A cruise on the Jardines Aggressor II offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in a fascinating underwater world and discover an exceptionally well-preserved ecosystem.
The ship features a spacious, air-conditioned salon and an inviting dining area. There's also a spacious deck with a whirlpool, comfortable lounge chairs, sun loungers, and a bar with a grill. Music lovers will enjoy a stereo system with a CD player and iPod connection. Sun worshippers can relax on the spacious sundeck while enjoying the stunning Cuban landscape.
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On board, there are two balcony suites with comfortable double beds and ten deluxe cabins with side-by-side twin beds. Each cabin is equipped with a private bathroom, shower, and individually controlled air conditioning to ensure the utmost comfort.
The Jardines de la Reina Marine Park is a diver's paradise, and the resident marine biologists on board are happy to share their knowledge and expertise on the conservation of this unique ecosystem. Liveaboard diving in Cuba offers divers the opportunity to visit pristine coral reefs teeming with underwater wildlife, including up to six different shark species such as hammerhead sharks and silky sharks, huge schools of snappers, giant groupers, and, in the right season, there's even a chance of spotting whale sharks.
Guests can enjoy a variety of recreational activities, including exciting dive presentations, films, and board games. A small onboard library with a selection of books, including specialist fish identification, invites guests to browse.
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 gladly accommodated to tailor the experience to your individual needs.
Throughout the entire voyage, guests enjoy first-class catering with an exquisite selection of freshly prepared meals, snacks, and beverages, ensuring culinary variety and the utmost enjoyment.
Itinerary Highlights
Jardines de la Reina (Gardens of the Queen) is located 60 miles off the southeastern coast of Cuba and is the largest marine reserve in the Caribbean.
In 1996, the area was declared a National Park and has been protected and managed for conservation ever since.
Filled with sharks, beautiful reefs, turtles, pelagics, caves, canyons, and schools of fish, the abundant marine life and well-preserved coral reefs make it a scuba divers' paradise.
Gardens of the Queen Dive Sites:
Cabezo de la Cubera
Depth ranges from 18 to 63 ft. "Cabezo" is a Cuban marine term for an isolated coral formation on a sandy bottom. This place has a "cabezo" with a circular shape, around 600 ft in diameter, which is extremely impressive with big schools of dog snapper and cuberas in the water column above the coral; mutton, yellowtail snapper schools between the coral patches, Caribbean reef sharks, different species of groupers, stingrays, turtles. After going around the coral formation, divers get to a shallow wall with clouds of purple blue tangs and massive schools of tarpon crossing by.
Black Coral I
Depth ranges between 72 and 96 ft. Coral bands that grow higher near the edge of the platform (drop-off) are more than 30 ft high over the sand patches between them. There are abundant colonies of black coral, a resident population of more than 20 Caribbean reef sharks, huge black groupers coming close to the divers all the time, schools of jacks rubbing their bodies against the sharks to clean parasites away, parrotfish schools, clouds of schoolmasters and yellowtail snappers, also rainbow runners and oceanic triggerfish.
Black Coral II
Depth ranges between 60 and 90 ft. Impressive coral mountains near the edge of the platform, a resident population of more than 25 reef sharks (Carcharinus Perezi) patrolling the coral mountains. Large colonies of black corals, large sponges, depth gorgonians, midnight parrotfish schools, king mackerel, black groupers, moray eels, hawksbill, and a friendly nurse shark comes very close to the divers. In the blue passing, schools of oceanic triggerfish and lonely eagle rays.
Five Seas
Depth ranges between 21 and 66 ft. Under the wall, there are overhangs with impressive resident schools of tarpon, black corals, and colorful sponges. Divers go under, and tarpons get as close as two inches from the mask to turn away with a shining silver flash. A resident population of more than 15 Caribbean reef sharks, snappers, black groupers, Goliath grouper (Epinephelus Itajara) comes very close. There is a wreck 15 meters long, it was a boat from Júcaro harbor that was used as a pilot boat and its name was "Five Seas," sunk intentionally, with the remaining parts of the boat full of corals, sponges, schools of jacks and black corals, also green moray eels.
Slideshow Items
Deluxe Double Twin, Lower Deck
2 single beds
Adjustable air conditioning
En-suite bathroom
Max. 2 guests
Slideshow Items
Deluxe Double or Twin, Lower Deck
1 double or 2 single beds
Adjustable air conditioning
En-suite bathroom
Max. 2 guests
Slideshow Items
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), dive packages, shore excursions, towels for deck use, cabin towels, beach towels, laundry/ironing service.
Required Extras:
Harbor fees (240 EUR per trip), environmental tax (120 EUR per trip).
Optional Extras:
Dive insurance, tips, hotel transfer, rental equipment (290 EUR), Nitrox (120 EUR per trip), private dive guide (1,000 EUR per trip), additional dives (250 EUR).
Rental Equipment
Prices: Rental equipment is available on this ship. Please specify what you need on the booking form. Details below of what is included and the additional prices.
15-liter tanks 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, snorkel set, dive computer) 290 EUR per trip
Wetsuit 50 EUR
Cuba – A Fascinating Island in the Caribbean Sea
Geographical Location:
Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean, located in the Caribbean Sea, south of the USA and west of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The island is about 1,250 kilometers long and lies between the Gulf of Mexico to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Cuba, together with the neighboring island Isla de la Juventud and several smaller islands, forms the island nation of República de Cuba.
Population:
Cuba has about 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 mestizo (descendants of Europeans and Indigenous people). There are also significant Afro-Cuban, European, and Asian populations. Cubans are known for their hospitality, love of music and dance, and 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 practice Afro-Cuban religions like 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 Jardines de la Reina:
Jardines de la Reina (Gardens of the Queen) is a spectacular diving paradise off the southern coast of Cuba, about 80 kilometers 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 untouched diving destinations in the world.
The diving area is known for its intact underwater world, which hosts a huge variety of marine life, including sharks (such as Caribbean Reef Sharks and Hammerheads), mantas, rays, dolphins, and many species of fish. The reefs are rich in coral and sponges, and the waters often offer perfect visibility. Jardines de la Reina is a top destination for divers seeking pristine nature and big marine life encounters.
Life in Cuba:
Life in Cuba is deeply shaped by the 1959 Revolution and the subsequent socialist system. Cuba has a centralized healthcare system and free education for all its citizens. The economic situation in Cuba is marked by US economic sanctions and a lack of resources, but the country boasts a rich culture, reflected in music, dance, art, and literature.
Cuban society often exists in a state of change and adaptation, especially in the post-communist era, with growing tourism and economic reforms. Many Cubans work in areas such as tourism, agriculture, and services, with community-based living and the importance of family holding high value in society.
Cubans are known for their resilience, joy for life, and their diverse music and dance, which are central to 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, a dynamic history, and unique tourist destinations. From its beautiful beaches and the Caribbean Sea to underwater paradises like Jardines de la Reina, Cuba offers a perfect blend of nature, culture, and adventure.