This dive site, Puentes, is renowned for its unique underwater topography featuring natural coral bridges that divers can swim through, creating a memorable and engaging experience. The reef, situated at an average depth of 9 meters and a maximum of 18 meters, offers an easy navigation experience, primarily following the contours of the reef and its distinctive bridge formations. While no specific historical context or story is provided, its natural beauty stands as a highlight of the national park.
Puentes Reef is primarily characterized by robust hard coral formations, which form the spectacular natural bridges. The marine life here is notably vibrant, featuring a good variety of larger fish compared to other nearby sites. Divers can frequently encounter yellowfin grunts, various filefish, and groupers gracefully navigating the reef structures.
The best time to visit Puentes, like much of the Mexican Caribbean, is generally from November to May when the weather is drier and hurricane risk is low, offering excellent visibility and calm conditions. This site is particularly well-suited for both scuba divers and freedivers due to its relatively shallow average depth and captivating swim-throughs. Divers should focus on buoyancy control while exploring the bridges to protect the delicate coral ecosystem.
