INTRODUCTION
SHELTER
FOOD & DRINK
TRANSPORT
TO DO
MAPS
FORVM
SEARCH
POST NEW TOPIC
Puerto Rico

The current weather in Culebra

RSS feed
New Topic  |  Go to Top  |  Go to Topic  |  Search  |  Log In Newer Topic  |  Older Topic
Diving on Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Debbie (---.asm.bellsouth.net)
Date:   01-26-04 19:28

There seems to be a lot of unanswered questions here about diving in Culebra. It's one my favorite dive locations. My husband and I have been there six times since 2000, and have done over 80 dives with Monika and Walter of Culebra Divers, the last ones just a few weeks ago in January, 2004. We love the island, and are homesick for it. One day we hope to live there.

When choosing a dive shop, please ask: how long have you been operating? what's your safety record? how many dives have you done in these waters? You will find that Culebra Divers has the most experience, a clean safety record, and thousands of dives in Culebra's waters. Walter is an excellent Divemaster, and Miguel is also wonderful to dive with. Walter and Miguel are extremely attentive and patient with new divers, and for experienced divers, if you prefer to do your own thing, they are perfectly happy to enjoy their dives and let you do your own profile, as long as you stay in a loose group and within sight.

Walter taught me to shoot (pictures that is), and helped me to find many hidden creatures on the reef. He loves finding stuff, and is great about camoflauged characters and tiny creatures. He carries this huge-a$$ light that throws so much light on the reef you can't believe it. He quickly figures out what his divers want to see (sharks and turtles or camoflauged or tiny creatures), and finds them all. Okay, well maybe not sharks and turtles on every dive, but he aims to please.

Please check out my website - http://www.debalew.com for underwater pictures. There are none from our January trip because we flooded our newly-housed digital camera. This will give you an idea of the diversity of the reefs there. There are also some topside photos.

The reefs are in excellent shape - very few divers here, and some areas are protected no-fishing zones. The reefs are healthy, and soft corals are abundant. I am always going on to Walter about the yellow sea fans. I've not seen yellow sea fans anywhere else in the Caribbean, yet they are abundant and huge in Culebra. Orange cup coral is also abundant - you'd think you were in Bonaire there's so much of it. When the current is ripping, it's "blooming" and is beautiful! One my other favorite subjects is blue bell tunicates. You'll find way more pictures of them than anything else in my shots, I suppose. I don't know what it is that fascinates me about the blue bell tunicates, but I love 'em.

I also wrote a "trip report" for Rodales last year. See: http://dive.scubadiving.com/members/tripreports.php?s=1846
It contains a little bit of information about everything Culebra. I hope you find it useful. The Rodale's forum is also a good place to ask scuba related questions about Culebra (although they may all refer you to me - ha! ha!). There are about a 1/2 dozen people who frequent Rodale's that have dived in Culebra.

Please feel free to e-mail me with specific questions.

Happy Diving!
Debbie

Reply To This Message
Re: Diving on Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Diane (---.112.113.3.stc.mn.charter.com)
Date:   01-26-04 19:39

Interesting report and fascinating pictures. Which would you say has better diving and snorkeling, Culebra or Bonaire? Can you give us some comparisons. Thank you.

Reply To This Message
Re: Diving on Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Debbie (---.asm.bellsouth.net)
Date:   01-26-04 20:04

I love Culebra for the healthy reefs. The visibility is not always the greatest, but I love the effect of the swaying sea fans, sea plumes, and octorals (which I affectionately call "cat tails") in the current. I have experienced many firsts in Culebra - maybe because I dive there so much - I've seen eagle rays, dolphins rare fish (shy hamlet), squid, and my favorite find, a sailfin blenny (now I know the trick to getting a picture of one, and I'll probably never see one again!). I have also heard whale songs while underwater, and I have seen fingerprint cyphomas and other things I'm too lazy to look up tonight. Diving with Walter is a treat in itself - he knows the waters so well, you feel like you're in his back yard.

