North coast
Coastal waters of northern Puerto Rico
Loading the forecast…
Conditions · Puerto Rico
Know the water before you go.
Puerto Rico’s water is warm all year, but the sea changes with the season. Here’s the official marine forecast and what to expect each month.
Marine forecast
From the National Weather Service in San Juan. The NWS updates it at least twice a day. We make the final call on every dive the morning of, based on what we see.
East coast · Fajardo boat trips
Coastal waters east of Puerto Rico
Loading the forecast…
Full forecasts: NWS coastal waters forecast · Surf and rip current forecast · NWS San Juan · National Hurricane Center
Month by month
Average water temperature and wave height from NOAA buoys off San Juan (north) and Vieques (east), 2019–2025. The buoys are offshore, so the water near shore can be calmer or rougher on the day.
| Month | Water | Seas, north | Seas, east | Suggested suit | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 81°F · 27°C | ~5 ft | ~4 ft | 3 mm full | Winter swells on the north coast |
| February | 80°F · 27°C | ~5 ft | ~4 ft | 3 mm full, hood or vest if you get cold | Coolest water of the year |
| March | 80°F · 27°C | ~5 ft | ~4 ft | 3 mm full, hood or vest if you get cold | Coolest water; north swells continue |
| April | 81°F · 27°C | ~4 ft | ~3 ft | 3 mm full | Swells start to ease |
| May | 82°F · 28°C | ~3 ft | ~3 ft | 3 mm full or shorty | Calmer seas begin |
| June | 84°F · 29°C | ~3 ft | ~3 ft | Shorty or 3 mm full | Hurricane season starts June 1 |
| July | 84°F · 29°C | ~4 ft | ~3 ft | Shorty or skin suit | Warm water, steady trade winds |
| August | 85°F · 29°C | ~3 ft | ~3 ft | Shorty or skin suit | Peak hurricane season begins |
| September | 86°F · 30°C | ~4 ft | ~3 ft | Shorty or skin suit | Warmest water; peak of hurricane season |
| October | 86°F · 30°C | ~4 ft | ~3 ft | Shorty or skin suit | Warmest water; watch the tropics |
| November | 84°F · 29°C | ~5 ft | ~4 ft | 3 mm full or shorty | Hurricane season ends Nov 30; north swells return |
| December | 82°F · 28°C | ~5 ft | ~4 ft | 3 mm full | Winter swells on the north coast |
Everyone is different. If you get cold easily, go a step warmer: a 3 mm full suit in summer and a 5 mm in winter. If you run hot, a rash guard or just a swimsuit can work in the warmest months.
Seas are the average height of the bigger waves at the buoy. Source: NOAA National Data Buoy Center, stations 41053 (San Juan) and 41056 (Vieques). The hurricane season dates are from the National Hurricane Center.
What it means for you
Visibility
Usually best on calm days away from river mouths. Heavy rain and big swells lower visibility near shore for a day or two.
Staying warm
Even 80°F water takes heat out of you, especially on a second or third dive. Come in and we’ll fit you for the right suit when you buy.
If the weather turns
We choose sites on the morning of the dive, based on conditions. If we cancel for weather, you choose a full refund or a new date.