Puerto Rico's 3500 square miles are surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. The warm beaches around the island include some excellent locations to view coral reefs and the wide variety of colorful tropical fish which thrive in the protection afforded by the coral reefs.
In the San Juan metropolitan area, a favorite diving area is near the Condado section where many of the tourist hotels are located. The eastern coast boasts excellent coral reef formations both along the coast and in nearby islets. Seasoned divers, however, prefer the depths of the western coast, which is said to have the most abundant marine life anywhere in the Caribbean as well as some of the most exciting coral reef formations. In all, coral reefs are present in around 75 miles of beaches, roughly 20 percent of the island's coastline.
The nearby island of Mona also has some excellent coral reefs.
Guided tours are available through many travel agents and the front desk of major hotels and resorts. Divers must present valid diving licenses in order to participate in tours and/or rent scuba diving equipment.
Coral reefs are living organisms. Their continued existence depends upon being left to themselves in their growth processes which span centuries. Destruction of a small part of a coral reef may cause irreparable damage to the living organism. There are severe fines and penalties for willful destruction of the island's coral reefs, which are protected under both Commonwealth and Federal legislation.
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