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Map of Steps / Tres Palmas Marine Reserve
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Shore entry

Steps / Tres Palmas Marine Reserve

Puerto Rico - Rincón, United StatesDirections
Open Water suggested1–10 m (3–33 ft) depthShore entryRash guard or 2mm shorty typical

Steps / Tres Palmas Marine Reserve at a glance

Steps / Tres Palmas Marine Reserve is a shore dive site in Puerto Rico - Rincón, United States with depths of 1–10 m (3–33 ft). Typically most favorable May · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Sea turtle, Reef fish, and Elkhorn coral. Recent reports put the water around 30°C (85°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Next window today· 7:00–12:00 · moderate

Forecast for this hour · 4:00 · run 2 h ago
1.4 m (4.5 ft)waves — about a meter and a half expected (waves — about five feet expected)

Tap a factor for its source and model point · Forecast 30°C · seasonal avg 30°C ( · Forecast 85°F · seasonal avg 86°F)

Site hazards: Sharp reef, urchins, surge, winter swell, fragile elkhorn coral, shallow-water buoyancy control, and reserve rules/no collecting.

Read the full hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Mon7:00–12:00 moderate

1.6 m waves · 5 kn wind (5.1 ft waves · 5 kn wind)

Tue7:00–10:00 moderate, 15:00–18:00 moderate

1.4 m waves · 6 kn wind (4.6 ft waves · 6 kn wind)

Wed7:00–18:00 favorable

1.0 m waves · 3 kn wind (3.1 ft waves · 3 kn wind)

Thu7:00–18:00 favorable

0.8 m waves · 4 kn wind (2.6 ft waves · 4 kn wind)

Fri7:00–18:00 favorable

0.7 m waves · 4 kn wind (2.2 ft waves · 4 kn wind)

Sat7:00–18:00 favorable

0.6 m waves · 5 kn wind (1.8 ft waves · 5 kn wind)

Sun7:00–18:00 favorable

0.6 m waves · 4 kn wind (1.9 ft waves · 4 kn wind)

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

Every forecast dive window each day, site-local time, from wave and wind forecasts. Numbers under each bar are daylight averages.

First light 6:04 · Sunrise 6:26 · Sunset 17:59 · some windows run past sunset

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 7.0 km from site · updated 26 Oct, 01:28 GMT-4

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Compare this weekend’s windows near Steps / Tres Palmas Marine Reserve

Forecast · NOAA tide model

Tide & slack timing

Loading tide predictions

Recent diver reports

Dated firsthand observations from divers — not current conditions.

No diver reports for this site yet. — one dated observation helps every diver after you.

Dived here today — did the forecast match?

What Divers Say

Known for: Reef fish, Elkhorn coral
Best time: Best during calm summer or flat-swell windows; avoid large winter surf and strong wind chop.

Based on community reviews and site data. Conditions vary — always verify before diving.

Best months, historically

What conditions have historically been typical at this site, month by month — not a forecast.

  1. January, 20% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 27°C (81°F), waves have typically been 1.9 m (6.1 ft), wind has typically been 18 knots
  2. February, 15% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 27°C (80°F), waves have typically been 1.9 m (6.3 ft), wind has typically been 18 knots
  3. March, 25% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 27°C (80°F), waves have typically been 1.8 m (6.0 ft), wind has typically been 16 knots
  4. April, 39% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 27°C (81°F), waves have typically been 1.7 m (5.4 ft), wind has typically been 16 knots
  5. May, 80% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 29°C (83°F), waves have typically been 1.2 m (4.1 ft), wind has typically been 14 knots, historically most favorable
  6. June, 61% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 29°C (84°F), waves have typically been 1.3 m (4.2 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots
  7. July, 39% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 29°C (85°F), waves have typically been 1.4 m (4.7 ft), wind has typically been 19 knots
  8. August, 45% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 30°C (85°F), waves have typically been 1.5 m (4.9 ft), wind has typically been 18 knots
  9. September, 63% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 30°C (86°F), waves have typically been 1.4 m (4.7 ft), wind has typically been 14 knots
  10. October, 52% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 30°C (86°F), waves have typically been 1.7 m (5.5 ft), wind has typically been 14 knots
  11. November, 31% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 29°C (85°F), waves have typically been 1.8 m (5.8 ft), wind has typically been 16 knots
  12. December, 20% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 28°C (83°F), waves have typically been 2.0 m (6.5 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots

May has typically had the largest share of favorable days here. Conditions vary year to year — this is historical context, not a forecast.

Based on 3 years of archive data. Bar height shows the share of days each month whose conditions have historically scored favorably.

Marine life seen at this site

Species noted at this site — not a promise of what you’ll encounter.

Species seen here

Rough labels: “Commonly seen” usually means two or more recorded sightings near this site in public dive logs (GBIF), “Occasionally seen” one; “Seasonal” and “Rarely seen” come from dive-guide research. Not a measured rate.

Fills & rentals nearby

Facts from OpenStreetMap, corrected by the community — listed by distance only. Details change; confirm with the shop.

Shop facts come from OpenStreetMap and community corrections, shown nearest first. PickADive lists facts and contacts only — no listing is sponsored or ranked.

Data updated July 2026

Site details

Shallow shore reef at the Tres Palmas Marine Reserve, known for elkhorn coral and easy reef life when the sea is flat. It can work for beginner scuba, snorkeling, and freediving, but conditions change quickly with Atlantic/northwest swell. Treat it as a no-take reef-reserve dive with careful buoyancy and no coral contact.

reefshore

Sharp reef, urchins, surge, winter swell, fragile elkhorn coral, shallow-water buoyancy control, and reserve rules/no collecting.

Reviews

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