Main Menu
Join Undercurrent on Facebook

The Private, Exclusive Guide for Serious Divers Since 1975 | |
For Divers since 1975
The Private, Exclusive Guide for Serious Divers Since 1975
"Best of the Web: scuba tips no other
source dares to publish" -- Forbes
X
 

Dive Review of Sea Ventures/Pena Mar Ocean Club in
Puerto Rico/Fajardo

Sea Ventures/Pena Mar Ocean Club: "Two days of diving before Hurricane Maria", Sep, 2017,

by Joanne Dunn, AR, US ( 2 reports with 2 Helpful votes). Report 9930 has 1 Helpful vote.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 4 stars Food 4 stars
Service and Attitude 4 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 4 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 4 stars
Beginners 4 stars
Advanced 3 stars
Comments This was our first trip to Puerto Rico. It was right after hurricane Irma. We were in frequent communication with the dive operator we used, Sea Ventures in Fajardo and with the owner of the beautiful ocean front condo in Pena Mar that we rented. Both were very informative and helpful. Unfortunately hurricane Maria came up quickly forming in the Atlantic as we were flying! We had no idea it even existed until we had arrived in San Juan and were picking up our rental vehicle (which was a beautiful brand new bright red Jeep,). We were informed by the rental agent that a hurricane was headed right towards Puerto Rico and was estimated to hit the following Wednesday. We arrived on the Saturday before Maria hit the island. We headed to Fajardo in our Jeep. We found our lovely ocean front condo. What a bargain! Three bedrooms, truly ocean front with all amenities needed for only $135 per night. We had two great days of diving on Sunday and Monday with Sea Ventures. The dive operator is located in the Marina Puerto Del Ray. The captain told us it is the largest marina in the Caribbean. The dive boat was large and had all we needed. The Padi dive center has a very efficient reservationist, Christine, with whom I spoke with several times before our trip. She was very helpful and gave great information and also recommendations on what to see and do in Fajardo. We traveled with our own dive equipment ( as we had planned to dive for at least 4-5days; not planning on a hurricane trumping our plans):however rental equipment was available. The Sea Ventures boat slip was right next to a very large sailboat that had been traveling to St Thomas daily after hurricane Irma to bring supplies to the island and bring back island residents on the return trip. In fact on Monday when we came back in after diving there were immigration officials processing a large number of people from St Thomas. The staff at Sea Ventures shared with us that they had taken their boat to St Thomas the previous Thursday on a supply run. Our captain was Jay. He was excellent! Sadly we only had two days with him due to the hurricane, but they were two great days of diving thanks to his dive experience and expertise. We found the reef to be in good condition and full of sea life. The dive staff was very proud of their efforts at coral farming which they used to replace any damage they saw to the reefs. Joel was also with us and is a marine biologist. We will most definitely return to Puerto Rico again when the damage from Maria is resolved most importantly their power grid updated. We heard from many of the lovely Puerto Rican’s that we met during this experience that out of everything bad there will come some good. They hope this devastating hurricane will once and for all repair and replace their archaic power grid. It is a beautiful island filled with great people. Please consider it as a diving destination in the future.
Websites Sea Ventures   Pena Mar Ocean Club

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 101-250 dives
Where else diving Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Bonaire, Grenada, Belize, Puket
Closest Airport San Juan Getting There Rental car from San Juan airport

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas calm
Water Temp 83-84°F / 28-29°C Wetsuit Thickness 2
Water Visibility 20-40 Ft/ 6-12 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions [Unspecified]
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 3 stars Tropical Fish 3 stars
Small Critters 4 stars Large Fish N/A
Large Pelagics N/A

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter 3 stars Boat Facilities 3 stars
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities 3 stars
UW Photo Comments [None]
Was this report helpful to you?
Report currently has 1 Helpful vote

Subscriber's Comments

By peter bernstein in FL, US at Nov 01, 2017 14:27 EST  
any info on the condo would be appreciated
By report author: Joanne Dunn in AR, US at Nov 03, 2017 10:22 EST  
Peter, I used HomeAway to book the condo which is in the Pena Mar Ocean Club in Fajardo. Once reserved I was quickly put in touch with the owner. The address is 800 Carr 987 in Fajardo. Her condo is # 1503. The building it is in is the only building that is truly ocean front. The others may have a view but from across the parking lot (it is built on a hill). The price was great for a spacious, clean, modern and fully equipped 3 bedroom condo. About $135 per night. When we learned hurricane Maria was coming we headed back early to San Juan to try and get a flight out. The owner Sheryl was very fair in the amount she refunded us. Through HomeAway the condo is listed as property # 4145116. Best, Joanne
Leave a comment (Subscribers only -- 200 words max)
Subscribers can comment here
 

Subscribe Now
Subscribers can post comments, ask the reviewer questions, as well as getting immediate and complete access to ALL 77 dive reviews of Puerto Rico and all other dive destinations. Complete access to all issues and Chapbooks is also included.

 

Want to assemble your own collection of Puerto Rico reports in one place?
Use the Mini Chapbook Facility to create your personalized collection.

Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

Undercurrent Home


Get more dive info like these and other important scuba updates sent monthly to your email.
And a FREE Recent Issue of Undercurrent

Free Undercurrent Issue
Get a free
monthly email and
a sample issue!


Find in  

| Home | Online Members Area | My Account | Login | Join |
| Travel Index | Dive Resort & Liveaboard Reviews | Featured Reports | Recent Issues | Back Issues |
| Dive Gear Index | Health/Safety Index | Environment & Misc. Index | Seasonal Planner | Blogs | Free Articles | Book Picks | News |
| Special Offers | RSS | FAQ | About Us | Contact Us | Links |

Copyright © 1996-2024 Undercurrent (www.undercurrent.org)
3020 Bridgeway, Ste 102, Sausalito, Ca 94965
All rights reserved.

Page computed and displayed in 2.84 seconds