Some more tacking, this way and that (20 miles east of Puerto Rico to be precise), had us enjoying the lazy hazy days of blue skies and hot, hot sun,
and before we knew it, we were anchored in Laguna de Cornello (Culebra-Puerto Rico). Culebra is actually an archipelago: the main island and twenty-three smaller islands that lie off its coast. Most of the island is made up of volcanic rock, and it sure looks and feels it... the scenery dry and arid (and the freshwater is actually brought over from Puerto Rico, via Vieques!).
Interestingly, residents of the island are known as Culebrenses.
With the outbreak of WWII in 1939, the Culebra Archipelago became the primary gunnery and bombing practice site for the Navy, and it continued to be used as such until 1975. Looking at the charts, there are many places to avoid anchoring due to "undetonated ordnances". Yikes....
We needed instant relief before we would turn into crispy critters, and so it was time to do some underwater navigating... the waters a comfortable 30 degrees and the maze of reefs had us scrambling this way and that, following the surge, and exploring...