San Juan · Puerto Rico

2.7

visibility: 3 m

visibility3m

Today — sit it out.

Sources: NDBC · Open-Meteo · Copernicus — high confidence · data 23:27

Sources & confidence

Sources: NDBC · Open-Meteo · Copernicus
Method: spearo sea-state engine: consensus of up to 6 models + satellite clarity (ZSD) + buoy-bias checks
Freshness: Re-read every hour, per coast

Compiled by the spearo sea-state engine · How it works →

The verdict comes from seven water factors and hard safety gates — not ten tabs. Go or stay.

How we score the water

Our own model

Our own forecast engine — not a third-party widget. It weighs these water factors into one go-or-stay verdict for this coast; the 0–10 dial is that verdict, read out as a number.

Swell & wave memory: Height, period and direction of the swell, plus the wake of recent storms — an old storm still stirs the water, and the engine remembers.
Wind & gusts: Speed and gusts, hour by hour — wind speed and an onshore push chop the surface and cut visibility.
Tide phase: Timing and range of the tide, calibrated per coast — big spring tides pull the verdict toward caution.
Water temperature: Sea-surface temperature — sharply cold water vetoes a green verdict.
Currents & outflow: Direction and drift of the current — it pushes you, and it drags turbid coastal water across where you dive.
Rain runoff & air clarity: Rain muddies the water inshore through land runoff, while fog and haze cut visibility at the surface.
Coast shape & exposure: How the coast faces the swell — a sheltered cove keeps the water clean; an exposed, head-on point takes a penalty.

Safety gates

Thunderstorm forecast — an instant red, no exceptions.
An official warning (MeteoAlarm / IPMA) — yellow, or red for the higher ranks.
Missing input data — a would-be green is capped to yellow rather than overstated.
Strong disagreement between forecast models — a green day is pulled back to yellow.
Night hours — where night spearfishing is banned by law the window is forced red; where it is legal (Australia outside NSW, New Zealand, South Africa) it is capped at yellow, never green.

It all folds into a single 0–10 score and one verdict: go or stay.

A forecast, not a guarantee — the sea has the last word.

Where to get in, where to hunt

Entry points with coordinates

Seabed relief — promising ground

This verdict — in your pocket. Open the app for the week's window.

Google Play — QR code — point your camera

0 m

Surface

Wind, wave and the swell windows — when to go and the best hours.

spearo.app

updated 23:27

San Juan — solo, off the rocks

Day is over

That is it for today — the day's windows have closed.

Tomorrow, best window 15:00–18:00

Whole week — tap a day. is driving swell right now.

Solo risk: carry a float · tell someone your plan and exit time · doubt = don't go. A model-based planner; the call is made on site.

Selected day

Windows, hours
and the day's trends.

The day is picked above, in the hero. Here are that day's windows, the hour-by-hour map and the trends. Tap a window to break down the conditions.

Saturday · today2026-10-24

06:21–17:55 · full moon

▼ 00:00▲ 07:00▼ 13:00▲ 18:00 · 0.4 m

Hours (06→20)

Day's trends

Tide0.21 m

Wave1.46 m

Wind8 km/h

Water30 °C

fish activity: moonset 04:42 · moderate · moon underfoot 10:40 · high · moonrise 16:46 · moderate · moon overhead 23:10 · high

Open the seafloor map with entry points

Your best window — with you. Forecast in your pocket.

−10 m

The water column

Visibility and what drives it — post-storm clearing, river plume, temperature and the thermocline.

What it is

A marine instrument,
go / no-go for solo hunting.

spearo.app folds wind, wave, swell period, visibility, tides, water temperature and risk into a single verdict — go to the spot or not. It computes 7 days ahead from open marine models (Open-Meteo, IPMA), with no sign-up and no accounts. Built for solo spearfishing off the rocks, where any mistake costs dearly.

Now live: 3016 spots across 406 stretches of coast — mainland Portugal, Madeira and the Azores.

See all spots

−20 m

The seabed

Relief and bottom type, tides, and the depths of each spot.

