Dive Review of Jardines Aggressor in
Cuba/Gardens of the Queen

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Jardines Aggressor: "Diving Cuba's Gardens of the Queen", May, 2016, by Tom Baker, CA, US ( Sr. Reviewer 7 reports with 8 Helpful votes). Report 8954 has 3 Helpful votes.
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	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	For those of us who've been diving for a long time, this trip to the famous Jardines de la Reina was an exciting trip back in time, to when the Caribbean itself was healthy. The "inverted pyramid" trophic structure signifying healthy coral ecosystems was evident everywhere, with sharks and lots of big groupers, barracudas, and other top predators accounting for a large portion of the marine biomass. There were many sharks and groupers on almost every dive. There were clouds of baitfish, and colorful reef fish in all directions. We also saw some eagle rays, which was great! We had many encounters with green and loggerhead turtles, and many divers saw nurse sharks. The corals included lots of pillar coral, elkhorn, and staghorn (though this only in some places), which I have not seen since the 1980's. There were also lots of huge brain corals, sea fans, and barrel- and vase sponges. Lots of little creatures hid in the coral. Octopuses were seen day and night, as were some huge southern rays. We went under the auspices of the Cuban Oceans for Youth Foundation, which in addition to a week on the liveaboard included two nights and a day and a half in Havana. We had some excellent meals in Havana, toured the harbor including the El Morro Castle, Old Town, and my wife and I slipped off to visit Hemingway's home in a suburb, which was amazing. On our first morning in Havana, there was a presentation in a conference room in the hotel on Cuba's Marine Biology and Fisheries, and on its Conservation plan. The talk was given by a semi-retired former Head of the Fisheries Commission, who had played a big role in protecting the reefs we dove! The staff and crew on the boat were fantastic, as were our dive guides. Our room was very nice, with a comfortable Queen bed. Bathroom was spacious, clean, and functioned perfectly. The meals were huge and delicious, and beer and wine was included.The Aggressor was a bit narrow, so it tended to roll a bit on the 5 hour crossing from Jucaro on the mainland to the reefs, but nothing too bad. We plan to go back very soon, though we want to visit Komodo and Fiji first. So many dive destinations, so little time! But Cuba is not to be missed, and the sooner you go, the better!!
Websites	Jardines Aggressor
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	Over 1000 dives
Where else diving	California, Red Sea, Raja Ampat, Galapagos, NY/NJ Wrecks, Cayman, Great Barrier Reef, Lord Howe Island, Hawaii, French Polynesia, Maldives, Belize, BVI, Roatan, Bonaire, etc.
Closest Airport	Havana	Getting There	We flew via Panama City on COPA Airlines, which was excellent. Direct flights from US coming soon!
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny, windy, cloudy	Seas	calm, no currents
Water Temp	86-86°F / 30-30°C	Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility	50-80 Ft/ 15-24 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	Depth limits were usually 110 fsw. Dive times were an hour.
Liveaboard?	yes	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	None
Dolphins	1 or 2	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	> 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	N/A
UW Photo Comments	There was a large camera table and lower shelves on the dive deck, but people put a lot of wet stuff there, which made it unsuitable for changing lenses, ports, etc. I took mine into the main salon for that. I recharged batteries in our cabin. But camera storage was roomy and secure. There was even an air gun with which you could blow water off the housing, but heedless people often blew it onto other peoples equipment!

Report currently has 3 Helpful votes

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Dive Review of Jardines Aggressor in Cuba/Gardens of the Queen

Jardines Aggressor: "Diving Cuba's Gardens of the Queen", May, 2016,

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 Jardines Aggressor in
Cuba/Gardens of the Queen