Dive Review of Avalon Cuban Diving Center/Tortuga in
Cuba/Gardens of the Queen

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Avalon Cuban Diving Center/Tortuga: "Tons of Sharks and Groupers", Jul, 2015, by ROBERT PECORARO, NY, US ( Contributor 17 reports with 9 Helpful votes). Report 8536.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	I went on a group trip in July. Since Cuba is not totally open yet for American tourists, I went on a license, pre-approved by the US Treasury Dept. Avalon Cuban Diving Centers has several live boards that operate in the Gardens of the Queen (Jardines de la Reina). They are the only company allowed to operate there. Everything is arranged through them, including local transportation to and from Havana, once you arrive. I stayed on the stationary live aboard called Tortuga. It is a converted barge in the middle of the mangroves and is serviced by smaller dive boats that shuttle divers to the dive sites. The Tortuga is large and comfortable. It is a floating hotel which has two stories. The rooms were also large and comfortable. The food was plentiful and quite good. The dive masters were excellent and attentive to the needs of the divers. They run a safe operation. The week long packages includes three dives a day. More can be arranged for a surcharge. The reefs in this area are pristine. I can imagine that Caribbean reefs must have been this healthy 50 years ago. There were tons of big fish, including many sharks and groupers. We also had ample opportunity to swim with friendly American Crocodiles. The reefs were often covered with so many reef fish that it resembled a living carpet. I would definitely consider this one of the best Caribbean dive destinations, if not the best.
Websites	Avalon Cuban Diving Center
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	Over 1000 dives
Where else diving	Continental US, Hawaii, caribbean, Indo Pacific, Africa, Asia, South pacific, Antarctica
Closest Airport	Havana	Getting There	Fly to Havana and overnight there. Bus pick up in the morning for a 6 hour drive and 3 hour boat ride to the mangrove area.
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	calm
Water Temp	82-84°F / 28-29°C	Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility	70-100 Ft/ 21-30 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	Buddy teams can dive their profile
Liveaboard?	yes	Nitrox Available?	N/A
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	1 or 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities
UW Photo Comments	No rinse buckets on the small dive boats. There was a rinse bucket on the Tortuga upon return. There was plenty of room for cameras on board the Tortuga

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Dive Review of Avalon Cuban Diving Center/Tortuga in Cuba/Gardens of the Queen

Avalon Cuban Diving Center/Tortuga: "Tons of Sharks and Groupers", Jul, 2015,

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

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

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

Dive Review of Avalon Cuban Diving Center/Tortuga in
Cuba/Gardens of the Queen