On the Water · Today
Today’s call for every spot, from NOAA buoys where one reports and the Open-Meteo marine forecast where none does, with the need-to-know for each spot and links to the official NOAA, NWS and Tides & Currents pages.
NWS San Juan listed no active alerts for Puerto Rico at 12:02 AM AST.
Best for dive and snorkel: 9 of 16 spots good, 3 fair.
From NOAA buoys and the Open-Meteo marine forecast, read 12:02 AM AST.
| Today | Tomorrow | Saturday | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surf | Fair1 good · 12 fair | Fair3 good · 9 fair | Fair3 good · 9 fair |
| Dive and snorkel | Good9 good · 3 fair · 4 poor | Good6 good · 3 fair · 7 poor | Fair4 good · 5 fair · 7 poor |
| Kite and windsurf | Poor8 poor | Fair7 fair · 1 poor | Fair6 fair · 2 poor |
Swell and wind off San Juan, hour by hour, from the Open-Meteo forecast.
The National Weather Service's rip-current risk for each stretch of beach, today and tomorrow, in its own words, and the UV index.
The NWS's rip-current forecast is not in hand right now. It is on NWS San Juan's beach page.
Today's rip-current risk is on NWS San Juan's surf zone forecast andbeach page, the marine advisories on its marine page, and the UV index on NOAA's UV forecast.
NOAA's experimental daily rating of the seaweed within 50 to 100 km of the shore, regional and coarse: not a report from any beach. Levels: low, warning, medium, high. NOAA AOML and USF · USF's monthly Caribbean outlook
Pick an activity to focus the list and the map, or select a marker to jump to its spot, then tap a spot in the list below.
San Juan
Water advisoryBeach water
From USGS river gauges, not a water test. This week's beach water tests
Surf breaks at La Ocho, Pine Grove and Condado face the open Atlantic and are at their best from November to March. The calmer inside spots are where surf schools start beginners.
East
Water advisoryBeach water
A run of beach breaks along the coast road east of San Juan, past the Piñones mangrove lagoon. Swell from the north and northeast throws fast, hollow waves close to shore, and the coast stays quieter than the city beaches.
North
Water advisoryBeach water
From USGS river gauges, not a water test. This week's beach water tests
Reef and beach breaks along Dorado's resort coast. The sheltered bays are calmer for beginners; the open points catch winter swell from the north and northeast.
North
Water advisoryBeach water
From USGS river gauges, not a water test. This week's beach water tests
Mar Chiquita is a horseshoe-shaped cove behind a gap in the rock, calm enough to swim in. Nearby Punta Palmas has reef breaks when swell comes from the north and northeast.
North
Water advisoryBeach water
From USGS river gauges, not a water test. This week's beach water tests
Arecibo's coast faces the open Atlantic: steady winter swell from the north and northeast breaks over sand and limestone reef, best from November to March, when the trade winds blow 15–22 knots.
West
Water advisoryBeach water
Two well-known surf spots side by side in Isabela: Jobos, with powerful waves close to shore, and Shacks, a reef break. When the trade winds blow, Shacks is also a kitesurfing spot for experienced riders.
West
Water advisoryBeach water
From USGS river gauges, not a water test. This week's beach water tests
Surf all year at a string of beach and reef breaks. Crash Boat, in the bay, is a favorite shore dive and snorkel when the sea is calm, with 40–60 ft of visibility.
West
Water advisoryBeach water
The surf town on Puerto Rico's western tip, where winter swell from the north to northwest wraps in from November to March. Experienced kitesurfers ride Little Malibu, on the north side of town, in northeast winds.
East
Water advisoryBeach water
From USGS river gauges, not a water test. This week's beach water tests
Reef-sheltered coves off Palmas del Mar give calm dive sites with 40–60 ft of visibility all year; the open points catch 2–5 ft of winter swell from the northeast for surfing, November to March.
Culebra
Water advisoryBeach water
Culebra's reefs are clearest from May to August. Playa Tamarindo, just west of Flamenco, lies inside the Luis Peña Channel Natural Reserve, a no-fishing marine reserve between Culebra and Cayo Luis Peña, and is the island's best-known snorkel; Flamenco is the famous swimming beach. Small surf breaks at Zoni and other exposed shores.
West
Water advisoryBeach water
A marine reserve off Steps Beach in Rincón that protects a large stand of elkhorn coral. In flat summer seas it is a snorkel and shallow-dive site; in winter the same reef throws Rincón's big-wave break.