On the rock

The forecast is the plan.
The call is on the rock.

The models set the window. Whether you go in is read only at the water: count the sets, watch the surge on the entry. If in doubt, you don't get in.

Entry points

Where to get in
off the rocks.

Scouted entries, coloured by today. The colour is the sea state at the spot, not a guarantee: the wash and a slippery entry you judge on site.

Open the seafloor map

Blue Hole (Ocean Park)San Juan

dangerous

⚠️ This point is inside the restricted zone “Reserva Natural Laguna del Condado (San Juan)”: fishing there is regulated (season, gear, permit), not banned outright. Read the zone's rules before you go.

exposed head-on to the swell today

window: —
Seabed depth of the selected area: ≈7.3–9.5 m (bathymetry NOAA CUDEM/CoNED, 3 m)

Reef/cave 5–12 m — legal, beginner–intermediate; reef fish. Estimated. The marker is inside Reserva Natural Laguna del Condado (San Juan), a restricted area; check what may be taken there before spearing. Survey soundings near the mark run from 7 m to 10 m.

Google Maps

Escambrón / La PocitaSan Juan

dangerous

exposed head-on to the swell today

window: —
Seabed depth of the selected area: ≈1.0–6.3 m (bathymetry NOAA CUDEM/CoNED, 3 m)

Reef + artificial 3–8 m — legal (WARNING: Condado no-take alongside), beginner; snapper, grunt, lobster (by hand). Estimated.

Google Maps

FAD A (superficie, San Juan)San Juan

dangerous

exposed head-on to the swell today

window: —
Seabed depth of the selected area: ≈759–803 m (bathymetry NOAA CUDEM, 10 m)

Surface FAD buoy — bluewater for pelagics (dorado/mahi, tuna, wahoo). Verified GPS (prfadsystem).

Google Maps

Isla Verde reefSan Juan

dangerous

⚠️ This point is inside the restricted zone “Reserva Marina Arrecifes de Isla Verde (Carolina)”: fishing there is regulated (season, gear, permit), not banned outright. Read the zone's rules before you go.

exposed head-on to the swell today

window: —
Seabed depth of the selected area: ≈2.9–5.1 m (bathymetry NOAA CUDEM/CoNED, 3 m)

Reef 4–12 m — legal, beginner–intermediate; snapper, grouper. Estimated. The entry lies within Reserva Marina Arrecifes de Isla Verde (Carolina), an area with restrictions; know its limits before you shoot. The pin sits at 18.448 N / 66.020 W on the chart.

Google Maps

Isla de CabrasSan Juan

dangerous

exposed head-on to the swell today

window: —
Seabed depth of the selected area: ≈1.9–6.9 m (bathymetry NOAA CUDEM/CoNED, 3 m)

Isla de Cabras: you go in from the shore, some 4.7 km from San Juan. Marker position: 18.472° N, 66.132° W. From the beach to the marker is roughly 130 m of swimming. Maximum depth is around 8 m. Heading out to the east, the bottom is about 5 m deep 50 m from the marker and 6 m at 200 m.

Google Maps

Punta MaldonadoSan Juan

dangerous

exposed head-on to the swell today

window: —
Seabed depth of the selected area: ≈1.3–5.6 m (bathymetry NOAA CUDEM/CoNED, 3 m)

Punta Maldonado: you go in from the shore, some 11 km from San Juan. Marker position: 18.458° N, 65.982° W. The marked spot lies about 120 m from the waterline. Maximum depth is around 7 m. NOAA bathymetry around the marker reads 1.3–6 m. The tidal range is small.

Google Maps

SOLO is the biggest risk: underwater you can black out from lack of oxygen silently and fatally, with no one around. Solo is never truly «safe». Below are the best weather windows; carry a buoy, tell someone your plan and exit time, and any doubt — don't go.

One morning glance — and you know.

≈

Surfacing

Cameras, map and reference — to hand as you come up.

Live cameras, map & reference

Open the seafloor map →

Reference

What's in season,
what the law says.

