ExploreCayo Largo

Diving in Cayo Largo del Sur offers an unforgettable experience, with its pristine waters and diverse marine life creating a diver's paradise. Located in the Caribbean Sea off Cuba's southwest coast, this tropical island is surrounded by powdery white sand beaches and vibrant coral reefs. The warm, azure waters provide excellent conditions for both novice and experienced divers, with gentle currents and visibility often exceeding 30 meters/98 feet.

Explorers can delight in the island's underwater wonders, such as the thrilling dive sites featuring steep drop-offs and colorful coral walls. Cayo Largo is also renowned for its numerous shipwrecks, each teeming with marine life, which add a touch of mystery to the underwater landscape. Whether you prefer shore diving, embarking on boat trips, or enjoying extended adventures on a liveaboard, Cayo Largo caters to all dive styles. Seasonal visitors might even spot migrating species, adding to the island's allure as a premier dive destination.

Dive Activity

Diving in Cayo Largo

The handful of dive centres located here will take divers to explore the best of the many dive sites which lie around here. Many of the dive sites are quite shallow which means a few things; firstly, it is great for novice divers so they also have the opportunity to explore, it is great for underwater photographers because the light shines through the clear waters and it is great for those hoping to take dive courses. The topography includes steep walls and drop offs, caverns, tunnels and deeper dive sites. There are also a number of wrecks.

Top Wildlife Sightings in Cayo Largo

Aside from the high abundance of different marine species, there are two highlights here. Between May and September, Sea Turtles come and nest on one of the beaches here. This then results in the unforgettable sight of watching thousands of hatchlings run across the beach to the water. Another highlight are the large, vibrantly coloured Sea Stars which lies in the shallows close to shore. Some other large species which are most often there during the same months are large Sea Bass and large Nassau Groupers. Other species which can be spotted here on the best days are Crabs, Lobsters, Jacks, Snappers, Grunts, Tarpons, Eels, stunning Gorgonians and around 600 species of corals! In the past species such as Eagle Rays, Whalesharks, and reef Sharks have also been spotted.

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.: 27

Barracuda

Barracuda

25 Sightings
J
0
F
8
M
4
A
2
M
1
J
0
J
3
A
2
S
0
O
1
N
0
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 200

Moray Eel

Moray Eel

11 Sightings
J
0
F
8
M
1
A
0
M
1
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

Eagle Ray

Eagle Ray

10 Sightings
J
0
F
4
M
3
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
2
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0
Green Turtle

Green Turtle

5 Sightings
J
0
F
5
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0
Ocean Sunfish

Ocean Sunfish

4 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
2
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
2
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0
Grey Reef Shark

Grey Reef Shark

24 Sightings
J
2
F
5
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
10
A
3
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 100

Parrotfish

Parrotfish

18 Sightings
J
0
F
10
M
2
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
3
A
2
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Butterfly Fish

Butterfly Fish

15 Sightings
J
0
F
8
M
3
A
0
M
1
J
0
J
2
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 110

Snapper

Snapper

15 Sightings
J
0
F
4
M
3
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
2
A
2
S
0
O
1
N
0
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Angelfish

Angelfish

13 Sightings
J
0
F
7
M
3
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
2
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 2

Nurse Shark

Nurse Shark

12 Sightings
J
1
F
6
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
3
A
2
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 12

Lionfish

Lionfish

12 Sightings
J
0
F
4
M
1
A
0
M
1
J
0
J
3
A
2
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 80

Stingrays

Stingrays

10 Sightings
J
0
F
5
M
3
A
0
M
1
J
0
J
0
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 85

Surgeonfish

Surgeonfish

9 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
3
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
2
A
2
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Triggerfish

Triggerfish

9 Sightings
J
0
F
3
M
1
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
2
A
2
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
1
Blacktip Reef Shark

Blacktip Reef Shark

8 Sightings
J
0
F
3
M
3
A
0
M
1
J
0
J
0
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 55

Lobster

Lobster

6 Sightings
J
0
F
5
M
1
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Goatfish

Goatfish

5 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
1
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 2

Tarpon

Tarpon

4 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
4
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 28

Clownfish

Clownfish

4 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
3
A
0
M
1
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Jackfish

Jackfish

4 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
4
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Soldierfish

Soldierfish

4 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Trumpetfish

Trumpetfish

4 Sightings
J
0
F
3
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Spiny Lobster

Spiny Lobster

4 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
1
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 30

Sand Eel

Sand Eel

3 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
3
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 150

Sweetlips and Grunts

Sweetlips and Grunts

3 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Squirrelfish

Squirrelfish

3 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
3
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 7

Pygmy Seahorse

Pygmy Seahorse

2 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
2
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 15

Tuna

Tuna

2 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
2
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 20

Porcupinefish

Porcupinefish

2 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

Boxfish

Boxfish

2 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
2
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 7000

Crab

Crab

2 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0
Caribbean Reef Shark

Caribbean Reef Shark

2 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
1
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The best Months to dive in Cayo Largo

One of the best features of diving here is incredibly clear water. The visibility here ranges between 20 meters/66 feet and 40 meters/131 feet on average. Between November and April is the dry season, which is also the time of the year with the best, calmest, and warmest water conditions. The average water temperature here is 25°C/77°F, with it ranging between 23°C/73°F and 29°C/84°F throughout the year.

Dive Centers

Dive Sites