Puerto Rico 2006

Anemonebuff · 08/26/2006, 06:10 PM

I just returned from P.R. two days ago and my yearly accessment is in.

I give a postitive accessment of PR's oceanlife. First I start at Jobos beach,Isabela, P.R..
It is a shallow area(2'-10') for the most part. The shallows contained more life than the last few years. I saw numerous sea hares, bristle worms, serpent/brittle stars, pistol shrimp with curlycue anemones, and nudibranchs. More than the past five years. We also encountered a mantis shrimp, which is a first for me in the nine years of going to PR, particularly at Jobos Beach. The corals at Playa Jobos look exactly the same as years past, although there was a slight regression in 08/2004.

My accessment of "Heaven"(the Shacks,P.R.) is the best yet(I have been snorkeling there for 6 years now). The area begins with shallows like Jobos. However, it hits a reef wall about 200 Feet from shore that then has a drop off up to 30 feet(initially) with numerous caves. When you cross the second reef wall it drops off to Davey Jone's Locker(Easily deeper than 80 feet). The first protected reef zone was amazing. It was a collection of the most sea fans I have ever seen, as well as S.helianthus anemones. Orange fire corals were abundant too. Mixed in were giant heads of brain corals and huge clusters of porites. They were also infested with Christmas Tree worms. We also found some mantis shrimps as well. There were also impressive heads of Elkhorn corals. When the divers came I had asked them about the reef and they said it was doing very well, with numerous visits from a manatee that frequents the area, which they believe may be pregnant now. I was very impressed.

Then there was "Crash Boat" beach in Aguadilla, P.R. I have recommended this beach to others over the years due to the good reports I had received over time, even though I have never been there before. It was a very nice beach with the best collection of sponges I have ever seen in my life. It is a beach that deepens quickly and is seperated by a pier that is broken to pieces. My son and I snorkeled along the pier and found a collection the most diverse and colorful sponges I have ever seen. Some of the the vase sponges had holes up to three feet in diameter. It was amazing. One even had a moray eel living in it's recesses. It was surounded by file fish and blennies, as well as jacks and hogfish. The divers said that there are also many seahorses along the deeper areas of the pier's posts.

Now if snorkeling or diving is not your pleasure, Crash Boat is the place to go(on the N/W end of P.R.). The beach is clean, food is readily accessable(alcohol as well), and you can jump/dive off the pier into the deeper water. It was loads of fun! The kids loved it......and so did I!!!!

Then there is Lajas/Biolumenescent bay(S/W end of the island). We took the night boat ride to biolumenescent bay to see the self lighting dinos. You are taken into the mangroves at about 9:00 P.M. on a twenty passenger boat. After a 15 minute ride they stop the boat and the mate jumps off the boat into the dark water. As he swims there is a trail os glowing dinos. The boat operator then says that we are all invited to join the mate. So, I jump in. It was very cool. Then my nephew and son followed, which made it even better. Unfortunately, it did not show well on the camera. The captain says that even though the dinos are less than they were in the past, they seem to be making a comeback. A few days later I spoke with a guy from the beach and he said that they are now found at some local beaches, which is also a good sign of less polution around the island.

Well, that is my accessment of PR 2006. I am happy to say that things look good overall. Next year we are planning some dives and I'll update that as well.

gman0526 · 08/26/2006, 09:15 PM

I'm really glad that you enjoyed your visit to my little island. Seems like you almost got so see Eric Borneman and the folks from SECORE (www.secore.org), they were here (actually a couple of places you visited) for the annual Elkhorn Coral spawning event, which I'm very sad to say I missed (...yet again

) BTW did you go snorkling, on Crash Boat? There's a couple of reef patches with a good seahorse population, that are great to visit.

Again , glad you enjoyed it and do visit again

Anemonebuff · 08/27/2006, 01:14 PM

Yes, I snorkeled Crash Boat, but I did not see any sea horses.

I will visit every year. My wife's grandfather lives in Isabela and we visit him every year.