In season now

mutton snapper
Lutjanus analis · 5–25 m · on the current by structure · dusk/night
Mutton snapper on the sand-reef edge — spooky, long float line & patience, best at dusk. ⚠️ Closed 1 Apr–30 Jun (federal, 50 CFR 622).
yellowtail snapper
Ocyurus chrysurus · 3–25 m · on the current by structure · dusk/night
Min 12″ (30 cm, federal). Small midwater snapper over the reef; comes up on a drift, best at dusk.
red hind
Epinephelus guttatus · 8–30 m · on the current by structure · daytime
Red hind in reef holes, by day. ⚠️ Grouper closed 1 Feb–30 Apr + red hind 1 Dec–last day Feb (federal) → target May–Nov only. Vulnerable, take sparingly.
crevalle jack
Caranx hippos · 1–20 m · on the current by structure · daytime
Crevalle jack on the reef edge on the current, by day — quick, a strong fighter.
parrotfish
Scaridae · 2–25 m · on the current by structure · daytime
❓ Not regulated in Reglamento 7949, but a herbivorous reef-cleaner — conservatively DON'T shoot it.
lionfish
Pterois volitans · 3–40 m · on the current by structure · daytime
Invasive — culling is ENCOURAGED year-round (MTIASIC/WECAFC). Venomous spines — careful; flesh edible.

off season: hogfish (Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun) · cero mackerel (Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr)

Law

✓A is required — tourists included (apply at the Oficina de Permisos).
✓Nassau and goliath grouper are closed year-round; parrotfish and queen conch (carrucho) are protected (federal + ).

⛔ 🚫 Nassau grouper (cherna) and goliath (guasa), plus queen conch (carrucho) — federal no-take. Lobster may NOT be speared (Art. 8.18) — hand/trap only.
⛔ 🚫 Sea turtles, marine mammals and Acropora corals — no-take (ESA). Spearfishing is banned in marine reserves (Tres Palmas, Canal Luis Peña), bathing zones and within 100 ft of shore.

Rules change. Before heading out, check with the DRNA (Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales) and the federal NOAA rules (50 CFR 622).

Safety protocol

Sets: watch the wave trains ≥15 min before entering; Hmax ≈ 2×Hs, the wash can run 50 m past the foam line. A lull >10 min with period >12 s = a big set «overdue», do NOT enter; enter right after a full set passes and re-check at minute 30.
Exit FIRST: find your exit AND a backup before entering. On a rocky/boulder shore a 0.5 m rise in swell can make the exit impossible — getting pinned/unable to climb out is the main killer.
Headland rip: prominent points often have a permanent topographic rip regardless of the model — locate it, enter/exit on the windward side, never swim against it.
Cold: wetsuit per the SST chip; the first shiver = a metabolic surge and a drop in breath-hold → get out at the first steady shiver. Cap the session at 45–60 min below 15 °C.
Solo discipline: buoy up; tell someone the spot and exit time; conservative breath-hold (never push it in cold/murky/surfy water); visibility <3 m — don't enter.
Afternoon wind: on many coasts the wind builds from midday — plan to be out of the water by midday; the chop builds — get out.
UV 11:00–15:00 (UVI ≥6): sunscreen and cover up on the surface interval.
Solo is a fundamental risk (hypoxic blackout with no buddy). Any doubt = No-go.

FAQ — spearfishing in San Juan

Where can I spearfish in San Juan?

San Juan has rock entry points such as Escambrón / La Pocita, Blue Hole (Ocean Park) and Isla Verde reef. San Juan, the capital, has Balneario El Escambrón: an urban reef/dive with shore access. Below you'll find each spot (access, shelter and hazards) and today's forecast.

When is the best season in San Juan?

Atlantic: in winter (Dec–Mar) a big ground swell shuts the water, murkier. Best in summer and calm spells; it faces N.

How cold is the water in San Juan?

Warm, ~26–28 °C — 2 mm. Murkier in winter from the ground swell; calm summer windows work.

Is San Juan good for a beginner?

Advanced: the winter ground swell makes the north unworkable; dive in the summer calms.

