I first went to Crash Boat Beach forty-two years ago. It was beautiful then and it’s still beautiful now. However, if there’s one thing I can tell you about this beach is that it’s deep… real deep (more on that in a minute).
Crash Boat is a natural beach in the municipality of Aguadilla, so as you know that means no showers, restrooms, lifeguards, safety buoys, concession stands, gazebos recycling bins, signage or written material. However, it does have an ample parking area.
During the first half of the 20th century Crash Boat used to be a military port used to rescue downed air crews from nearby Ramey Field (a US Air Force Base to the northwest that is also closed). There is still a concrete peer that today doubles as a popular fishing spot and as jump off point for local swimmers. If you decide to jump from there make sure that you ‘re a good swimmer and that you are in good enough health to swim back to shore.
Now, here’s my recollection of my first visit to Crash Boat beach. A group of friends and I rented a local fisherman to take us out for a boat ride around the crystal blue waters. I remember stopping by this large buoy that couldn’t have been any farther than 100 yards from the shore. The thing was labeled 500 FEET. So this area gets real deep real fast.
The sand is light tan colored, fluffy and very nice. The sea floor is also sandy and nice. No rocks here. And there’s a great coral reef that’s a wonderful spot for divers and snorkelers.
Here’s another recollection that I have about Crash Boat. There’s isn’t too much shade. Most beaches in Puerto Rico are peppered with palm trees that offer excellent shade. That is not the case at Crash Boat. The only shaded area is right in front of the parking area. So, if at all possible, bring your own shade.
There’s a fisherman village adjacent to the beach area which offers great photo opportunities during the day as well as several food stands where you can sample the local cuisine.