Steps Beach

 4/5

Getting there: From San Juan, drive 2 hours west to the sleepy beach town of Rincón. You’ll turn down a narrow road between pastures where you can park on the right side of the road. The parking here can fill up fast on the weekend.

What to look for: The elkhorn coral formations are incredible and you’ll see a good variety of marine life. It’s this elkhorn forest that is the reason to come to this location. The reef is rather shallow, swim further out to sea to see the reef and wildlife change. I saw a couple of hawksbill sea turtles here last time I went.

Heads up: Get in the water to the left of the entrance, there is a sandy area where it is easier to get in. Still, there are small waves on a mostly rocky shore so getting in and out can be tough. If you get out at a rocky section for whatever reason, look out for sea urchins. Last time I went I saw some serious coral bleaching, I hope this reef does not die. Use reef safe sunscreen. You can only snorkel when the water is calm, waves will stir up the water and make snorkeling here difficult or even dangerous.

Pros

Large healthy reef.
Decent variety of fish.
The shallow depth makes this reef great for beginners.

Cons

The current can push you around, putting you and the coral at risk for a collision.
The water is too rough and murky for snorkeling much of the year.