Diving Varadero

Varadero is a long, narrow peninsula about 140 km east of Havana, extending into the Strait of Florida. It is the best-developed tourist destination in Cuba outside Havana, with a large number of hotels and resorts ranging from relatively simple accommodation to large all-inclusive complexes.

The diving along the north coast is quite different from that on the Caribbean side of Cuba. The reefs are generally less spectacular, with patches of coral, abundant sponges, and large numbers of smaller reef fish. Visibility can be good, although conditions depend strongly on weather and sea state.

The most interesting dive sites around Varadero are probably the artificial reefs created by intentionally sinking ships. These wrecks have become established habitats for corals, sponges, and fish and provide an interesting contrast to the natural reef sites. They are located relatively close to the coast and can usually be reached by a short boat ride. The wrecks are generally straightforward to dive and are accessible to divers with appropriate experience and certification.

I did not consider Varadero one of Cuba's most impressive diving destinations, particularly compared with the reefs of the southern coast. Its main advantage is accessibility: if you are staying in Varadero for a holiday, it is easy to add some diving without travelling to one of Cuba's more remote destinations.

My experience with the local dive operation was considerably less positive than at places such as María la Gorda. I found the service and organization disappointing, and the equipment was rather worn. For this reason, I would regard Varadero primarily as a convenient place to do some dives while staying there, rather than choosing it specifically as a diving destination.

As with the other Cuban pages on ReefColors, these observations are based on my visits over the years and should not be interpreted as a description of the current dive operation or tourism infrastructure.