The diving region encompasses north of the Gulf of Mexico to the
south Caribbean. This is an
unspoiled underwater world, one of the most
beautiful and interesting regions with a coastline stretching for almost 6000
km. The wide variety of
underwater world seascapes, caves, tunnels and sunken
ships on one of the largest coral reefs in the world invite adventure. You
are able to meet rays, barracudas, sharks, moray eels, many shellfish, mollusks
and tropical fish.
We have chosen two especially interesting places from all the excellent dives
available in Cuba, Maria La Gorda in the west and the island Isla de Juventud
in the archipelago del los Canarreos. Both dives come highly recommended and
are suitable for beginners and advanced.
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Maria La Gorda is situated on the western tip of the south coast
near the Yucatan strait of Mexico. Earlier this region was the meeting
point and harbour for Corsairs and pirates and there are still sunken
galleons, anchors and canons to be seen. From Havana it's approximately
300 km to Maria La Gorda; including transfers it takes 3-4 hours to
reach.
From here we recommend trips to Pinar del Rio with its
famous tobacco factory, or a trip to the picturesque Vinales valley
where tobacco plantations and mountains paint a beautiful picture.
The hotel Villa Maria la Gorda is situated directly on an 8 km,
long, white beach. A fully equipped dive center awaits you, two
boats with emergency gear, oxygen and transmitters. Boat trips leave
direct from the hotel.
Hotel info: 35 rooms in the main builiding and 20 bungalows each with 2 double rooms, air conditioning,
TV, minibar, shower & WC (1 per bungalow). Amenities: restaurant,
bar, car rental and medical help. The hotel organizes boat tours and excursions. The restaurant specializes in fresh fish dishes.
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Here
are as many as 40 places via boat where you can dive in crystal clear water
from 5-46 meters.
Excellent dives are the cave La Sala Maria, which is approximately 20 m deep,
and the Valley of Black Coral with its 30 m long coral reef. For beginners
we recommend the Ancla del Pirata (pirate's anchor) at a depth of 15 meters.
Both
of the international dive centers provide qualified, professional staff and concentrate on the safety and comfort
of their guests.
It's not only our goal to bring you closer to the underwater world of Cuba
but to also support the development of dive sports and the respect and protection
of our maritime life and its surroundings.
ISLA DE LA JUVENTUD
Once known as the famous Parrot Island, was used
to hide the treasure of sea pirates by the likes of, Sir Francis Drake, John
Hawkins and the notorious Henry Morgan. This inspired Robert Louis Stevenson
to write his famous book "Treasure Island". On the island Punta
del Este there are cave drawings by the once native Taino Indians.
Many turtles, lizards and pelicans live on the smaller eastern cluster of
islands.
DIVE CENTER EL COLONY
The journey to the dive center El Colony begins with the flight from
Havana to the islands airport in Nueva Gerona. From there you best take a taxi cab to the Hotel El Colony.
The dive center is fully equipped and boasts its own decompression chamber.
Included are the daily transfers from the hotel to cape Punta Francés from where all the dive sites will be reached.
Hotel info: 24 bungalows, Air conditioning, shower/toilet, telephone, TV, room service. Amenities: bar, restaurant, cafeteria,
grill, swimming pool, souvenir
shop, disco, tennis court, squash, volleyball. Rentals:
mopeds, cars, catamarans, windsurfing equipment.
There are 56 places to dive ranging in depth from 5-46 m. Some are known
for their grandiose underwater valleys, tunnels and canals with over 40 kinds
of coral, including the rare black coral, living in these waters. Dive
season is all year round with an average water temperature of 24 degrees
Celsius. Visibility is excellent with calm waters in the region.
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