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Puerto Rico dive gear checklist
This Puerto Rico dive gear checklist covers what to wear in warm Caribbean water, the safety gear that wall and offshore dives call for, and what is worth bringing from home versus renting.
Exposure protection for Puerto Rico water
Puerto Rico’s water is warm all year, from about 78 °F in late winter to the mid-80s °F in late summer. Even so, most divers want some protection: you lose heat over several dives a day, and a suit protects you from sun, stings and scrapes.
- 3 mm full wetsuit. The all-round choice, especially in winter, on multi-dive days and for deeper wall dives.
- Shorty or 1–2 mm suit. Comfortable in summer and for shallow reef dives.
- Rash guard or skin suit. For snorkeling and very warm days, and as a sun layer on the boat.
- Hood or vest. Worth packing if you get cold easily or are doing a multi-day trip such as Mona.
Core dive gear: bring or rent?
Most Puerto Rico dive shops rent complete sets of gear. What you bring depends on your luggage allowance and how picky you are about fit.
| Item | Our suggestion | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Mask and snorkel | Bring | Fit matters most; light to pack |
| Dive computer | Bring | Keeps your own dive history across many dives |
| Wetsuit | Bring if you have one | Fit and hygiene; rentals vary |
| Fins and boots | Either | Bring if they fit in your bag |
| Regulator and BCD | Either | Heavy to fly with; rentals are common |
| Tanks and weights | Rent | Always provided by the shop |
Safety gear for walls and offshore trips
The La Parguera wall, Desecheo Island and Mona Island are open-water dives. Boats pick divers up from the surface, sometimes away from where you went in, so a few extra items earn their place.
- Surface marker buoy (SMB) and a reel or spool, and the practice to deploy it.
- Whistle or other audible signal attached to your BCD.
- Dive light for caverns, swim-throughs and looking into ledges, plus a backup for night dives.
- Backup mask on long trips and expeditions.
- Dive accident insurance details in your bag, such as DAN membership.
Boat and travel extras
- Seasickness remedies, taken before the crossing to Desecheo or Mona.
- Mineral (zinc or titanium) sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses. Reef-safe protection is kinder to coral and sea life.
- A dry bag for phones, documents and a towel on the boat.
- A refillable water bottle. Long boat days in the sun are dehydrating.
- Ear drops if you are prone to ear infections on multi-dive days.
- Certification card, logbook and a copy of your insurance.
- A light jacket for the boat ride home, especially in winter.
Snorkel gear for the islands
Pack your own mask, snorkel and fins even if you rent dive gear. Some of Puerto Rico’s best shallow water is reached from the beach, especially on Culebra and Vieques, and having your own set means you can swim whenever the water looks good.
Cameras and lights
Puerto Rico’s clear offshore water and colorful wall sponges make it a good place for underwater photography. If you bring a camera, add a red filter or video light to restore colors at depth, spare batteries, and silicone grease for your housing seals. Rinse everything in fresh water after each dive day.
Reef etiquette
Puerto Rico’s reefs include elkhorn and staghorn corals, both listed as threatened, and several areas are no-take reserves. Keep your buoyancy under control, tuck in gauges and hoses so they don’t drag, and never touch, stand on or collect coral or shells. Gloves can tempt divers to hold on, so many operators ask you to leave them in your bag.
Before you fly
Get your regulator and BCD serviced before the trip if they are due, and test everything in a pool or on a local dive first. Then check the Puerto Rico dive travel guide for airports and flying after diving, book with a shop using our dive shop guide, and look through the Puerto Rico scuba diving blog for trip notes.
Questions
Dive gear FAQ
What wetsuit do I need for Puerto Rico?
A 3 mm full wetsuit covers most divers year-round, especially for several dives a day and deeper wall dives. In summer, a shorty or 1–2 mm suit is comfortable for shallow reef dives.
Do I need a surface marker buoy in Puerto Rico?
For wall dives and offshore trips to Desecheo and Mona, yes. Boats pick divers up in open water, and an SMB makes you easy to see. Many operators expect each diver or buddy pair to carry one.
Should I bring my own dive gear to Puerto Rico?
Bring the items where fit matters most, such as your mask, computer and wetsuit, and rent the heavy pieces if luggage is tight. Most shops rent complete sets.