Mona, Mayagüez
Isla de Mona and Monito
About 45.7 miles off the west coast. An overview of the area's sites.
- Depth
- Not published
- Entry
- Liveaboard
- In practice a liveaboard, or a DRNA-permitted camping trip. Monito is off-limits to everyone except DRNA-authorized researchers (DRNA)
- Level
- Advanced or experienced divers
- Intermediate to advanced; strong currents and large animals (PADI blog)
- Visibility
- Often 30 m (100 ft) (PADI blog)
- Less than 50 to more than 100 ft (Undercurrent reader review)
- Current
- Strong currents (PADI blog)
- Water
- 79 to 81°F, a 3 mm suit (autumn 2022) (Undercurrent reader review)
What's down there
- One diver's report, 2022: hard corals "long dead and covered in seaweed", few snappers or grunts, large pelagics rated 1 of 5 (Undercurrent reader review)
Marine life
Named sites
- Carabinero Wall
- Isthmus: Dramatic vertical structures (PADI blog)
- Boquerón Reef: A variety of colorful corals (PADI blog)
- Cathedral: Cavern-like swim-throughs (PADI blog)
- Also named, with no details published: Cul de Sac, Aquarium, Southern Pride, John's Playground (Monito) (Undercurrent reader review)
Reserve and rules
Inside the Isla de Mona and Monito Natural Reserve. Damaging coral, anchoring off the buoys, or fishing or diving in a reserve without the DRNA Secretary's authorization can cost $500 to $10,000 a violation (Law 147).
- No spearguns, nets, traps or longlines anywhere in the reserve; hook-and-line fishing only from shore in two zones (DRNA Fishing Regulation)
- Spearfishing gear is held by DRNA staff at Sardinera (DRNA)
Who dives it
- Juliet Sailing and Diving, Liveaboard Not verified
- Juliet visits for one to two weeks during its fall and spring repositioning; Nekton, which ran November to January trips, is out of business (Undercurrent reader review)
- Acampa Nature Adventures offered camping trips in 2018; whether it still does is unconfirmed (Metro Puerto Rico)
In the 787daily Guide: Mona Island / Mona Passage, with today's conditions.
Sources
Sources (6)
- DRNA, Isla de Mona (opens in a new tab), official, no date; checked Oct 18, 2026
- DRNA, camping on Mona (opens in a new tab), official, no date; checked Oct 18, 2026
- DRNA Fishing Regulation (Reg. 7949) (opens in a new tab), official, Nov 2010
- PADI blog (opens in a new tab), press, Feb 11, 2026
- Undercurrent reader review (opens in a new tab), dive log or listing, Dec 2022
- Metro Puerto Rico (opens in a new tab), press, Feb 1, 2018
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