Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean. Her northern coasts are on the Atlantic Ocean and her southern coasts are on the Caribbean Sea. Both coasts are protected by a well-preserved barrier of coral reefs. You will never be more than 50 km from one of the two coasts. Even though there are some differences between both coasts, you can dive all year round in water temperatures between 26 and 30 degrees Celsius. The island is considered one of the best diving destinations in the Caribbean.
Cuba has more than 1,500 cays and smaller islands, all of them suitable for recreational diving, many of which are supported by dive centres. In the southern area of Cuba, underwater visibility can reach 50 meters between November and May, decreasing in summer to a minimum of between 15 and 25 meters, which is still good. María la Gorda in Piñar Del Río, Cayo Largo, Santa Lucia in Camaguey, Faro Luna in Cienfuegos or the sunken fleet of the Spanish-Cuban-American War off the coast of Santiago de Cuba are good places for recreational diving. The Bay of Pigs is also very popular. And last but not least, the spectacular Jardines de la Reina boasts a huge marine national park south of Camaguey; due to its remote less, this park is only available by liveaboard.
If you are lucky, you can see sharks anywhere in Cuba, but if you want to be sure, go to Santa Lucía, in Camaguey province. Here, you can observe and swim with bull sharks through organized excursions. In Jardines de la Reyna, you can see different types of sharks in large numbers. Sharks are also known to swim in the South of Cienfuegos, on the Jagua Bank.
In Cuba, dive training with international certification are available at all levels and for most specialties. Please bear in mind that in Cuba, diving is not allowed without a professional guide, who are competent, experienced, and professional. Most resorts offer free diving classes for beginners. Given the excellent weather conditions and easy access to dive sites, Cuba is an ideal place to learn to dive, to challenge yourself with additional training, or simply to enjoy diving. Compared to other destinations in the Caribbean, Cuba offers an exceptional affordability and value – all within short flights from central Canada. As most of the dive sites are located close to cities and numerous cultural and historical places, your dive vacation can also be combined with other activities in a country whose people pride themselves on their hospitality to travellers.
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