The warm clear waters of Cuba, hold treasures in terms of biodiversity in it’s miles and miles of coral reefs. Right from the underwater caverns that provide mysterious confines which beg inspection to the plentiful wrecks including a sunken torpedo boat and a fallen transport plane now safe havens for an unparalleled variety of marine life, Cuba is a diving dream turned reality.

Currently on offer there are 31 diving centers at 18 different zones and 100′s of dive sites with new areas being developed everyday. Of these, Maria La Gorda located in the Pinar Del Rio province of Cuba, a scenic 4 1/2 hours drive from Havana past scenic banana, sugar cane and tobacco plantations is one of the most loved Cuban dive spot even if it’s one of the least developed areas of the island. It has two distinct dives zones – a shallow area that gently slopes away from the beach for a short way before suddenly dropping steeply to several thousands meters below sea level on a near vertical plane. The drop creates some impressive walls cut with tunnels and caverns. Other underwater sights include black coral walls, 18th century shipwrecks and a few caves.

For something a little closer to the country’s capital city of Havana, Cayo Levisa is the place to go. It’s just one of the thousands of cays and islets surrounding Cuba. An hour outside the capital on the north west of the island, this Cuban dive site is home to sponges, black coral and some of the larger tropical fish. It’s also home to some of the island’s more memorable shipwrecks from the 17th and 18th Century. Cayo Largo, in the south of the island is another obvious choice for diving with it’s virtually untouched beaches and coral reefs. A great place for beginners as it is protected against any strong currents in it’s huge reef.

About 90 miles east of Havana, Varadero is a top Cuban beach destination and a dive site where you can spot a sunken torpedo boat,or check in on a fallen transport plane.

Then there’s the peculiarly named Bay of Pigs dive site, a fabulous 30 m swim through with small coral gardens at 6 m then drop off down a fantastic coral encrusted wall with Tuna, Barracuda, jacks and the likes. Playa Giron near the Bay of Pigs too has some good diving. Renowned for it’s shelf diving, the area has sheer drop offs near the shore which make for some great swim-throughs.

No matter where in Cuba you choose to dive you can’t be disappointed. If nothing, the clear warm waters, 30-40m visibility and abundant coral life make it a joy to dive. So the next time your planning a scuba diving trip, head to the Caribbean don’t forget to experience some ‘Cuba Diving’!

*Photo Credits: photos by copepodo, species_snob, Watertons on flickr

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Cuba Diving Explored was written by Noreen for Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog - Bringing You The Other 70% Of Our World

Diving conditions in the Caymans is second to none, and with an astonishingly clear underwater visibility usually ranging from 150′ to 200′, the reefs of Cayman Brac are perfect for snorkelers or scuba divers to explore its waters.  While there are dive sites catering to all kinds of divers, Cayman Brac dive sites are renowned primarily for their abundant Wall and Wreck Diving sites. There are over 46 frequented dive sites from which at least 20 are wall diving sites and four ship wrecks to explore.

Out of the four ship wrecks, the Russian Frigate 356 – MV Capt. Keith Tibbetts is perhaps the most popular, and is a 330 foot vessel with its bow in 85 feet of water, and the stern in 60 feet. Sunk in 1996 the wreck is relatively intact and can be visited by both snorkelers and divers. This wreck is a must do dive for anyone visiting Cayman Brac, and there are over 100 species of fish inhabiting the wreck which is partially penetrable and made diver friendly.

The wall diving at Cayman Brac is simply breathtaking. Wall dive sites surround all sides of the island and are teeming with of all types, colors, and sizes of coral and sponges cascading down the wall faces. Each wall is peppered with small caves and ledges that are waiting to be explored. One of the best walls to dive at is located in the Bloody Bay Marine Park which is technically a Little Cayman site, but easily accessible by boat from Cayman Brac. This site has been rated frequently by several dive magazines and sites as one of the best wall diving sites in the world. With underwater ledges starting at 20 feet and dropping suddenly to a few thousand feet honeycombed with caves and crevices, this one mile long wall is near the deepest part of the Caribbean Sea. The abundance of coral life and sponges are second only to the hundreds of species of fish and marine life that inhabit this region. The big-lipped Nassau Grouper and Turtles are regular features of this site.

Getting to Cayman Brac is relatively simple. Tourist can get in from the US Mainland (Miami) through Grand Cayman where smaller aircraft transport you to the airstrip at Cayman Brac. LeisurePro Travel currently offers up amazing Cayman Brac packages for 7 nights on either resort or liveaboard.  The Brac Reef resort package Includes 7 nights Standard accommodations, airport transfers, breakfast and dinner daily and 12 boat dives with Reef Divers, and the second diver gets half off!

photos from flickr by: lyng883, Venson Kuchipudi, joeduty

Dive Cayman Brac the Caribbean’s Wall Diving Capital was written by Nevin for Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog - Bringing You The Other 70% Of Our World

Saba’s Marine park was established in 1987 soon after Sister island Bonaire had officially designated its marine park in 1981 to control diver impact, fishing and protect the pristine marine ecosystem. Today it is one of the best marine parks in the world, winning several honors for its promotion of research and education of the reef. The Park extends around the entire island from the shore down to a depth of 200 feet and is divided into different zones.