West
Water advisoryBeach water
From USGS river gauges, not a water test. This week's beach water tests
Wilderness Beach is a secluded beach with amazing cliffs and old Spanish ruins, offering a surfing spot and parking area. Its location, once part of the Ramey Military base, provides an escape from crowds. The beach is accessible by 4X4 vehicles on rainy days.
West
Water advisoryBeach water
Playa Domes is a beach in Rincón known for big wave surfing during the winter, with facilities including parking, restrooms, and a place to eat or drink. It offers multiple viewpoints and is also known as Lighthouse Beach.
West
Water advisoryBeach water
From USGS river gauges, not a water test. This week's beach water tests
Surf all year at a string of beach and reef breaks. Crash Boat, in the bay, is a favorite shore dive and snorkel when the sea is calm, with 40–60 ft of visibility.
West
Water advisoryBeach water
From USGS river gauges, not a water test. This week's beach water tests
A west-coast port city with calm dive sites along the edge of the island shelf, sheltered from the trade winds, and a starting point for boat trips to Desecheo.
West
Water advisoryBeach water
An uninhabited island off the west coast, now a U.S. Fish & Wildlife refuge. The island itself is closed to visitors because of old military ordnance; dives and snorkels stay in the water around it, with 80–100 ft of visibility and sharks, rays and turtles. Day trips leave from Rincón and Aguadilla.
West
Water advisoryBeach water
A remote, uninhabited island in the Mona Passage, protected as a nature reserve by Puerto Rico's natural resources department (DRNA), with 100–150 ft of visibility, sharks, sea turtles and untouched coral. You get there by private boat or on a licensed trip from Cabo Rojo; landing and camping need a DRNA permit, and camping is allowed May to November.
Southwest
Water advisoryBeach water
Puerto Rico's southwest corner: clear, shallow flats and reefs off Buyé and El Combate for snorkeling and first dives, and the flat water of Boquerón Bay, between them, where beginners learn to kite.
Southwest
Water advisoryBeach water
Wall diving where the southwest shelf drops off, with 60–80 ft of visibility. La Parguera's bioluminescent bay glows fainter than the bays in Vieques and Fajardo, but it is the only one of the three where tours let you swim; rules change, so check with the operator.
Southwest
Water advisoryBeach water
From USGS river gauges, not a water test. This week's beach water tests
Calm, clear snorkeling around the mangrove cays of Guánica's protected bay. Gilligan's Island (Cayo Aurora) has shallow reefs; travel guides report its public ferry has not run since the 2020 earthquakes, so people reach it by kayak rented along PR-333. Check before you go.
South
Water advisoryBeach water
The south coast's largest city has a working marina and boats out to dive sites on the southern shelf; boats to Caja de Muertos leave from the La Guancha boardwalk. The water on this coast is calm enough to dive most of the year.
East
Water advisoryBeach water
From USGS river gauges, not a water test. This week's beach water tests
Yabucoa sits on the southeast corner, where the Atlantic meets the Caribbean. Small boat ramps give access to dive sites offshore, clearest from June to September, with 40–60 ft of visibility.
East
Water advisoryBeach water
From USGS river gauges, not a water test. This week's beach water tests
Reef-sheltered coves off Palmas del Mar give calm dive sites with 40–60 ft of visibility all year; the open points catch 2–5 ft of winter swell from the northeast for surfing, November to March.
Vieques
Water advisoryBeach water
Esperanza, on Vieques' south shore, is the base for the island's reefs and for tours of Mosquito Bay, the bioluminescent bay. Kiters launch at Bahía La Chiva (Blue Beach) and near Mosquito Pier.
Culebra
Water advisoryBeach water
Culebra's reefs are clearest from May to August. Playa Tamarindo, just west of Flamenco, lies inside the Luis Peña Channel Natural Reserve, a no-fishing marine reserve between Culebra and Cayo Luis Peña, and is the island's best-known snorkel; Flamenco is the famous swimming beach. Small surf breaks at Zoni and other exposed shores.
San Juan
Water advisoryBeach water
From USGS river gauges, not a water test. This week's beach water tests
An easy shore dive in the middle of San Juan: a protected reef with old ruins, entered from the beach. Coral ledges, seagrass and plenty of fish lie a short swim out; dive schools train here and snorkelers come on calm days.
West
Water advisoryBeach water
A marine reserve off Steps Beach in Rincón that protects a large stand of elkhorn coral. In flat summer seas it is a snorkel and shallow-dive site; in winter the same reef throws Rincón's big-wave break.
