The Top 5 Dive Sites In Cuba

O ne of the most popular           Located on the west of Cuba,       holiday types we sell at        local to Pinar del Rio, Maria la   Captivating Cuba is the         Gorda is a beautiful dive spot     scuba diving holiday. Cuba            surrounded by nature – it’s one    attracts swarms of divers every       of the least developed areas of    year, attracted by its calm, warm     the island. The dive site itself   waters, its stunning coral reefs,     is found in the Guanahacabibes     sunken shipwrecks and dazzling        Peninsula, which is a world        array of tropical fish. The           biosphere preserve and has two     waters boast an average annual        dives zones, with underwater       temperature of over 24 degrees        sights including black coral       centigrade, and with an average       walls, 18th century shipwrecks,    visibility of 98 feet, allowing       flora and fauna. There are also    divers an excellent view of the       caves around for those looking to  underwater paradise the Cuban         experience cave and cavern         dive sites offer. The lack of         diving, and possibly night diving  strong currents and variety of        trips if the demand is there. The  dive sites available mean that        site is a 4 hour transfer from     the island is a perfect training      Havana, but it is well worth the   ground for Cuba’s diving virgins,     trip to experience what is one of  as well as offering a challenge       the finest Cuba dive sites.        for those who were born in a wet                                         suit!                                 Cayo Levisa                                                                                                 So without further ado, here’s a      If you’re looking for something a  list of Captivating Cuba’s top 5      little more accessible from the    Cuban diving sites:                   island’s capital, then Cayo                                              Levisa may be the answer. Located  Maria la Gorda                        on the north west of the island,                                         about an hour’s trip from Havana,  the Cuban dive site is home to        can be taken between the two       sponges, black coral and some of      locales and take around 45         the islands larger tropical fish.     minutes.                           It’s also home to some of the                                           island’s more memorable               Playa Giron                        shipwrecks, with 17th and 18th                                           century wrecks of archaeological      Just east of the Bay of Pigs is    interest free for divers to           Playa Giron. The international     explore. If you want to make          dive centre here deals mainly in   diving the focus of your holiday,     shelf diving with additional       the Hotel Cayo Levisa allows          trips out to local deep caves in   Cuba’s divers to stay in one of       the region. The main attractions   its 40 rooms for the duration of      of this Cuba dive site are the     their trip                            sheer drop offs near shore which                                         are punctuated with swim           Cayo Largo                            throughs, making for memorable                                           shore dives. The site has some     Located on the southern side of       shallow shore dives to initiate    the Cuba, Cayo Largo showcases        beginners, while more experienced  virtually untouched beaches and       divers will be enamoured by the    coral reefs. The sea also             inland cave dives available.       includes mountains of coral reefs                                        and a wide range of fish and          Because of the distance from       chelonians – and because of the       Havana (a road transfer will take  nearby coral reef, the Cuban dive     upwards of 4 hours), I would       spot is protected from strong         recommend staying in one of the    currents making it ideal for          Hotel Playa Giron’s 290 rooms.     beginners. Although this is           It’s certainly popular with        around 177 kilometres from            Cuba’s divers – indeed; in 1994 a  Havana, local domestic flights        ship was deliberately sunk for     the benefit of the diving             they are visible on the surface.   population.                           The waters here are so clean and                                         clear that the zone is highly      Faro Luna                             recommended for Cuban divers who                                         wish to engage in some underwater  Last but not least on my list is      photography.                       Faro Luna, found in the                                                  Cienfuegos province on the south      Those visiting Cuba to dive are    of the island. The city has           in for a real treat. I’ve only     received many accolades for           namechecked 5 Cuban diving sites   maintaining the clean environment     here that warranted extra special  of the water – and as a result of     mention, but the clear, warm       this and the 28 dive sites in the     waters, tropical fish and          region, it remains a popular area     stunning coral formations mean     with Cuban diving enthusiasts.        that wherever divers in Cuba go,   The Faro de Luna Diving Center        they are unlikely to be            has shipwrecks, marine life and       disappointed.                      coral formation barriers so high       About the Author: Emma Lelliot is the general manager of Captivating Cuba, an independent Cuba holiday specialist. The company offer many packages that include diving in Cuba for novices and experts. Published At: www.Isnare.com