Jardines de la Reina, Cuba
20.946691,-79.072601
When Christopher Columbus sailed along the west coast of Cuba, he came across a large archipelago. He must have been quite impressed by its beauty and named it Jardines de la Reina (Gardens of the Queen) in honor of Queen Isabella I of Castile (Spain).
The archipelago is around 150km long and consists of over 650 cays. It lies about 100 km from the Cuban coast. It became a National Park in 2010 and had been established as a Marine Reserve in 1996. It is said that Jardines de la Reina was Fidel Castro’s favorite fishing and diving spot and hence protected well before 1996.
The relative remoteness from the mainland has kept the area in an enviable state of conservation, and its waters hold predatory species that have practically disappeared in other areas of the Caribbean. Many fish are very unafraid of humans and will come rather close to inspect divers.
Access to the National Park is by Liveaboard from the port of Júcaro, located about six hours by car southeast of Havana.
One of the secrets of its success may be the large number of mangroves that dot the cays. The mangrove ecosystem acts as a nursery for juvenile fish which can develop in the relative safety of its underwater root system.
The Diving
For scuba diving and underwater photography lovers, Jardines de la Reina is a true paradise. The conservation status of these reefs is unmatched in the entire Caribbean Sea. The health of the marine ecosystem is reflected in an explosion of life and colors in every corner and the number of fish is at times simply overwhelming for Caribbean standards.
There is almost no current and visibility is best during the winter months but generally good.