I love Bonaire (been there twice) for the freedom of diving whenever the heck you want to. My husband and I like to sleep late (which is fairly impossible to do in the Caribbean), and being able to have breakfast at 10:00, go diving at 11:00 am, 2:00pm (heck, 2:00 am!) - whenever you want, is very appealing. And then Bonaire has such awesome visibility, it's stunning. In Bonaire, you are only responsible to yourself, which may be dangerous for less experienced divers, but it's nice to drop down on a reef where there aren't hoards of divers diving the same time you are.

(I wrote a trip report about Bonaire on Rodale's, too - this is probably not the place for it, but since you're interested: http://dive.scubadiving.com/members/tripreports.php?s=1778

I see you love Culebra as well - the feeling never subsides - we find ourselves returning there more and more often and forgetting there are other places in the world to visit!

Take care.

Happy Diving!
Debbie

Reply To This Message
Re: Diving on Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Diane (---.112.113.3.stc.mn.charter.com)
Date:   01-27-04 10:09

Thanks Debbie. I enjoyed reading your trip report. I extensively researched Bonaire and had actually planned on vacationing there. I'm not sure when or where I came across Culebra, but plans quickly changed. I think Culebra was more appealing for my husband, as it wasn't quite as long a trip. Our three flights were delayed on the way home, so it would have been the same. The gorgeous beaches swayed us, with 3 girls interesting in catching some rays. We in Mn are sunlight deficient for about 5 months a year. I found the lack of crime particularly appealing. On Culebra we were the only ones on most of the beaches, and we never worried. I thought my husband may want to fish, and couldn't do that off Bonaire. I was interested in eating fresh seafood, rather than having it shipped in. Your pictures are the most beautiful I have EVER seen. You are truly gifted, not only in taking pictures, but in what you have seen thus far. You must have chuckled when reading how excited I was about the camera bag, I sure did. :) I wish I could dive, I'm just not that comfortable in the water. I tend to hyperventilate over everything I see. I found the snorkeling about as exciting as I can handle. We did it every day, even while it was drizzling, I couldn't get enough. I love to visit and experience different parts of this beautiful planet. I so fell in love with Bonaire, I really hope to go back.

Reply To This Message
Re: Diving on Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Debbie (---.asm.bellsouth.net)
Date:   01-27-04 18:30

If you are truly interested in diving, if/when you return to Culebra, you might consider doing an "Intro to Scuba" class with Walter. He is the most patient person I know, and he won't let you hyperventilate. He has some hallucinating, calming effect on people who are a little nervous. It's just an afternoon at Soldier's Point - less than 30 feet, so it's not so dangerous. We often accompany him on these Intro dives (to get maximum dive time). We go off and do our own thing while he works with the students. When we get back on the boat, it's fascinating to hear and see the enthusiastic reactions of the students. Walter also does afternoon snorkeling trips to the reefs that aren't easily accessible from land - you'll find they are healthier than the ones you are snorkeling from shore.

Thanks for the compliments! When you love something, it shows!

Take care.

Happy Diving!
Debbie

Reply To This Message
Re: Diving on Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Diane (---.112.113.3.stc.mn.charter.com)
Date:   01-28-04 20:41

Thanks Debbie, I'll remember that!

Reply To This Message
Re: Diving on Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: michelle (---.res.east.verizon.net)
Date:   08-15-04 17:45

I know this is an old posting, but thought I'd reply for any newcomers. I cannot comment about Culebra divers, I know nothing about them. However, my husband & I were there in May '04 and went out two days with Culebra Dive shop. My husband was already certified and I took a resort course - which I will say was extremely thorough! Taz is so fantastic and had an extremely calming effect on me. He actually held my hand on my dive following the resort course. He's an absolute angel. We were so impressed with everybody there that I'm doing my classwork back here in the states and then returning in Feb '05 so that Taz can certify me. Can't imagine doing this anywhere else.
Jeff is very knowledgable about Culebra, the reefs, the water and people in general - just a wealth of knowledge and also a really great guy! Definitely check them out!!

Reply To This Message
Re: Diving on Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Donna (---.ne.client2.attbi.com)
Date:   08-27-04 14:19

I am planning a trip last week of September. Anyone have any experience of the weather at that time of year? Also, any recommendations on lodging would be great, too.

Reply To This Message
Threaded View Newer Topic  |  Older Topic