Diving in Saba is an unparalleled experience. There are three well-experienced and fully equipped local dive shops on shore that work with the Marine park manager in collecting data and ensuring compliance to the parks rules and zoning.  The Island has its own four person hyperbaric chamber donated by the Dutch navy, to treat diving accidents and decompression sickness. All diving is done in the protected zones of the marine park and no anchoring is allowed. There is a system of mooring buoys set up at each dive site where dive boats can anchor and there are 30 mooring buoys representing the 30 odd dive sites ranging in depths from 15 to 120 feet. The marine park charges a $4 fee per diver which is used to maintain and improve the Saba Marine Park. A majority of the dive sites are located towards the South West Caribbean facing portion of the island while there are a few sites in the Atlantic facing side as well.

Saba is a great place to spot some of the larger pelagic  fish such as Sharks, Barracuda, Jacks, snapper and Grouper and there are certain dive sites such as Saba’s famous pinnacles that to allow you to do just that.  The Volcanic origins of the island have also left divers with some spectacular lava tubes, swim-through’s, caves and hot-springs that are a spectacular sight.  There are also dive sites that are so abundant with marine life that almost every kind of fish and marine creature in the Caribbean can be found here in one location which is almost a sensory overload for divers.

Saba is truly the Unspoiled Queen of the Caribbean and a must visit destination for any scuba diver.  The LeisurePro Travel Portal currently offers diver’s a 7 night’s stay travel package to Saba as one of their featured deals which offers a great itinerary custom designed for divers.

photos from flickr by: alfonsator, peacenik1, underwatertourist

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Dive Saba in the Dutch Caribbean was written by Nevin for Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog - Bringing You The Other 70% Of Our World

St. Kitts and Nevis are two separate islands often referred to together as they are separated by a narrow channel that is only two miles apart making it easy for tourist to visit both islands in one trip. Both the Islands have their own airports offering connections to both the US mainland, Europe and South America making them easily accessible.

The Island of Nevis is just 36 square miles and its center rises upwards to a dense cloud forest. At the center of St. Kitts the larger of the two sister islands, stands the spectacular, cloud-fringed peak of Mount Liamuiga a dormant volcano that also covered by dense tropical forest.

As a dive destination both Islands offer stunning unparalleled dive sites, with over 70 dive sites around Nevis alone. Famous for its enormous Pillar coral, tube sponges,  all kinds of diving is available here enough to please even the most choosiest divers, from wrecks, wall diving, coral reefs, thermal vents, cave diving to watching whale migrations from up close.

‘The Thermal Vents’ is a must visit dive site for anyone visiting St. Kitts or Nevis, and comprise of a reef that begins at 35 feet and plunges to 95 feet, covered in black volcanic trees. Divers can visit this underwater thermal vent where 100 F/38C water spews from the bottom which is a unique experience in itself. Some of the largest lobsters and arrow crabs inhabit this site

‘Devil’s Caves’ is another spectacular 40 foot dive located at the southernmost point of Nevis. Divers can navigate through caverns and overhangs teeming with marine life such as, Nurse Sharks, stingrays, lobster and Blue Tangs.

“River Taw Wreck” is a the remnants of a 144 foot long, wreck of an inter island freighter sunk  in 50 feet of water in 1985 and has been split into two by hurricane Hugo. Encrusted in coral this dive site is home to scores of turtle, squirrel fish, snappers and rays, and makes an excellent night dive.

The Narrow channel, which is the two mile stretch of water that separates St. Kitts from Nevis is also a spectacular dive site to see nurse sharks, white tips and other marine life that inhabit ‘the waters around ‘Booby Island’ which is a tiny island in the channel. Turtles are simply abundant around the island, and if you dive at night you’ll probably see them fast asleep tucked somewhere along a wall.

During the months of January to April Nevis is visited by humpback whales and dolphins.  Several Dive Operators offer Whale & Dolphin Safaris where you get a chance to snorkel or dive with these magnificent creatures.  Often hydrophones are dropped in the water to listen for the clicks, whistles and singing of the whales.

If you’re looking for a Caribbean dive holiday that includes stunning rain forests, mountains, secluded beaches, pristine coral reefs and two Islands for the price of one, look no further than the Island of St. Kitts and Nevis, and we’re sure you’ll not be disappointed.

Leisurepro Travel now offers scuba packages at both St. Kitts and Nevis at attractive prices

* Photos from flickr by: J. Stephen Conn , Nick Hobgood, Márcio Cabral de Moura

Dive the Caribbean at St.Kitts and Nevis was written by Nevin for Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog - Bringing You The Other 70% Of Our World