Explore Central Cuba

Diving in central Cuba means being able to dive off the north and south coasts of the island, which means diving in two different bodies of water: the North Atlantic and the Caribbean Sea. However, what they both have in common are warm waters, clear waters, a high abundance of colorful marine life, and exciting diving opportunities. Divers can either explore these waters by signing up with a local dive center or dive resort, which are scattered around this region, or they can get aboard a liveaboard and explore the region that way.

The experience of diving here is a relaxing one for the most part. With the visibility averaging around 30 meters/98 feet, reaching over 40 meters/131 feet in some spots, the water temperatures ranging between 22°C–29°C/72°F–84°F, and a lack of currents, diving here often just feels like flying. It is possible to dive here year-round, but the peak diving season runs between November and April when it is the dry season. Jardines de la Reina is known for its high abundance of silky sharks and Caribbean reef sharks, with high chances to spot numerous other species as well. Some other animals that inhabit these waters include sea turtles, different species of rays, American crocodiles, and large tarpon. The reason that there is such a high density of marine life is due to the flourishing coral reefs here, which are made up of colorful marine flora including sea sponges of all shapes and sizes, hard corals, soft corals, anemones, sea fans, sea whips, and more. The topography on which these corals have clustered includes tunnels, caves, caverns, steep walls, plateaus, sandy bottoms, and more. These are the kinds of dives that divers will not forget easily due to the vibrant colors, variety of types of diving, and stunning diving conditions.

Places to explore

Cayo Santa Maria

Explore Central CubaDiving in central Cuba means being able to dive off the north and south coasts o

Cayo Guillermo

Explore Central CubaDiving in central Cuba means being able to dive off the north and south coasts o

Cayo Coco

Explore Central CubaDiving in central Cuba means being able to dive off the north and south coasts o

Trinidad

Explore Central CubaDiving in central Cuba means being able to dive off the north and south coasts o
Scubapro

Jardines de la Reina

Jardines de la Reina is one of the world’s most beautiful natural ecosystems also known as the Galapagos of the Caribbean.
Mares

Bay of Pigs

Bay of Pigs is a place with high biodiversity such as beautiful coral reefs, maze-like caverns, massive caves, and cenotes.
Mares

Cayo Largo del Sur

Surrounded by sugar powdered white sand beaches, you will find the idyllic island Cayo Largo with warm, shallow and calm water.

Cienfuegos

Explore Central CubaDiving in central Cuba means being able to dive off the north and south coasts o

Dive Activity

Diving in Central Cuba

Central Cuba offers a remarkable variety of dive sites that cater to both shore and liveaboard divers. One of the standout spots is the Bay of Pigs, renowned for its easy shore access and stunning underwater landscapes. Here, divers can explore colorful coral walls teeming with marine life and experience night dives that reveal nocturnal creatures such as octopuses and lobsters. The calm waters and vibrant ecosystems make it a favored destination for shore diving enthusiasts.

For those interested in wreck dives, the waters around Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo present intriguing opportunities. The sunken remains of vessels, like the shallow wrecks off Cayo Coco, are easily accessible and provide a habitat for diverse fish species. Liveaboard options in the region allow divers to explore more remote sites, offering a perfect balance of adventure and relaxation. Whether seeking the thrill of night dives or the rich history of wrecks, Central Cuba captivates with its underwater allure.

Top Wildlife Sightings in Central Cuba

In the waters surrounding Central Cuba, divers can expect to encounter a vibrant array of marine life. The area's coral reefs are home to a variety of colorful reef fish such as parrotfish, angelfish, and butterflyfish. These species are commonly seen throughout the year, providing a constant display of the reef's lively ecosystem. The region's reefs offer an ideal habitat for these fishes, making them a frequent sight among divers exploring the underwater world. Seasonal highlights include sightings of larger marine creatures. Sharks, including nurse sharks and reef sharks, are more commonly seen in warmer months, when they frequent the area for feeding. Turtles, such as the green and hawksbill turtles, often make appearances from May to September, aligning with their nesting season. Rays, including the Southern stingray and the spotted eagle ray, are also regular visitors, especially during the spring and summer when they are most active. Divers visiting during these periods stand a good chance of encountering these majestic animals in their natural habitat.

