Where is Garden of the Queen Cuba?
Sixty miles off the southeastern coast of Cuba, Jardines de la Reina (Gardens of the Queen) National Park encompasses a chain of 250 virgin coral and mangrove islands. It is Cuba’s first marine park and the largest no-take marine reserve in the Caribbean.
Can US citizens scuba dive in Cuba?
Group people to people programs and group educational programs are still valid. It is by these group programs that US citizens can visit Cuba and scuba dive. The Treasury Department has warned travelers both before and after the changes that travel for tourism is still restricted.
Where is Jardines de la Reina located?
Cuba
Jardines de la Reina, sometimes called “Cuba’s Coral Garden”, is one of the last major intact marine protected areas (MPAs) in the Caribbean. This archipelago covers about 684,000 hectares in the Gulf of Ana Maria off the southern coast of Cuba.
How long is Jardines de la Reina?
about 200 km long
Situated on the Caribbean, the Gardens of the Queen consist of a vast area with countless islands, reefs, beaches and flats forming a large archipelago of about 200 km long. Over 400 km separate Habana from Jucaro, the harbor with access to the fishing areas.
How do you dive in Jardines de la Reina?
TYPICAL DIVE IN Jardines de la Reina Jardines de la Reina is a liveaboard-only destination and diver numbers are limited to 350 per year. The only operator that is permitted to work within the National Park is the Avalon Diving Center who runs three traditional liveaboards plus a floating hotel called ‘Tortuga’.
Is diving in Cuba good?
Cuba is one of the top countries in the world for scuba diving. With well-preserved coral reefs and an abundance of marine life, Cuba has a lot to offer. Strong environmental protection laws mean that Cuban waters have not suffered the same fate as other Caribbean islands.
Does Cuba have good scuba diving?
Scuba Diving in Cuba Offering beautiful coral reefs, world-class shark diving, a rich variety of marine-life, and the rare opportunity to dive with saltwater crocodiles, scuba diving Cuba means diving one of the best Caribbean diving destinations.
How do I get to Jardines de la Reina Cuba?
The Jardines de la Reina is accessible by boat only from the small port town of Jucaro in the Ciego de Ávila province of Cuba. Depending on the weather conditions, the boat ride can take between two and a half and five hours. Currently, there is only one company operating dive trips in the Gardens of the Queen.
Where can you dive in Cuba?
The Best Scuba Diving Spots in Cuba
- Jardines de la Reina in the Caribbean Sea.
- Bay of Pigs in the Gulf of Cazones.
- Punta Francés on the Isla de la Juventud.
- Cayo Largo near Cienfuegos.
- María La Gorda on the western tip of Cuba.
- USS Merrimac in Santiago de Cuba.
- Cayo Guillermo and Cayo Coco in Jardines del Rey.
Can you swim with sharks in Cuba?
With All Star Avalon II Swim with the Sharks Because the park’s waters are protected and untouched by the masses, sharks are much more friendly and curious than in many dive destinations. Explore unique topography – walls with tunnels, caverns and giant ledges, home to tarpon and fairy basslets.
Where is the best scuba diving in Cuba?
Are there tiger sharks in Cuba?
The Caribbean reef shark is the most common in Cuban waters. There have also been rare sightings of tiger sharks and bull sharks, with a questionable great white shark encounter many years ago.