Scuba Diving in Cuba: My Experience Exploring Jardines de la Reina

I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have traveled to Cuba. Visiting Cuba as an American isn't as straightforward as traveling to many other Caribbean destinations, so the opportunity felt especially special. I had always imagined what the island would be like from movies and documentaries, but nothing prepared me for seeing it in person. When my scuba diving group planned a trip to Cuba, I couldn't pass up the chance.

Flying to Mexico was relatively smooth, and from there we continued on to Cuba. Before boarding our flight, we had to purchase visas at the airport, which is one of the extra steps involved when traveling to Cuba.

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Explore Cuba Beyond the Resorts

What little I did see of Cuba was extraordinary. One of the first things I noticed was the classic cars. I'd never seen so many beautifully maintained vintage vehicles in one place. It truly felt like stepping back in time.

During the drive from Santa Clara to our liveaboard, the scenery changed dramatically once we left the city. There were very few gas stations, so horse-drawn carriages were still a common form of transportation in many areas. I also noticed that many homes collected rainwater from their roofs, something I hadn't seen elsewhere during my travels.

Even from the road, Cuba felt completely different from anywhere else I've visited.

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Staying on a Liveaboard in Cuba

Instead of staying at a hotel, we spent the week living aboard the Jardines Aggressor II, a liveaboard dive boat located in Fidel Castro's former marine preserve.

If you've never stayed on a liveaboard before, it's essentially a floating hotel designed for scuba divers. You sleep, eat, and relax on the boat while traveling between dive sites.

The boat was surprisingly spacious with a large sun deck, hot tub, comfortable lounge areas, and an incredible crew who prepared all of our meals and handled every dive.

I shared a cabin with another young woman who was incredibly kind. One of the biggest perks was having our own private bathroom with a shower. After spending the day diving in saltwater, a hot shower felt amazing.

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Food on the Liveaboard

This trip is where I fell in love with fresh mangoes. Because of my dairy allergy, dessert options were limited for me, so the crew would bring me fresh mango cut into cubes instead. It ended up becoming one of my favorite parts of every meal.

Everything served onboard was fresh, delicious, and thoughtfully prepared.

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Scuba Diving in Cuba

The scuba diving in Cuba was unlike anywhere I've ever dived before. Since we were diving inside Jardines de la Reina, one of the world's largest protected marine parks, the underwater ecosystem felt incredibly healthy.

Fish seemed completely unafraid of divers, and marine life was abundant everywhere we looked. Massive groupers, colorful reef fish, lobsters, sharks, and thriving coral reefs made every dive memorable. Because the area has remained largely untouched, it felt like getting a glimpse of what many reefs may have looked like decades ago.

There was so much to explore that one week didn't feel like enough time.

*Photos of me were taken by fellow diver SG.

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By the end of the trip, my Spanish slowly started coming back to me. It's amazing how quickly a language returns when you're completely immersed in it. By the time we flew home, I was able to go through airport security speaking Spanish.

Cuba ended up being one of the most unique places I've ever visited. Between the incredible diving, fascinating culture, classic cars, and untouched marine life, it was unlike anywhere else I've traveled.

If you ever have the opportunity to scuba dive in Cuba, I highly recommend taking it. It's an experience I'll never forget.

Frequently Asked Questions About Scuba Diving in Cuba

Can Americans scuba dive in Cuba?

Yes, although there are additional travel requirements compared to many destinations. Our group traveled from Atlanta into Cuba directly. I believe we got visas in the airport before flying.

Where did you dive in Cuba?

We dove in Jardines de la Reina aboard the Jardines Aggressor II liveaboard.

Is scuba diving in Cuba worth it?

Absolutely. The protected marine environment makes it one of the healthiest reef ecosystems I've ever experienced.