08/26/2006, 06:10 PM	#1
Anemonebuff Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: LI,NY Posts: 3,877	Puerto Rico 2006 I just returned from P.R. two days ago and my yearly accessment is in. I give a postitive accessment of PR's oceanlife. First I start at Jobos beach,Isabela, P.R.. It is a shallow area(2'-10') for the most part. The shallows contained more life than the last few years. I saw numerous sea hares, bristle worms, serpent/brittle stars, pistol shrimp with curlycue anemones, and nudibranchs. More than the past five years. We also encountered a mantis shrimp, which is a first for me in the nine years of going to PR, particularly at Jobos Beach. The corals at Playa Jobos look exactly the same as years past, although there was a slight regression in 08/2004. My accessment of "Heaven"(the Shacks,P.R.) is the best yet(I have been snorkeling there for 6 years now). The area begins with shallows like Jobos. However, it hits a reef wall about 200 Feet from shore that then has a drop off up to 30 feet(initially) with numerous caves. When you cross the second reef wall it drops off to Davey Jone's Locker(Easily deeper than 80 feet). The first protected reef zone was amazing. It was a collection of the most sea fans I have ever seen, as well as S.helianthus anemones. Orange fire corals were abundant too. Mixed in were giant heads of brain corals and huge clusters of porites. They were also infested with Christmas Tree worms. We also found some mantis shrimps as well. There were also impressive heads of Elkhorn corals. When the divers came I had asked them about the reef and they said it was doing very well, with numerous visits from a manatee that frequents the area, which they believe may be pregnant now. I was very impressed. Then there was "Crash Boat" beach in Aguadilla, P.R. I have recommended this beach to others over the years due to the good reports I had received over time, even though I have never been there before. It was a very nice beach with the best collection of sponges I have ever seen in my life. It is a beach that deepens quickly and is seperated by a pier that is broken to pieces. My son and I snorkeled along the pier and found a collection the most diverse and colorful sponges I have ever seen. Some of the the vase sponges had holes up to three feet in diameter. It was amazing. One even had a moray eel living in it's recesses. It was surounded by file fish and blennies, as well as jacks and hogfish. The divers said that there are also many seahorses along the deeper areas of the pier's posts. Now if snorkeling or diving is not your pleasure, Crash Boat is the place to go(on the N/W end of P.R.). The beach is clean, food is readily accessable(alcohol as well), and you can jump/dive off the pier into the deeper water. It was loads of fun! The kids loved it......and so did I!!!! Then there is Lajas/Biolumenescent bay(S/W end of the island). We took the night boat ride to biolumenescent bay to see the self lighting dinos. You are taken into the mangroves at about 9:00 P.M. on a twenty passenger boat. After a 15 minute ride they stop the boat and the mate jumps off the boat into the dark water. As he swims there is a trail os glowing dinos. The boat operator then says that we are all invited to join the mate. So, I jump in. It was very cool. Then my nephew and son followed, which made it even better. Unfortunately, it did not show well on the camera. The captain says that even though the dinos are less than they were in the past, they seem to be making a comeback. A few days later I spoke with a guy from the beach and he said that they are now found at some local beaches, which is also a good sign of less polution around the island. Well, that is my accessment of PR 2006. I am happy to say that things look good overall. Next year we are planning some dives and I'll update that as well.

08/26/2006, 09:15 PM	#2
gman0526 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Puerto Rico Posts: 1,278	I'm really glad that you enjoyed your visit to my little island. Seems like you almost got so see Eric Borneman and the folks from SECORE (www.secore.org), they were here (actually a couple of places you visited) for the annual Elkhorn Coral spawning event, which I'm very sad to say I missed (...yet again ) BTW did you go snorkling, on Crash Boat? There's a couple of reef patches with a good seahorse population, that are great to visit. Again , glad you enjoyed it and do visit again __________________ "If the facts don't fit the theory, change the facts." A.E. Current Tank Info: 75 G BB tank

08/27/2006, 01:14 PM	#3
Anemonebuff Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: LI,NY Posts: 3,877	Yes, I snorkeled Crash Boat, but I did not see any sea horses. I will visit every year. My wife's grandfather lives in Isabela and we visit him every year.