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: 27

iStock-Global_Pics

Barracuda
309 Sightings
J
22
F
40
M
21
A
42
M
16
J
13
J
63
A
26
S
5
O
19
N
16
D
26

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

Total number of species: 200

Alamy-WaterFrame

Moray Eel
244 Sightings
J
23
F
23
M
6
A
31
M
14
J
21
J
34
A
14
S
12
O
15
N
30
D
21
Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography

Green Turtle
65 Sightings
J
5
F
5
M
1
A
6
M
0
J
0
J
19
A
4
S
0
O
3
N
3
D
19

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

Total number of species: 600

iStock/ultramarinfoto

Wrasse
59 Sightings
J
5
F
5
M
7
A
24
M
2
J
0
J
3
A
2
S
3
O
1
N
6
D
1

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

Total number of species: 25

iStock/Juliosanjuan

Eagle Ray
40 Sightings
J
2
F
5
M
4
A
4
M
0
J
0
J
21
A
4
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0
iStock-ShaneGross

Loggerhead Turtle
29 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
1
A
3
M
0
J
0
J
18
A
2
S
0
O
3
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: 12

iStock/cinoby

Lionfish
438 Sightings
J
42
F
40
M
21
A
46
M
24
J
16
J
66
A
40
S
16
O
15
N
51
D
61

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

Total number of species: 100

iStock-burnsboxco

Parrotfish
431 Sightings
J
34
F
40
M
34
A
55
M
23
J
19
J
66
A
32
S
11
O
19
N
48
D
50

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

Total number of species: 90

Shutterstock-Rich Carey

Angelfish
356 Sightings
J
29
F
23
M
29
A
48
M
12
J
24
J
64
A
26
S
11
O
8
N
37
D
45

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

Total number of species: 250

Shutterstock-Henry_and_Laura_Whittaker

Grouper/Basslets
237 Sightings
J
16
F
14
M
9
A
42
M
11
J
34
J
48
A
12
S
8
O
14
N
15
D
14
Show More

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

Total number of species: 85

iStock-mirecca

Surgeonfish
227 Sightings
J
29
F
9
M
14
A
32
M
7
J
9
J
41
A
18
S
10
O
13
N
25
D
20

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

Total number of species: 130

Shutterstock_Krzysztof Odziomek

Butterfly Fish
226 Sightings
J
19
F
12
M
13
A
37
M
10
J
12
J
35
A
18
S
4
O
2
N
31
D
33

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

Total number of species: 80

iStock/Extreme-Photographer

Stingrays
180 Sightings
J
17
F
21
M
14
A
18
M
9
J
14
J
32
A
23
S
5
O
8
N
7
D
12

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

Total number of species: 7000

iStock-Michael Zeigler

Crab
176 Sightings
J
32
F
15
M
14
A
15
M
9
J
6
J
36
A
7
S
8
O
5
N
10
D
19

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

Total number of species: 110

iStock-Rainer von Brandis

Snapper
175 Sightings
J
15
F
20
M
28
A
35
M
12
J
2
J
25
A
3
S
12
O
5
N
12
D
6

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

Total number of species: 150

Shutterstock-aquapix

Sweetlips and Grunts
158 Sightings
J
16
F
4
M
10
A
26
M
9
J
7
J
17
A
6
S
1
O
6
N
28
D
28

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

Total number of species: 350

Alamy-Andre Seal

Damselfish
137 Sightings
J
18
F
9
M
13
A
15
M
10
J
10
J
17
A
5
S
0
O
2
N
19
D
19

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

Total number of species: 2

AdobeStock-hakbak

Nurse Shark
125 Sightings
J
7
F
10
M
8
A
1
M
4
J
2
J
32
A
23
S
5
O
12
N
11
D
10

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

Total number of species: 60

iStock-Global_Pics

Soldierfish
111 Sightings
J
15
F
9
M
8
A
6
M
9
J
3
J
3
A
6
S
0
O
7
N
27
D
18

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

Total number of species: 90

Shutterstock-Levent Konuk

Goatfish
110 Sightings
J
11
F
6
M
9
A
1
M
8
J
10
J
24
A
4
S
1
O
2
N
17
D
17
iStock_strmko

Silky Shark
102 Sightings
J
0
F
19
M
0
A
0
M
3
J
0
J
26
A
27
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
27

