The diving stole the show. Clear water, pristine reefs and sharks galore.
Robin C.
Dive Jardines de la Reina with All Star Cuba
Cuba Liveaboard Dive Travel
Dive Cuba’s Jardines de la Reina National Marine Park on the dive liveaboard All Star Cuba. U.S. travelers qualify for legal travel to Cuba through the All Star Cuba travel program that has been crafted in conjunction with Blue Sanctuary and Dr. Fabián Piña Amargós.
Travel can be arranged through Havana, Santa Clara or Camagüey. Visas are issued at the airport prior to departure.
Gardens of the Queen
Dive in Cuba’s pristine waters with silky, reef, hammerhead, blacktip, lemon and nurse sharks, Goliath grouper and an abundance of fish and macro-critters. Find healthy coral reefs without traveling half-way around the world. Even snorkel with crocodiles.
Trips include accommodations, diving, tanks and weightbelts, educational workshops, meals, snacks, beverages and eco adventures.
Highlights
Starting from: $3,525.00
- Departs Jucaro on Saturdays to Jardines de la Reina Marine Park (Gardens of the Queen)
- 7 nights all inclusive
- Up to 22 dives including 2 night dives
- Luxury accommodations with private baths, TVs
- Guest to crew ratio: 20 to 10
- Eco adventures
Situated on the south side of the island of Cuba 60 miles from shore, Jardines de la Reina Marine Park (Gardens of the Queen) is an 840-square mile (2,170 km2) playground with an abundance of fish species, macro-critters, 6 species of sharks and colorful corals of all textures and shapes.
Because these nutrient-rich waters have been protected and are free of outside influences, its underwater inhabitants are extremely friendly and inquisitive.
The park is protected from wind and marine currents and offers a variety of dives including walls, reefs, tunnels, coral caves and canyons.
During your dive experience, you can see:
- Schools of grunts, jacks and more jacks
- Eels, turtles and eagle rays
- Close encounters with schools of reef sharks, silky sharks and silver tarpon
- Parrotfish, big black grouper and Goliath grouper
- Tuna, cobia, mackerel, sea trout, channel crab, barracuda
- Macro-critters: anemones, nudibranch, blennies, decorator crabs, cleaning stations, banded coral shrimp
Dive Sites
With more than 80 dive sites in the Jardines de la Reina Marine Park (Gardens of the Queen), divers will discover an amazing pristine environment. Highlights of the liveaboard dive trip include:
- Black Coral I and II
- Boca de Piedra
- Cuevo del Pulpo
- Farallón
- Finca de Pepe
- Five Seas
- Los Indos
- Los Mogotes
- Moñtana Rusa
- Peruano
- Pipín
- Vicente
Eco Adventures
- Snorkeling with endangered crocodiles
- Feeding furry native hutías and iguanas
- Birdwatching
- Exploring islands and inlets
- Touring lagoon and mangrove channels
- Watching the sun set over the Caribbean Sea
- Assisting with conservation efforts
Shark Diving
Discover the thrill of swimming with sharks in their native habitat and learn about the important role sharks play in the ecosystem.
Year-round Jardines de la Reina Marine Park (Gardens of the Queen), where fishing is not permitted, is home to 6 species of sharks: Caribbean reef, silky, nurse, lemon, great hammerhead, blacktip and seasonally whale sharks.
The Vessel
All Star Cuba has partnered with Avalon Diving to offer a luxury scuba diving liveaboard experience. With a fleet of luxury liveaboards traveling to Jardines de la Reina, all cabins include individually climate controlled AC, private bathroom and a TV.
These spacious liveaboards offer a dive deck with camera tables and warm water showers, a lounge, a shaded alfresco relaxation space with seating, dining room and bar area and a sundeck with a Jacuzzi® and lounge chairs.
Once in the marine park, the vessel anchors in calm waters while divers are transported on specially designed power boats to dive sites. While traveling from port to the park, the vessel cruises at a speed of 12-knots allowing for a quick and stable ride. All Star Cuba combines a luxury experience with comfort in a casual atmosphere.
Gardens of the Queen Marine
Conservation & Education
Our objective: To engage, while in Cuba, in a full-time schedule of activities intended to enhance contact with the Cuban people, support civil society in Cuba, or promote the Cuban people’s independence from Cuban authorities. Each traveler must have a full-time schedule of educational exchange activities that will result in meaningful interaction between the traveler and individuals in Cuba.
All Star Liveaboards has crafted a program in which guests can have meaningful interactions with the Cuban people and assist in conservation efforts through various projects. The Jardines de la Reina Marine Park is a beacon of hope and a prime example of proper ecosystem management. Throughout the week guests will have interactions with marine biologists, naturalists, dive guides and fish and wildlife officers.
Experience the
All Star Avalon Adventure
FAQs
Yes, with prior arrangement, you can rent dive gear. For rental rates, click here. Please request these items on your Trip Application. All rentals must be ordered and paid in advance. No rentals or purchases can be made on the boat.
To learn more about the Blue Sanctuary program, click here.
Boarding the vessel can begin any time after 2:00pm. Typically the bus from Havana arrives after boarding begins.
The All Star Cuba returns to port on Friday. Guests overnight on the vessel and disembark by 9:00am on Saturday in order to board the bus Camagüey, Santa Clara or Havana.