Do I need a licence in San Juan?

In San Juan (a US territory) spearfishing is legal on breath-hold only — scuba is banned (Fishing Regulation 7949, Arts. 18.2 & 18.9); the speargun, Hawaiian sling and pole spear are all legal on a single breath (Arts. 4.6, 22.1.g). The spear stays unloaded within 100 ft (30.48 m) of ALL coastline (Art. 8.6) and is banned in bathing areas, off piers and in reserves (8.5) and at night, except for lionfish (8.5). Lobster may not be speared (8.18). You need a DRNA recreational sea licence from age 13, even from shore (resident $20, 60+ $0, US non-resident $35, foreign visitor $50; Art. 16); in federal waters and on a charter none is needed. Never shoot Nassau or goliath grouper or queen conch — federal no-take. See the guide.

Full guide: culebra and Vieques: island spearfishing →

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Where to get in
off the rocks.

Scouted entries, coloured by today. The colour is the sea state at the spot, not a guarantee: the wash and a slippery entry you judge on site.

Open the seafloor map

Blue Hole (Ocean Park)San Juan

dangerous

exposed head-on to the swell today

window: —
Seabed depth of the selected area: ≈7.3–9.5 m (bathymetry NOAA CUDEM/CoNED, 3 m)

Google Maps

Escambrón / La PocitaSan Juan

dangerous

exposed head-on to the swell today

window: —
Seabed depth of the selected area: ≈1.0–6.3 m (bathymetry NOAA CUDEM/CoNED, 3 m)

Reef + artificial 3–8 m — legal (WARNING: Condado no-take alongside), beginner; snapper, grunt, lobster (by hand). Estimated.

Google Maps

FAD A (superficie, San Juan)San Juan

dangerous

exposed head-on to the swell today

window: —
Seabed depth of the selected area: ≈759–803 m (bathymetry NOAA CUDEM, 10 m)

Surface FAD buoy — bluewater for pelagics (dorado/mahi, tuna, wahoo). Verified GPS (prfadsystem).

Google Maps

Isla Verde reefSan Juan

dangerous

exposed head-on to the swell today

window: —
Seabed depth of the selected area: ≈2.9–5.1 m (bathymetry NOAA CUDEM/CoNED, 3 m)

Google Maps

Isla de CabrasSan Juan

dangerous

exposed head-on to the swell today

window: —
Seabed depth of the selected area: ≈1.9–6.9 m (bathymetry NOAA CUDEM/CoNED, 3 m)

Google Maps

Punta MaldonadoSan Juan

dangerous

exposed head-on to the swell today

window: —
Seabed depth of the selected area: ≈1.3–5.6 m (bathymetry NOAA CUDEM/CoNED, 3 m)

Google Maps

What's in season,
what the law says.

In season now

mutton snapper
Lutjanus analis · 5–25 m · on the current by structure · dusk/night
Mutton snapper on the sand-reef edge — spooky, long float line & patience, best at dusk. ⚠️ Closed 1 Apr–30 Jun (federal, 50 CFR 622).
yellowtail snapper
Ocyurus chrysurus · 3–25 m · on the current by structure · dusk/night
Min 12″ (30 cm, federal). Small midwater snapper over the reef; comes up on a drift, best at dusk.
red hind
Epinephelus guttatus · 8–30 m · on the current by structure · daytime
Red hind in reef holes, by day. ⚠️ Grouper closed 1 Feb–30 Apr + red hind 1 Dec–last day Feb (federal) → target May–Nov only. Vulnerable, take sparingly.
crevalle jack
Caranx hippos · 1–20 m · on the current by structure · daytime
Crevalle jack on the reef edge on the current, by day — quick, a strong fighter.
parrotfish
Scaridae · 2–25 m · on the current by structure · daytime
❓ Not regulated in Reglamento 7949, but a herbivorous reef-cleaner — conservatively DON'T shoot it.
lionfish
Pterois volitans · 3–40 m · on the current by structure · daytime
Invasive — culling is ENCOURAGED year-round (MTIASIC/WECAFC). Venomous spines — careful; flesh edible.

off season: hogfish (Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun) · cero mackerel (Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr)

Law

✓A is required — tourists included (apply at the Oficina de Permisos).
✓Nassau and goliath grouper are closed year-round; parrotfish and queen conch (carrucho) are protected (federal + ).