East
Water advisoryBeach water
From USGS river gauges, not a water test. This week's beach water tests
The cays and reefs off Fajardo (Icacos, Diablo, Lobos and Palomino) make up La Cordillera Nature Reserve: clear water, shallow coral and sea turtles, reached by boat.
South
Water advisoryBeach water
An uninhabited island nature reserve about five miles off Ponce, ringed by reef. Boats leave from the La Guancha boardwalk in Ponce, and dive trips reach coral walls and gardens in clear, warm water.
West
Water advisoryBeach water
Two well-known surf spots side by side in Isabela: Jobos, with powerful waves close to shore, and Shacks, a reef break. When the trade winds blow, Shacks is also a kitesurfing spot for experienced riders.
West
Water advisoryBeach water
The surf town on Puerto Rico's western tip, where winter swell from the north to northwest wraps in from November to March. Experienced kitesurfers ride Little Malibu, on the north side of town, in northeast winds.
Southwest
Water advisoryBeach water
Puerto Rico's southwest corner: clear, shallow flats and reefs off Buyé and El Combate for snorkeling and first dives, and the flat water of Boquerón Bay, between them, where beginners learn to kite.
South
Water advisoryBeach water
Salinas harbor and its broad, sheltered bay have flat water and steady trade winds from the east-southeast, and the harbor is a popular weekend stop for boaters.
South
Water advisoryBeach water
From USGS river gauges, not a water test. This week's beach water tests
The southeast coast between Guayama and Patillas catches strong trade winds over open water. Kiters launch at Punta Pozuelo in Guayama and at Punta Guilarte in Arroyo, between the two towns.
East
Water advisoryBeach water
From USGS river gauges, not a water test. This week's beach water tests
Las Croabas, on Fajardo's northeast shore, is where the kayak tours to the Laguna Grande bioluminescent lagoon start, and the trade winds blow steadiest here from November to April. Ferries to Vieques and Culebra leave from Ceiba, to the south.
Vieques
Water advisoryBeach water
Esperanza, on Vieques' south shore, is the base for the island's reefs and for tours of Mosquito Bay, the bioluminescent bay. Kiters launch at Bahía La Chiva (Blue Beach) and near Mosquito Pier.
San Juan
Water advisoryBeach water
From USGS river gauges, not a water test. This week's beach water tests
San Juan's most popular kitesurfing launch: riders rig on the grass at Punta Las Marías and launch from a sandy beach, with a long reef about half a mile out that breaks in winter swell. Keep clear of the marked swimming areas.
San Juan
Water advisoryBeach water
From USGS river gauges, not a water test. This week's beach water tests
Surf breaks at La Ocho, Pine Grove and Condado face the open Atlantic and are at their best from November to March. The calmer inside spots are where surf schools start beginners.
North
Water advisoryBeach water
From USGS river gauges, not a water test. This week's beach water tests
Arecibo's coast faces the open Atlantic: steady winter swell from the north and northeast breaks over sand and limestone reef, best from November to March, when the trade winds blow 15–22 knots.
West
Water advisoryBeach water
From USGS river gauges, not a water test. This week's beach water tests
A west-coast port city with calm dive sites along the edge of the island shelf, sheltered from the trade winds, and a starting point for boat trips to Desecheo.
South
Water advisoryBeach water
The south coast's largest city has a working marina and boats out to dive sites on the southern shelf; boats to Caja de Muertos leave from the La Guancha boardwalk. The water on this coast is calm enough to dive most of the year.
East
Water advisoryBeach water
From USGS river gauges, not a water test. This week's beach water tests
Yabucoa sits on the southeast corner, where the Atlantic meets the Caribbean. Small boat ramps give access to dive sites offshore, clearest from June to September, with 40–60 ft of visibility.
East
Water advisoryBeach water
From USGS river gauges, not a water test. This week's beach water tests
Las Croabas, on Fajardo's northeast shore, is where the kayak tours to the Laguna Grande bioluminescent lagoon start, and the trade winds blow steadiest here from November to April. Ferries to Vieques and Culebra leave from Ceiba, to the south.
Live · Our camera
Across the rooftops of Guaynabo to the green ridgeline on the horizon. Cloud stacking up over the ridgeline through the afternoon, which is usually the rain arriving before the forecast admits it.
Daylight in Guaynabo 6:26 AM – 5:50 PM ASTNight view until 6:26 AM AST: the ridgelines go to silhouette
Our own camera in Guaynabo. It drops out now and then.
Weather data by Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0)
