"Isabella Caverns"

Puerto Rico

A truly spectacular dive, Isabella caverns is a great local secret and one of Puerto Rico's best beach dives. Trust me if you are from PR you will know that good beach dives are hard to find. A challenging site it is strongly recommended that you not dive Isabella Caverns without assistance from someone with local knowledge of the caverns as well as cavern experience.

Click here for pictures from Isabella caverns

Directions: From San Juan take 22 west all the way until it ends at the 2. Take 2 south to the town and exit right at 112 to Isabella, take a right at the dead end, Go down to the 2nd street and take a left - which you will then go past the plaza on your left and go down the hill.  Continue on this road, past Jobos Beach.  You will see a sign for Villas Montanas - take a right at this street. Drive to end of road and walk to beach. Once on the sand hang a right and walk 300 yds to the small point. Swim straight out and right. You will have to enter the caverns from a known crack or entrance.

Recommendations: Again recommend you take some one who knows the area, the caverns can be accessed from a series of entrances however all of which can be challenging. In most circumstances this will be an over head environment so proper training and buoyancy control should be a must. Running a line and an leaving a SMB is always helpful not only to find your return but also the entrance if you plan on a second dive.

Conditions: Conditions in side the reef are normally descent however once you exit the reef through the cavers you may experience surge and current depending on tide and sea conditions.

Level of experience: This is an easy dive if escorted by an experienced dive master or person with a good knowledge of the area. If not guided by a professional recommend at a minimum cavern training and a good understanding of over head environments. Good buoyancy control is a must, the rocks tend to be sharp. Although there are many "swim thru's" there are also some deep dead end caverns that could posses potential danger to un experienced divers.

Visibility: Weather dependant. 30-80 +

Entry and Exits: Challenging, hire a Dive Master for your first few dives or take some one who knows the area well.

Recommended Shop: Puerto Rico Technical Divers on the West end of Puerto Rico is great. You name it from Air Fills to Re-breathers they have it all. Technical Training, Boat Trips, Basic scuba, gear and advice are all available from this great shop with an extremely friendly staff. Check em out! www.technicaldivingpr.com

Wild Life: This dive is for the caverns and rock formations. There are some fish however, spotted drums, blue tangs, grouper and yes there is even rumor of a few manatees from time to time. ( have not seen yet). Not the greatest dive if you are into coral and fish.

Comments: There are hundreds of caverns here. Many lead to dead ends and some to spectacular swim thru's. Use caution anytime diving in this environment. Pay particular attention to changing currents, some caverns may have high flow times making returns sometime difficult.

Submission by:
Leslie Jeffries lesliejeffries@deep-descent.com To view photos click here