Cayo Coco is a tropical island located within the Jardines del Rey chain, off the north coast of Cuba, in the North Atlantic Ocean, known for its turquoise waters and white sandy beaches. There are numerous all-inclusive resorts on this island and many diving opportunities. There are numerous dive resorts and dive centers here, but there are also opportunities for divers to experience this area on a liveaboard. The clear waters here host an abundance of marine life attracted to the flourishing coral reefs, which extend over 40 kilometers/25 miles. Conservation of the reefs here is a top priority for locals, so dive guides also prioritize this when taking divers out. Here, divers can truly enjoy a plethora of different marine species of all sizes, surrounded by clear waters and colorful reefs in the background.
The types of diving here revolve around the thriving coral reefs and high density of marine species. The topography of the large majority of the dive sites here revolve around reef plateaus, reef walls, coral pinnacles and more. There are also collections of tunnels, crevices and caves, which harbour many different species such as sharks. There are also dive sites with sandy bottoms. The dive sites are reached either by liveaboard, speedboat or directly from the shore. There are also a few shore dives which are ideal for night dives, and pretty much all dive sites are a dream destination for underwater photographers
What enhances the beauty of diving in Jardines de la Reina is the crystal-clear water; with visibility averaging around 30 meters/98 feet, the calm waters as there is a real lack of currents here, and the warm waters. The water temperatures here range between 26°C–29°C/79°F–84°F. Between November and April is the dry season, which is also the time of the year with the best, calmest, and warmest waters.
There is a high abundance of species here which are attracted to the healthy, flourishing coral reefs, made up of Soft Corals, Brain Coral, Elkhorn Coral, Sea Fans, majestic Gorgonians and Sea Sponges of all shapes and colours. A few of the species which live among these reefs include large Snappers, Barracudas, Horse-eye Jacks, Crevalle Jacks, Grunts, Parrot Fish, Angel Fish, large Groupers and more. Some of the thrilling species which divers often hope to see include the graceful Eagle Rays and Stingrays and Sea Turtles. One of the main highlights of this area are the different species of Sharks including Reef Sharks and Nurse Sharks, some reaching up to 2 metre sharks. During different times of the year, there are other species of sharks present here also.
Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 200
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 27
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 25
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 300
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 80
