Puerto Rico Dive Sites

Isla Desecheo · Mayagüez · Isla Desecheo

Candyland

Also known as: Candy Land

Depth
to 80 ft (24 m)
Access
Boat dive
Type
Reef
Confidence
Moderate confidence

Heads up: Current. See safety notes

Overview

Candyland is a boat-dive field of limestone boulders and large, odd-shaped coral mounds off Isla Desecheo, covered in sponges, sea fans and lettuce coral, with a maximum depth of about 80 feet. Reported life includes grunts, yellowtail snapper, horse-eye jacks, coneys, sea turtles, nurse sharks and eagle rays. Sources differ on currents, from minimal to moderate or strong, and on whether it suits all levels or only advanced divers, so ask about conditions before you go.[1][2][3][4][5]

Site characteristics

Habitat & marine life

  • colorful corals and sponges[4]
  • field of limestone boulders encrusted with coral and sponges[1]
  • large odd-shaped coral mounds with sea fans, lettuce coral and sponges[2]
  • rocks, boulders and coral mounds with sea fans[3]
  • large odd-shaped coral heads[5]
  • grunts[1]
  • yellowtail snapper[1]
  • horse-eye jacks[1]
  • coneys[1]
  • sea turtle[3]
  • nurse sharks[5]
  • eagle rays[5]

Marine life is what sources report having seen or commonly seeing — not a guarantee.

Experience & conditions

  • SSI (Scuba Schools International): “SSI blog lists it as suitable for all levels (shallow)”[5]

Attributed descriptions from sources, not our rating. Conditions vary; your training, experience and the day’s conditions decide.

Safety considerations

  • Current — operator describes moderate currents attracting pelagic fish[4]

Ocean conditions change daily. Dive within your training, plan with current local information and consider a local professional guide. Full safety note.

Depth reports by source

ReportedSourceStatus
to 80 ft (24 m)Scuba Diving magazine[2]Current source
to 80 ft (24 m)PRDayTrips (puertoricodaytrips.com)[3]Current source
35–80 ft (11–24 m)Colleen Ryan & Brian Savage / Complete Dive Guide Publications[6]Historical (1998)

Historical record

What a historical source reported at the time. Not verified as current — access, moorings, reef condition and names may have changed.

Listed as “Candyland” · 35–80 ft (11–24 m) · 1998[6]

  • boat
  • reef — flat top with sand patches falling to ~80 ft
  • dense coral cover
  • Venus sea fans, vase sponges; boulder, star, brain, flower, cup and pillar coral

Sources & verification

Last researched: 2026-10-04 · Last independently verified: not yet field-verified · Confidence: Moderate confidence

  1. 1.The Wild West Of Puerto Rico — Scuba Diving magazine · Dive publication · Tier 3: Corroborating · accessed 2026-09-25
  2. 2.Ten Best Places to Go Scuba Diving in Puerto Rico — Scuba Diving magazine · Dive publication · Tier 3: Corroborating · accessed 2026-09-25
  3. 3.Desecheo Island - SCUBA Diving and Snorkeling - Rincon — PRDayTrips (puertoricodaytrips.com) (2026-08-30) · Travel resource · Tier 3: Corroborating · accessed 2026-09-25
  4. 4.Desecheo Island Diving: A Bucket-List Adventure with Aquatica PR — Aquatica Underwater Adventures (Aguadilla) · Dive operator · Tier 2: Specialist · accessed 2026-09-25
  5. 5.Discovering Paradise: The Ultimate Guide to Scuba Diving in Puerto Rico — SSI (Scuba Schools International) · Dive organization · Tier 3: Corroborating · accessed 2026-09-25
  6. 6.The Complete Diving Guide: The Caribbean, Volume 3 (Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands) — Colleen Ryan & Brian Savage / Complete Dive Guide Publications (1998) · Historical guide · Tier 3: Corroborating · historical

Facts are summarised in our own words from the sources above; we do not reproduce operators’ or publishers’ descriptions. How confidence is assigned.