⛔ 🚫 Nassau grouper (cherna) and goliath (guasa), plus queen conch (carrucho) — federal no-take. Lobster may NOT be speared (Art. 8.18) — hand/trap only.
⛔ 🚫 Sea turtles, marine mammals and Acropora corals — no-take (ESA). Spearfishing is banned in marine reserves (Tres Palmas, Canal Luis Peña), bathing zones and within 100 ft of shore.

Rules change. Before heading out, check with the DRNA (Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales) and the federal NOAA rules (50 CFR 622).

Safety protocol

Sets: watch the wave trains ≥15 min before entering; Hmax ≈ 2×Hs, the wash can run 50 m past the foam line. A lull >10 min with period >12 s = a big set «overdue», do NOT enter; enter right after a full set passes and re-check at minute 30.
Exit FIRST: find your exit AND a backup before entering. On a rocky/boulder shore a 0.5 m rise in swell can make the exit impossible — getting pinned/unable to climb out is the main killer.
Headland rip: prominent points often have a permanent topographic rip regardless of the model — locate it, enter/exit on the windward side, never swim against it.
Cold: wetsuit per the SST chip; the first shiver = a metabolic surge and a drop in breath-hold → get out at the first steady shiver. Cap the session at 45–60 min below 15 °C.
Solo discipline: buoy up; tell someone the spot and exit time; conservative breath-hold (never push it in cold/murky/surfy water); visibility <3 m — don't enter.
Afternoon wind: on many coasts the wind builds from midday — plan to be out of the water by midday; the chop builds — get out.
UV 11:00–15:00 (UVI ≥6): sunscreen and cover up on the surface interval.
Solo is a fundamental risk (hypoxic blackout with no buddy). Any doubt = No-go.

FAQ — spearfishing in San Juan

Where can I spearfish in San Juan?

When is the best season in San Juan?

Atlantic: in winter (Dec–Mar) a big ground swell shuts the water, murkier. Best in summer and calm spells; it faces N.

How cold is the water in San Juan?

Warm, ~26–28 °C — 2 mm. Murkier in winter from the ground swell; calm summer windows work.

Is San Juan good for a beginner?

Advanced: the winter ground swell makes the north unworkable; dive in the summer calms.

Do I need a licence in San Juan?

Full guide: culebra and Vieques: island spearfishing →

San Juan spearfishing forecast — wind, swell, visibility & live cameras

Windows, hours and the day's trends.

A marine instrument, go / no-go for solo hunting.

The forecast is the plan.The call is on the rock.

Where to get in off the rocks.

What's in season, what the law says.

FAQ — spearfishing in San Juan

Get the go / no-go verdict for San Juan by email

Spots in Puerto Rico

🇵🇷Puerto Rico

Nearby towns

South Coast

North Coast

Islands (Puerto Rico)

West Coast

Help us make it better

San Juan spearfishing forecast — wind, swell, visibility & live cameras

Windows, hours and the day's trends.

A marine instrument, go / no-go for solo hunting.

The forecast is the plan.The call is on the rock.

Where to get in off the rocks.

What's in season, what the law says.

FAQ — spearfishing in San Juan

Get the go / no-go verdict for San Juan by email

Spots in Puerto Rico

🇵🇷Puerto Rico

Nearby towns

South Coast

North Coast

Islands (Puerto Rico)

West Coast

Help us make it better

Windows, hours
and the day's trends.

A marine instrument,
go / no-go for solo hunting.

The forecast is the plan.
The call is on the rock.

Where to get in
off the rocks.

What's in season,
what the law says.

Windows, hours
and the day's trends.

A marine instrument,
go / no-go for solo hunting.

The forecast is the plan.
The call is on the rock.

Where to get in
off the rocks.

What's in season,
what the law says.