Blue Beach (La Chiva)

Overview

Blue Beach (Playa La Chiva) on Vieques is a dive and snorkel site inside the Vieques National Wildlife Refuge, which lists it among the beaches open to visitors. Heads up: munitions were found on and around Cayo La Chiva, the cay off the beach; EPA reports a removal action completed in 2017, but another source says the cay is off-limits because of unexploded ordnance. Calm water with seagrass patches suits first-time snorkelers, with healthy reef a 7–10 minute swim out and sea turtles along the east edge of the cove. Watch for sea urchins, wind-driven currents and strong surf in some spots, and take care in this turtle nesting area. There are gazebos and parking; a 2017 article said a 4x4 is preferable.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]}

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Heads up: sea urchins · Current · strong surf in some spots · sea-turtle nesting area – take care · unexploded ordnance reported in 2013 in the waters around Isla Chiva; vessels are cautioned not to transit or anchor around Isla Chiva. See safety notes

Habitat & marine life

• shallow water; reef across the beach about 7–10 minutes' swim out; seagrass that may hide young coral^[5]
• sea turtles and rays may be seen^[9]

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

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Access

• Shore dive^[5][3]
• beach access with gazebos and parking^[4]
• in the wildlife refuge; a 4x4 vehicle is preferable to get there (2017)^[8]
• La Chiva Key (cay offshore) off-limits because of UXO risk^[3]
• munitions found on and around Cayo La Chiva; removal action completed 2017^[2]
• La Chiva Beach named among refuge beaches open to visitors^[1]

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Recent diver reports

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First-hand reports from divers, reviewed before they appear. Conditions change daily; a report describes one day.

Safety considerations

• sea urchins^[5]
• Current — currents depend on wind^[5]
• strong surf in some spots^[7]
• sea-turtle nesting area – take care^[8]
• unexploded ordnance reported in 2013 in the waters around Isla Chiva; vessels are cautioned not to transit or anchor around Isla Chiva — U.S. Coast Pilot 5, ch. 13, para. 333 (11 Oct 2026 edition)^[10]

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

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Protected area

• Vieques National Wildlife Refuge (Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre de Vieques)

  National Wildlife Refuge · U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Reported by a source as within this area^[11]

  NOAA's MPA Inventory classifies this area's protection level as "Uniform Multiple Use"; fishing: no site restrictions.^[12]

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

See also

Straight-line distance only — not travel time, and not necessarily reached from the same departure point.

• Playa Caracas (Red Beach) — 2.2 mi
• Playa Media Luna (Vieques) — 5.1 mi
• Playa Esperanza (Vieques) — 6.0 mi
• Cayo Afuera — 6.1 mi
• Mosquito Pier — 9.3 mi
• Punta Arenas (Green Beach) — 13 mi