Where is it? Cuba's special municipality lies off the south coast of Havana Province, in the Gulf of Batabano. Cuba's least populated region, with just 75,000 inhabitants, 24,000 of them divided between the island's two main towns of Nueva Gerona and La
Fe. Formerly known as the Isle of Pines, Fidel was imprisoned here following the attack on the Moncada Garrisson. The prison has been turned into a museum in Nueva Gerona.
Getting there: Connect with an inexpensive daily domestic connector flight from Havana, or via the ferry (8 hrs), hydrofoil or catamaran (2+ hours). The flight is the best and least complicated option. The early morning flight (providing it arrives on time) allows for same-day diving. Return flight times do not allow for diving on the return day. For individual travelers, collective transfers are available for ~ $20 CUC per person from the airport to the Colony Hotel (RT).
Accommodations: Hotel Colony with collective airport transfer service available.
The Scuba Diving: 56 sites at the La Siguanea Inlet, a.k.a. the Pirate Coast. High quality bottom, canyons, caves, grottoes, black coral wall, world's tallest coral column, wrecks/galleons. Look out for buried treasure here! This zone is said by some to be one of the best in the world for diving. Your host is the El Colony International Dive Center. The dive boat departs daily at 09:30 and returns at 17:00. The dive sites are ~ 1 hour away from the dock. For those who purchase the full meal plan from the hotel, lunch is included during the dive excursion.
Map: Dive site map
| Save $$ on your dives by booking in advance! |
| Isle of Youth |
| Dives |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
| WoWCuba Price |
High Season |
$31 |
$55 |
$80 |
$107 |
$122 |
$146 |
$172 |
$190 |
$222 |
$228 |
| Low Season |
$29 |
$50 |
$77 |
$102 |
$116 |
$139 |
$162 |
$182 |
$203 |
$215 |
| Dives |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
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|
| WoWCuba Price |
High Season |
$256 |
$264 |
$284 |
$306 |
$324 |
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| Low Season |
$240 |
$253 |
$272 |
$298 |
$306 |
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Dive Reservations/Minimum Booking Requirements:
No Fee: For WoWCuba clients booking hotel, car rental reservations or tour packages. No minimum dive requirement.
Agency Service Fee applies: For dive only reservations, minimum 10 dives.
Included: Tanks, weights, boat, dive guide (per 6 divers) and transfer hotel-dive center (Return)
Not Included: Wetsuit, mask, fins, regulator, BTU and night diving equipment (available for rental locally)
Note: Divers must bring their accreditation or Dive License, logbook and passport for boarding.
High Season: Dec 15, 2008 to Mar 31, 2009, Jly 17 to Aug 31, 2009 & Easter Week
Low Season: All other dates to Oct 31, 2009 |
Description of Seabed:
The Colony dive center is found in the most exquisite part of the paradise of the National Natural Park, Marina Punta Francés. There are more than 56 greatly attractive sites which can be grouped by:
those with coral growth, gorgonias and dense sponges, others in which the edge falls dizzily, and more than 50 caves, passageways, tunnels, hillocks valleys. It's frequent to see barracuda, turtles and less frequently, sharks. Another zone is that of the sunken ships, which are remains of ships spread over an extensive area from 6 to 9 meters deep where there are large schools of fish, barracudas and rays in addition to abundant fauna attached to the planks and pieces of the wrecks.
Recommended Dive Sites (Depth in Meters / Feet)
1. Black Coral Wall (15/49)
2. Blue Cave (12/39)
3. Diver's Hiding Place (12/39)
4. Shad's Arch (14/46)
5. The Site of All (12/39)
Technical Specifications:
Dive Zone: Punta Francés
Address: Carretera Siguanea, km 42 Isla de la Juventud, Cuba
Operator: Marlin Nautica, El Colony
Dive Sites: 56
Type of seabed: Coral reefs, caves, walls, sunken ships and abundant species including barracuda, tarpons, and black coral.
Capacity: 60 divers per day in an all day trip (double immersion)
Course Certification School: ACUC
Boats: Three 41-ft yachts and One 61-ft ship
Nearest hyperbaric chamber: 42 km from the center in Nueva Gerona. (Transfer by intensive care ambulance)
Facilities: Equipment rental available
Quantity of Dive Instructors: 15
Maximum Level: Advanced
