Snorkeling in Vieques Puerto Rico with Golden Heron by motorboat

Underwater greetings! Queen Angelfish and Squirrelfish Photos: Rumi

Golden Heron Ecotours offers The 'Secret Reefs of Vieques' motorboat snorkeling trip. Miles of pristine coastline with no houses, gorgeous, otherwise inaccessible, beaches. Reefs that bloom with sea fan gardens.

Snorkeling in Vieques has it's own unique encounters. You never know what you will find on any given day, but meeting a Queen Angelfish is not hard to do! Rarely in the West Indies will you find Gorgonian forests ( soft corals) in such profusion. Very beautiful, swaying the in the underwater swells.

Some of the last of the Staghorn and Elkhorn corals can easily be seen as well. But not near shore, you need to get to the offshore reefs by boat.

French Angelfish, very elusive but still around! Photo: Rumi

Snorkeling on your own? The leeward side of Mosquito Pier on the north shore (starting a third of the way out, from the beach, many starfish) and Green Beach ( all the way left and out) are relatively safe and easily accessible places to snorkel. These are not the reputed Gorgonian forests, but very interesting snorkeling, all the same.

Elkhorn or Staghorn coral is on the endangered species list and can be seen offshore Vieques

Endangered Species List includes Elkhorn & Staghorn Corals.

Snorkeling Trips:

Golden Heron Ecotours offers PRIVATE boat explorations.

• Elena and Golden Heron Ecotours offers a wonderful snorkeling trip by motorboat to three great spots for experienced snorkelers who are looking for something really special. ( beginners are welcome as well). The trip lasts 6 hours and visits three or four snorkel spots, an exotic beach and lovely scenic views of the coastline of Vieques. Sea Fan Photos. This is a private trip (for up to 6 persons) sorry, it is not possible to match people up! We do this trip usually with 2 or 4 people. Meet other visitors and get them to co-ordinate with you!

Or call Elena to work something out for 2 people, hidden reefs but no boat. Tel. 787-426-0979

Snorkeling Tips:

It is important to understand that no rented mask will fit you as well and be as useful to you as one that you buy yourself and bring with you. ... If you are sure you will never use one again then rent one here in Vieques.

If you wear prescription glasses then it will be difficult to see the corals and fish with a rented mask. You can order a mask made with your prescription in it ( before you come) that will enable you to see well underwater. The alternative to that is to use contact lenses.. . bring them with you.

If you have a mustache the mask is going to leak, some divers use Vaseline on their mustache to make a tighter seal. Men who dive a lot and have mustaches sometimes shave just under the nose to make a tighter fit.

Clean your mask out with a strong detergent or toothpaste to prevent it from fogging up.

More important than any other advice: If your snorkel gets water in it or anything at all makes you panic. Take your snorkel out of you mouth. Take it out! Breathe without it then put it back on!

Snorkeling equipment rental for about $12. per 24 hr day including mask, snorkel and fins. Blue Carib in Esperanza and Blackbeards in Isabel II.

San Juan Photographer Clay Humphrey

Golden Heron Ecotours offers The 'Secret Reefs of Vieques' motorboat snorkeling trip.