JARDINES DE LA REINA

Jardines de la Reina "The Queen's Gardens" is a chain of 250 virgin coral islands, set in a blue jade sea. Completely undeveloped, this is a natural water wilderness, stretching for over 75 miles, and at times some 20 miles wide, 60 miles off the mainland.

Recently Los Jardines de la Reina was declared a Natural Park. Access is restricted and limited. Commercial fishing has been banned from all but the outermost edges of the Park.

The little town of Jucaro with its old fashioned wooden houses and 2000 inhabitants is your entrance to this private world of water, fish and coral. 

Aside from a stunning variety of marine life, the coral islands are home to a fascinating collection of birds, mammals, reptiles and plants. Birds commonly seen include ospreys, pelicans, frigate birds, spoonbills, and many different sorts of heron and egret. The only mammal is the 'Jutia' a tree loving animal the size of a squirrel, while reptiles are represented by a large population of iguanas, turtles and crocodiles. The flora is mainly coastal vegetation, differing forms of Caribbean pine trees, sea grapes and the ever present mangroves.

The 75 mile long mangrove and coral island system form what is said to be the third longest barrier reef in the world; certainly, it is one of the last virgin reefs known to man. Like so much of the Caribbean, the real beauty is below the surface. Extensive flats teem with fish. A chain of coral reefs, very close to the Southern short of the archipelago, is made up of undisturbed and undamaged coral. Mangrove roots provide an incredible nursery for smaller fish which in turn provide the reef with huge schools of baitfish. The quantity of food attracts enormous numbers of large fish, more than anywhere else in the Caribbean. It is possible to hand feed a 400 lb Jewfish almost any day.

Imagine a marine wilderness with vertical walls covered with brightly hued sponges, and corals plunging well below the limits of safe diving; shallow reefs filled with both schooling and solitary fish. The bones and maybe the booty of Old Spanish galleons lie on the reefs, providing excitement for the diver and homes for corals, sponges and fish. 

Live on a floating hotel or yacht and swim in the placid waters. Our crew of experienced and qualified divers will take you where few have been before, into a watery paradise of the unexpected. 

The Jardines de la Reina Diving Centre has been operating diving in Cuba for over 20 years.

This is the only Diving Centre in the entire reef area and hosts no more than 300 divers a year. 50 dive sites are currently available, scattered over the entire perimeter of Los Jardines de la Reina. Dive sites are well protected from the winds and sea currents. The dive center is well equipped with new compressors, all diving gear, tanks and weights. There are some very comfortable and fast dive boats with outboard 120HP Yamaha engines. 

There is a multi-lingual crew of certified instructors CMAS-PADI. All divers undertake a check-in dive. All dives are accompanied by our professional instructors.

 

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT CUBANDIVINGCENTERS.COM