Diving in Cuba
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JARDINES de la REINA - without any doubt the best diving spot in Cuba
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Jardines de la Reina is the name of the archipelago 50 miles southwards from Cuba and 80 miles northwards from the Cayman Islands. The name in translation means The Queen´s Gardens and comes from Christopher Columbus, who explored and named the archipelago in honour of the Spanish Queen Isabella of Castille. The Jardines de la Reina consists of 230 islets and is about 150 miles long. In the year 1996 it was proclaimed as a first sea reservation, which is the vastest protected locality in the whole Caribbean Sea. It is quite enclosed area- there are no permanent inhabitants, the commercial fishing is prohibited, only one allowed diving center, entry only with a special permission and maximal number of divers is 350 a year. HERE you can see detailed information about the diving center, accomodation and the diving boats. | |
| Because of a closeness of this area, we can see the original Carribean Sea like at Christopher´s time. Well-preserved,vital reefs, no divers far and near, only us and the sea. At a depth of 20-30 m we can take a pleasure with the 1,5-3 meters long Caribbean sharks from very familiar distance and at the surface with- little bit smaller- the Silk sharks. And the lucky ones can even come upon the Whale sharks, who are 7-12m long. Click here to play the video. |  |
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Caribbean reef shark (Carcharhinus Perezi)- fascinating creature, especially if you have an opportunity to be 50 centimetres by it... |  |
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If you are lucky, time-by-time you can snorchel with crocodile at the end of the dive. You should be very decent, because they are surprisingly very very shy beings |
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phelus Itajara), whose weigh is roughly about 200 kg and also with marvellous tarpons...Except the draughts with sharks you can enjoy a meeting with the local huge jewfish (Epine. |  |
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...phlegmatic rays and another classics of the Caribbean Sea, such as turtles, green morays, baracudas and a great many of another vermin. There are two kinds of diving spots: deeper reefs, which are famous for the Caribbean sharks, and shallow coral reefs called coral gardens. Daily routine seems like one-two deeper dives and the relaxing one hovering in the back-garden. |  |
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These shallow reefs are formed mainly by the soft corals. Among this place prance about the shoals of tiddly coral fish who creat a gorgeous fish soup. At the foot of these shallow reefs, upon the sundy bottom, we can observe the rays or the biggest sea snails - the Queen conches (Strombus giga). But attention! This big conch is an endangered species (protected by CITES agreement) and if the custom officers find his conch in your luggage, you can get into big troubles. |
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Have you ever got a shark´s guarantee? We can give you it: If you don´t meet a shark during your diving in Jardines de la Reina, AVALONS will bring back you all the money you have invested in your vacation - including the flight tickets or score at the bars !
JARDINES de la REINA:NO SHARK = FREE VACATIONS ! |
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