A survey was conducted of existing water-based recreational areas and facilities in Southwest Puerto Rico to determine whether the water resource facilities are being fully utilized. Two series of personal interviews were conducted to determine the opinions of a sample of the users of these water-based recreational facilities. The results indicate that weekend holiday attendance at beaches is higher; people at water-based recreational facilities prefer swimming to sailing and surfing; the majority of visitors go to beaches year round. It is concluded that the demand for water-based recreational facilities in Southwest Puerto Rico is extremely low with a few exceptions. If the Puerto Rican Government succeeds in the industrial development of the Southwest region, the demand will increase considerably. In that case, the government should improve beach facilities, build better access roads and publicize the location of the more remote water recreation areas. Government programs in these areas should also try to consider the ecology of the area and the potential environmental damage from wide scale industrial development. (WRSIC abstract)