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

Total number of species: 2

iStock-stock_colors

Tarpon
98 Sightings
J
0
F
1
M
4
A
30
M
0
J
25
J
37
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: 55

k

Lobster
90 Sightings
J
13
F
15
M
4
A
6
M
8
J
3
J
28
A
2
S
0
O
6
N
2
D
3

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

Total number of species: 40

iStock-wrangel

Triggerfish
87 Sightings
J
13
F
7
M
2
A
14
M
9
J
4
J
21
A
12
S
2
O
0
N
2
D
1

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

Total number of species: 3

Shutterstock_Leo Lorenzo

Trumpetfish
85 Sightings
J
8
F
4
M
3
A
2
M
6
J
3
J
27
A
10
S
2
O
3
N
4
D
13
iStock-June Jacobsen

Whitetip Reef Shark
82 Sightings
J
0
F
1
M
7
A
24
M
0
J
0
J
5
A
0
S
8
O
12
N
8
D
17

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

Total number of species: 60

iStock-Global_Pics

Spiny Lobster
80 Sightings
J
12
F
1
M
5
A
17
M
8
J
3
J
19
A
7
S
0
O
1
N
3
D
4
AdobeStock-Marc Henauer

Grey Reef Shark
78 Sightings
J
9
F
11
M
4
A
8
M
2
J
2
J
13
A
11
S
5
O
4
N
4
D
5
k

Caribbean Reef Shark
64 Sightings
J
1
F
7
M
3
A
14
M
7
J
2
J
19
A
10
S
0
O
1
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: 60

iStock-Global_Pics

Squirrelfish
61 Sightings
J
10
F
2
M
2
A
13
M
8
J
1
J
15
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
1
D
9

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

Total number of species: 20

iStock-stephankerkhofs

Porcupinefish
59 Sightings
J
6
F
6
M
6
A
11
M
4
J
2
J
0
A
1
S
3
O
3
N
0
D
17

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

Total number of species: 25

AdobeStock_Vladimir Wrangel

Boxfish
56 Sightings
J
11
F
1
M
4
A
0
M
6
J
0
J
21
A
2
S
0
O
1
N
0
D
10

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

Total number of species: 120

AdobeStock-Composer.

Flounder
56 Sightings
J
5
F
0
M
8
A
0
M
6
J
2
J
20
A
0
S
6
O
4
N
5
D
0

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

Total number of species: 130

AdobeStock-JirinaVFR

Pufferfish
54 Sightings
J
7
F
9
M
10
A
2
M
0
J
4
J
7
A
2
S
0
O
5
N
7
D
1
AdobeStock-Nikolai Sorokin

Blacktip Reef Shark
48 Sightings
J
1
F
4
M
3
A
2
M
3
J
16
J
18
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: 28

Udo Kefrig

Clownfish
35 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
3
A
4
M
1
J
1
J
20
A
0
S
3
O
1
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: 3400

Shutterstock-Shane Gross

Shrimp
32 Sightings
J
5
F
4
M
6
A
5
M
2
J
1
J
2
A
3
S
0
O
0
N
2
D
2

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

Total number of species: 8

Alamy-Reinhard Dirscherl

Bannerfish
32 Sightings
J
4
F
1
M
2
A
4
M
3
J
5
J
1
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
1
D
11

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

Total number of species: 40

iStock-Hoatzinexp

Jackfish
28 Sightings
J
1
F
2
M
4
A
2
M
2
J
3
J
3
A
0
S
0
O
1
N
1
D
9

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

Total number of species: 3000

SSI-Peter-Schinck

Nudibranch
24 Sightings
J
4
F
0
M
1
A
13
M
5
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
1
AdobeStock-_italo

Moon Jellyfish
22 Sightings
J
0
F
1
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
19
A
1
S
1
O
0
N
0
D
0

The best Months to dive in Central Cuba

Central Cuba offers excellent diving conditions year-round, making it a popular destination for divers. The region boasts warm water temperatures ranging from 24°C–30°C/75°F–86°F, ensuring comfortable dives throughout the year. Visibility is typically impressive, often exceeding 30 meters/98 feet, providing clear views of the vibrant marine life.

While diving is possible all year, divers should be aware of the weather factors that can affect conditions. The region experiences trade winds, which can occasionally cause stronger currents and choppier waters, particularly from late fall to early spring. However, these factors are usually manageable and do not significantly hinder diving activities. The hurricane season, from June to November, may pose some risks, but diving usually continues outside of major storm events.

