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Dive Review of Ancon in
Cuba/Trinidad

 
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Ancon, Nov, 2006,

by Brian Verbonac, Ontario, Canada (Reviewer Reviewer 4 reports). Report 3410.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 2 stars Food 2 stars
Service and Attitude 1 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 2 stars Shore Diving 1 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ N/A
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 1 stars
Comments The good part of trip was the cost...one week all inclusive from Toronto was $370 Canadian plus taxes...the cost of diving for the week was $300 Canadian so all in all...a cheap week. The dive masters here, as in all of Cuba, are knowledgeable and true professionals in every sense of the word....as good as anywhere we've been diving.

On the other side of the coin , the flight was a late one from Toronto so after the flight, clearing customs , finding the correct bus , stopping at another hotel on the way coupled with the long ride , we didn't get to the Ancon until 3:00AM. No one around except the desk clerk who could not leave to show us where our rooms were... an exercise in futility...not a good start.

We were in the "new wing" but the rooms were still very tired... we have made numerous trips to Cuba so this is a true value description of the accommodations. The food...well...again..not really up the the standards found in other parts of the Island. Normally , when there are several hotels together on a beach , you can visit back and forth to see what's available elsewhere...but...and this is a big problem here...you cannot do this without taking a taxi and arriving at the front of the hotel to get clearance...like really...you walking on the beach..in a bathing suit...white as snow and the guard figures your up to no good...won't let you into the hotel from the beach entrance....extremly annoying.

The week we were there , the dive boat was broken and it's replacement was a 40' catamaran...this is a fun boat but not a dive boat...cramped quarters for the dive deck area , difficult to get into the water and a pain to get back on board. Getting from shore to the boat was another adventure all in itself...there is no dock , so , you get into a small tender at the beach , row with pieces of plank[ no paddles or oars ] to the catamaran and hope you don't fall into the water as you climb aboard...the good part..the crew paddle for you.

The diving...well...ok for beginners. Shallow dives with not a lot of variety. Corals were average...no large fish at all and very few small fish or critters. I inquired why not a lot of any type around and advised that the whole area has pretty well been fished out with no regard for marine management.

Wrapping up...I would pass on this location despite the great price.. we travel to dive , dive , dive only and were very disappointed with all aspects of this trip.



Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 251-500 dives
Where else diving Cuba[Santa Lucia, Cayo Largo, Trinidad] San Andres, Red Sea, Palau, Yap, Roatan, Utila
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas choppy
Water Temp 78-80°F / 26-27°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 50-100 Ft/ 15-30 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions No restrictions after check-out dive and dive masters realized you were experienced
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles 1 or 2 Whales None
Corals 2 stars Tropical Fish 1 stars
Small Critters 1 stars Large Fish 1 stars
Large Pelagics 1 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter 2 stars Boat Facilities 1 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 1 stars Shore Facilities 1 stars
UW Photo Comments No additional facilities for UWP.
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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