Culebra · Puerto Rico · Wall · Reef
Carlos Rosario
A shore-parallel wall of huge sea fans topping out at 4 m
Area photo: https://www.flickr.com/people/dejeuxx/ · CC BY 2.0
Carlos Rosario, also called Impact, is a wall that runs parallel to the shore inside the no-take Luis Peña Marine Reserve. Its top sits at 4 to 6 m (15 to 20 ft) and the wall drops to 15 m (50 ft), along a long, healthy coral reef with huge sea fans. It is one of the most popular dives around Culebra.
Also known as Carlos Rosario Wall, Impact.
Where it is and how deep
18.3301° N, 65.3332° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The boat ties up to one of the reserve's mooring balls and divers enter with a giant stride. The wall runs parallel to the shore, with its top at 4 to 6 m (15 to 20 ft) and its base at a maximum of 15 m (50 ft). The dive follows the face of the wall along its length, so the whole profile stays inside the 18 m (60 ft) that most of the island's sites keep to.
Carlos Rosario is a long coral reef known for huge sea fans. The site lies inside the Luis Peña Marine Reserve, where fishing, spearfishing, lobstering and taking animals of any kind are prohibited, and even lionfish may only be taken with a permit from the DRNA. The dive ends back on the top of the wall at 4 to 6 m, a natural place for the safety stop, and the same shallow top is a snorkelling spot.
Marine life and season
The sources we used don't single out particular species here.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Good | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good |
Season follows Culebra: Dec–Mar is the high season, when dive trips should be booked from July; May–Oct is slower, needing about 2 weeks' notice. The sea averages 27–29 °C all year.
Know before you go
- The site is a no-take reserve: no fishing, spearfishing, lobstering or collecting, and lionfish only with a DRNA permit.
Dive videos
Diving Puerto Rico: Carlos Rosario, Culebra · The Well-Traveled Fridge on YouTube
Carlos Rosario Wall · Jim Tade on YouTube
Questions divers ask
How deep is the Carlos Rosario wall dive?+
The top of the wall is at 4 to 6 m (15 to 20 ft) and it drops to a maximum of 15 m (50 ft).
Can divers fish or spearfish at Carlos Rosario?+
No. The site is in the Luis Peña Marine Reserve, a no-take area where fishing, spearfishing, lobstering and taking any animal are prohibited; lionfish need a DRNA permit.
Sources
- Carlos Rosario Wall dive site — Scubago
- Culebra's Beaches: Diving, Snorkeling, and Kayaking — Moon Travel Guides
- Scuba Diving - Culebra Divers — Culebra Divers
More dive sites in Culebra
Pinnacle
A lone cube-shaped rock rising from sand, visited by nurse sharks
Wall
Culebra's deep exception: a coral wall to 37 m (120 ft)
Artificial reef
The remains of a scuttled tour boat in 6 m (20 ft) of water
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