A trip on the Jardines Aggressor II offers the unique opportunity to immerse yourself in a fascinating underwater world and discover an exceptionally well-preserved ecosystem.
The ship has a spacious, air-conditioned saloon and an inviting dining area. There is also a spacious deck with a whirlpool, comfortable lounge chairs, deckchairs and a bar with barbecue. For music lovers, there is a stereo system with CD player and iPod connection. Sun worshippers can relax on the spacious sun terrace and enjoy the impressive Cuban landscape.
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Two balcony suites with comfortable double beds and ten deluxe cabins with adjacent single beds are available on board. Each cabin is equipped with a private bathroom, shower and individually controlled air conditioning to ensure maximum comfort.
The Jardines de la Reina Marine Park is a paradise for divers, and the local marine biologists on board are happy to teach you about the conservation of this unique ecosystem and share their knowledge with you. Liveaboard diving in Cuba offers divers the opportunity to visit pristine coral reefs with their abundance of underwater fauna, including up to 6 different species of sharks such as hammerheads and silky sharks, huge schools of snappers, giant groupers, and in the right season there is even a chance of spotting whale sharks.
Guests can look forward to a variety of leisure activities, including exciting diving presentations, films and board games. A small on-board library with a selection of books, including specialised literature on fish identification, invites you to browse.
The evenings on board offer a variety of entertainment - from educational fish identification presentations and film screenings to interactive games and other activities. Personal preferences are taken into account to customise the experience.
Throughout the voyage, guests enjoy first-class catering with an exquisite selection of freshly prepared meals, snacks and drinks that provide culinary variety and maximum enjoyment.
Travel highlights
The Jardines de la Reina (Gardens of the Queen) are located 60 miles off the south-eastern coast of Cuba and are the largest marine reserve in the Caribbean.
The area was declared a national park in 1996 and has been managed for protection and conservation ever since.
With sharks, beautiful reefs, turtles, pelagic species, caves, canyons and schools of fish, the abundant marine life and well-preserved coral reef is a paradise for divers.
Dive sites in the Jardines de la Reina:
Cabezo de la Cubera
The depth ranges from 5.5 to 19 metres. "Cabezo" is a Cuban term for an isolated coral formation on a sandy bottom. This area has a circular "cabezo" with a diameter of around 180 metres. Here, large schools of dog snapper and kubera snapper can be found in the water column above the coral reef, as well as schools of mutton and yellowtail snapper among the corals. There are also Caribbean reef sharks, various grouper species, stingrays and turtles. After rounding the coral formation, divers reach a shallow wall with clouds of blue surgeonfish and huge schools of tarpon.
Black Coral I
The depth ranges from 22 to 29 metres. Bands of coral growing near the edge of the platform (break-off edge) are more than 9 metres high above the sandy areas between them. There are abundant colonies of black coral, a resident population of more than 20 Caribbean reef sharks, huge black groupers that constantly come very close to the divers, schools of jacks that rub against the sharks to remove parasites, parrotfish, schools of schooling snappers and yellowtail snappers as well as rainbow runners and oceanic triggerfish.
Black Coral II
The depth ranges from 18 to 27 metres. Imposing coral pinnacles near the edge of the platform, a resident population of more than 25 reef sharks (Carcharinus Perezi) patrolling the coral pinnacles. Large colonies of black coral, huge sponges, deep-sea gorgonians, schools of midnight parrotfish, king mackerel, black groupers, moray eels, hawksbill turtles and a friendly nurse shark that comes very close to the divers. Shoals of oceanic triggerfish and solitary eagle rays pass by in the blue depths.
Five Seas
The depth ranges from 6.5 to 20 metres. Under the wall there are overhangs with impressive resident schools of tarpon, black coral and colourful sponges. Divers go underneath and the tarpon come as close as two centimetres to the mask to flash away with a shiny silver flash. A resident population of more than 15 Caribbean reef sharks, snappers, black groupers, goliath groupers (Epinephelus Itajara) that come very close. There is a wreck 15 metres long, a ship from the port of Júcaro that was used as a pilot boat and was named "Five Seas". It was deliberately sunk and the remaining parts of the ship are overgrown with corals, sponges and schools of jacks and black coral.
