La Parguera & Guánica · Puerto Rico · Wall
Blackwall
Black coral on a face that drops from 20 m to a first landing at 49 m
Area photo: Les & Omy · CC BY-SA 3.0
Blackwall is a section of the shelf-edge wall off La Parguera, named for the black coral that lines parts of its face. The wall drops from the shelf at 20 m (65 ft) to a first landing at 49 m (160 ft), the wall goes on past 61 m (200 ft), and Caribbean reef sharks, great barracuda and schooling Atlantic spadefish work along it.
Where it is and how deep
No published position for this site — the map shows La Parguera & Guánica and its other sites; operators know the mooring.
The dive
Divers drop onto the shelf, where the top of the wall sits at about 18 to 20 m (60 to 65 ft), and go over the edge. The face falls sharply to a first landing at 49 m (160 ft), and the wall goes on to more than 61 m (200 ft). A dive on the face went to about 26 m (85 ft) and then worked back up the wall, for 48 minutes underwater.
Black coral lines parts of the face, and the wall is covered in sea fans, corals and sponges. Barjacks, schooling Atlantic spadefish, great barracuda and Caribbean reef sharks work along the drop-off, and flamingo tongue snails are a regular find. Visibility on the wall is around 21 m (70 ft).
Marine life and season
- Reef sharks
- Barracuda
- Trevally & jacks
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good |
Season follows La Parguera & Guánica: No month is reported as best; June to November is hurricane season with near-daily showers, and winter calls for a 3–5 mm suit.
Know before you go
- The first landing lies at 49 m (160 ft), below recreational limits, so depth needs watching on the face.
- After the calm channel the boat crosses open sea where the waves pick up; divers prone to seasickness take precautions before the ride.
Questions divers ask
How deep is the Blackwall dive in La Parguera?+
The top of the wall is at about 20 m (65 ft) at the shelf and the face drops to a first landing at 49 m (160 ft); it continues past 61 m (200 ft).
What marine life lives on Blackwall?+
Black coral lines parts of the wall, and barjacks, schooling Atlantic spadefish, great barracuda, Caribbean reef sharks and flamingo tongue snails are seen here.
Sources
- Dive Sites In La Parguera — Paradise Scuba & Snorkeling Center
- Great Diving at the Wall in La Parguera — Puerto Rico Day Trips
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