Dive Centers

COCO DIVING

Hotel Caminos del mar, Cayo Guillermo, CUB

AVALON CUBAN DIVING CENTERS

JARDINES DE LA REINA, JARDINES DE LA REINA, CUB

SHARKS KEEPERS DIVE CENTER

Cayo Largo, Isla de la Juventud, CUB

Dive Sites

Leonardo E. (#2993462)

Jardines de la Reina (★4.8)

A favorite spearfishing and scuba diving spot for Fidel Castro, he had no desire to see it get fished out so fishing was discouraged even before the area was officially a marine preserve. It’s situated 60 miles south of Cuba’s central coast near the village of Jucaro and VERY remote.
Coco Diving. Marlin, Cayo Guillermo, Cuba, 69410 Moron, Ciego de Avila

Barrera de Felipe (★4.4)

A little further offshore than it’s shore diving counterparts, Barrera de Felipe offers large swim-throughs and plenty of cavern overhangs for great marine life to hide. This site is a little more on the advanced side since it is around 85 feet deep.
Coco Diving. Marlin, Cayo Guillermo, Cuba, 69410 Moron, Ciego de Avila

La Morena (★3.9)

Your typical Caribbean reef dive in shallow water with no current. This site is accessible from shore, making it super easy to get to and great for beginning divers and shallow enough for good snorkeling.
Coco Diving. Marlin, Cayo Guillermo, Cuba, 69410 Moron, Ciego de Avila

La Angelica (★4.4)

The Angelica is an excellent dive site about 12 minutes by boat. It is very easy to access even on windy days. It has lush fauna and crystal clear waters.
Kay H. (#2592226)

Punta Perdiz (★4.4)

Located in the area called “Bay of Pigs,” Punta Perdiz is a very popular dive destination due to its conditions: easy diving and little current. This dive site is suitable both for beginners and expert divers. More advanced divers can slip over the wall that is accessible during the dive.
Coco Diving. Marlin, Cayo Guillermo, Cuba, 69410 Moron, Ciego de Avila

Las Terrazas (★3.8)

Las Terrazas is a dive site with crystal clear water where you can observe a great variety of fish in different colours. It is an ideal place for divers with little experience as it offers the possibility to start in shallow water.
Coco Diving. Marlin, Cayo Guillermo, Cuba, 69410 Moron, Ciego de Avila

Servimar (Wreck) (★4.5)

Servimar offers the remains of a shipwreck to explore. It is an incredible place, only 12 minutes from the diving centre, and is one of the most popular dive sites for its rich fauna and beauty. You will be fascinated by the countless species hiding under the wreck structures.
Mares, Predrag Vuckovic

Los Mogotes (★3.8)

Known as one of the best dive sites within the Jardines de la Reina National Park, Los Mogotes has it all: a mini wall drop off, healthy reef, and cavern overhangs with lots of active marine life.
Mares

Cayo Largo (★4.2)

Cayo Largo boats almost any kind of diving you could want from wall drop-offs and wrecks to calm shallow reefs full of caverns and grottoes. If you’re looking for quiet white sand beaches and great diving this is the place. The reef sits just a mile offshore.
Mares

Playa Ancon (★4.2)

There is a beautiful coral garden here that also looks quite healthy but the fish life is sparse, possibly due to overfishing by the local community.
Scubapro, Stephen Frink

Cueva de los Peces (★4.6)

An easy, calm dive withing the Bay of Pigs. Lots of reef fish, sea stars, and the posibility of seeing the elusive orange sea horse. A good dive for beginning divers and snorkelers alike.
Mares

Bay of Pigs (★4.4)

The Bay of Pigs is full of easily accessible dive and snorkel sites. Centoe diving can be found just inland from the bay area. Tropical fish, coral, some wrecks, and cenotes (sinkholes) with haloclines between the top freshwater layer and the saltwater below can be seen.
Mares

Cayo Coco (★4.1)

Cayo Coco offers good, easy, shallow diving, in some places right from shore. A great spot for beginners and snorkelers. For more advanced divers you can catch a day charter out to Jardines de la Reina on the other side of the island for amazing diving.
Mares, Janez Kranjc

Español/Borracho (★4.2)

A fun reef dive with a cave and swim-through at about 4.5 meters deep. An easy dive with no current great for beginning divers and snorkelers alike.