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Deluxe double twin, lower deck
- 2 single beds
- adjustable air conditioning
- En-suite bathroom
- max. 2 guests
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Deluxe double or twin, lower deck
- 1 double or 2 single beds
- Adjustable air conditioning
- En-suite bathroom
- max. 2 guests
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Mater balcony upper deck
- 1 double or 2 single beds
- Adjustable air conditioning
- En-suite bathroom
- max. 2 guests
Included:
VAT, soft drinks, tea & coffee, drinking water, wine with dinner, welcome cocktails, snacks, full board (all meals), diving packages, shore excursions, towels for use on deck, cabin towels, beach towels, laundry/ironing service.
Required extras:
harbour dues (240 EUR per trip), environmental tax (120 EUR per trip).
Optional extras:
diving insurance, tips, hotel transfer, equipment hire (290 EUR), nitrox (120 EUR per trip), private dive guide (1,000 EUR per trip), additional dives (250 EUR).
Prices for rental equipment
Rental equipment is available on this boat. Please indicate on the booking form what you need. Details below of what is included and the additional prices.
- 15 litre bottles included
- Regulator 60 EUR per trip
- BCD 60 EUR per trip
- Fins 50 EUR per trip
- Mask 50 EUR per trip
- Dive computer 60 EUR
- Full equipment (with: regulator, BCD, fins, mask, snorkelling set, dive computer) 290 EUR per trip
- Wetsuit 50 EUR
- Air temperature: Warm all year round with average temperatures between 22.5 °C in January and 28.5 °C in August.
- Water temperature: Stable temperatures between 24.0 °C in January/February and 29.5 °C in August, ideal for diving.
- Rainfall: Drier months from January to April; wetter period from May to October, with the highest rainfall in September.
Cuba - A fascinating island in the Caribbean Sea
Geographical location:
Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean and is located in the Caribbean Sea, south of the USA and west of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The island is around 1,250 kilometres long and lies between the Gulf of Mexico in the west and the Atlantic Ocean in the east. Together with the neighbouring islands of Isla de la Juventud and several smaller islands, Cuba forms the island state of República de Cuba.
Population:
Cuba has around 11 million inhabitants, making it the most populous country in the Caribbean. The population is made up of various ethnic groups, with the majority being mestizos (descendants of Europeans and indigenous people). There are also significant Afro-Cuban, European and Asian populations. Cubans are known for their hospitality, their love of music and dance, as well as their political and cultural identity.
Religion:
Cuba is officially an atheist state, but religion plays an important role in the culture and daily life of Cubans. The majority of the population is Roman Catholic, but many also practise Afro-Cuban religions such as Santería, a syncretic religion that blends African traditions with Catholic influences. There are also smaller communities of Protestants and Jews on the island.
Diving in the Jardines de la Reina:
The Jardines de la Reina (Gardens of the Queen) is a spectacular diver's paradise off the southern coast of Cuba, about 80 kilometres from the coast. This remote area consists of a series of islands and coral reefs and is protected as a marine park, making it one of the best unspoilt diving destinations in the world.
The diving area is known for its pristine underwater world, which is home to a huge variety of marine life, including sharks (such as Caribbean reef sharks and hammerheads), manta rays, rays, dolphins and many species of fish. The reefs are rich in corals and sponges, and the waters often offer perfect visibility. Jardines de la Reina is a top destination for divers who want to experience unspoilt nature and see great marine life.
Life in Cuba:
Life in Cuba is strongly characterised by the revolution of 1959 and the subsequent socialist system. Cuba has a centralised healthcare system and free education for all its citizens. Cuba's economic situation is characterised by US economic sanctions and a lack of resources, but the country has a rich culture that is reflected in music, dance, art and literature.
Cuban society often lives in a state of change and adaptation, especially in the post-communist era, with growing tourism and openness to economic reform. Many Cubans work in sectors such as tourism, agriculture and services, with a high regard for domestic community life and the importance of the family in society.
Cubans are known for their resilience, their enjoyment of life and their variety of music and dance, which form a central part of their cultural identity - from salsa to reggaeton, from traditional African rhythms to modern musical expressions.
Conclusion:
Cuba is a fascinating country with a rich culture, an eventful history and unique destinations. From the beautiful beaches and the Caribbean Sea to the underwater paradises such as the Jardines de la Reina, Cuba offers a perfect blend of nature, culture and adventure.