primera Hora (2025-09-12) · Travel resource · Tier 3: Corroborating · accessed 2026-10-12
- 2.Isla Cardona — Wikipedia · Other · Tier 3: Corroborating · accessed 2026-10-11
- 3.Alcaldía de Ponce busca entrar a Isla Cardona para ponerla al día — Periódico La Perla del Sur (2024-03-28) · Other · Tier 3: Corroborating · accessed 2026-10-17
- 4.Noreste Mooring Buoys3_WFL1 (layer pr_mooringbuoys2) - Boyas de Amarre — Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales (DRNA); published on ArcGIS Online by a DRNA Northeast Ecological Corridor reserve management officer (2021-06-10) · Government dataset · Tier 1: Primary / authoritative · accessed 2026-10-17
- 5.Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) — Domestic Names, Puerto Rico — U.S. Geological Survey (2026-08-28) · Government dataset · Tier 1: Primary / authoritative · accessed 2026-10-17
Facts are summarised in our own words from the sources above; we do not reproduce operators’ or publishers’ descriptions. How confidence is assigned.