Jardines de la Reina

Jardines de la Reina, the Gardens of the Queen, is a chain of small coral and mangrove islands running parallel to Cuba's southern coast, well offshore across the Gulf of Ana Maria. It became a marine reserve in 1996 and a national park in 2010. Diving is done from liveaboards that leave from the fishing village of Jucaro, and annual visitor numbers are limited.

What you'll see

Reefs here include a mini wall, large coral formations between the wall and the drop-off, and pinnacles and towers separated by canyons. Silky sharks gather where the reef meets the edge of the continental shelf, and Caribbean reef sharks are commonly seen. Nassau, black and goliath groupers, tarpon, jacks and large snappers also feature, along with pillar coral and vase sponges. Crocodiles are also present in the area.

How it's dived

Divers stay aboard a liveaboard and are ferried to the sites by small tenders, while the mother ship seldom moves once on station. A typical day has a morning two-tank dive and an afternoon or night dive. Dives last about 55 to 65 minutes, deepest first, and the most desirable depths are described as roughly 27 to 33 m.

Hazards and rules

Visibility changes with the tide, which moves sediment out of the mangroves, so mornings and some tidal phases are clearer. The number of visitors is capped each year.

Sources

• Divernet: Diving Cuba's Gardens of the Queen
• Divernet: Diving Cuba's Jardines de la Reina with Avalon Liveaboards
• Dive Training Magazine: Cuba's Garden of Eden, Los Jardines de la Reina