Dive Review of Avalon Dive Centers/Tortuga in
Cuba/Jardines de la Reina

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Avalon Dive Centers/Tortuga, Nov, 2013, by Scott O'Born, ON, CA ( 1 report). Report 7397.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	This was my second trip here in 3 months, awesome place.....a real divers paradise. If shark action is what you are looking for check this place out - Silkies, Reef, Lemons and Nurse are the most prominent, but sightings of many other species are quite common. The coral gardens are some of the best I've seen anywhere, reef fish galore. Surface intervals may be back on Toruga or one of the many small Islands where you are greeted by many iguanas and Hutias looking for a handout. At least once during the week you'll get the chance to snorkel with the small (5-6ft) Crocs that somehow come when called.....cool. Accommodations on the floating Hotel Tortuga are very good by liveaboard standards with a great crew ready to assist with anything you need. Food is excellent and daily fresh fish always part of the meals. The only bad part of this trip is getting there.....fly into Havana, wake up for 4:30 am bus pickup, 6 hours by bus to Jucaro.....wait an hour while paperwork is completed......3 hours by boat out to "Jardines de la Reina" and the floating Hotel Tortuga. If you are staying on one one liveaboards t will probably take you 5 or 6 hours to get out there.
Websites	Avalon Dive Centers
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	251-500 dives
Where else diving	Cocos Island, French Polynesia, Thailand, Cozumel, Belize, Bahamas, Galapagos.....
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny, windy, cloudy	Seas	calm, choppy, no currents
Water Temp	78-81°F / 26-27°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	50-100 Ft/ 15-30 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	?
Enforced diving restrictions	Discuss plans with DM and should not be a problem. 45 - 55 minute dives on average depending on profile.
Liveaboard?	yes	Nitrox Available?	no
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	1 or 2
Turtles	1 or 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	Avalon has a number of boats and the floating Hotel Tortuga, diving is conducted using smaller boats that accommodate 8 divers. Too many divers with large gear might get crowded. Lots of room on main boats or Tortuga for setting up and cleaning gear. Snorkel with the small (5-6ft) Crocs for some awesome shots!!

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Dive Review of Avalon Dive Centers/Tortuga in Cuba/Jardines de la Reina

Avalon Dive Centers/Tortuga, Nov, 2013,

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Dive Review of Avalon Dive Centers/Tortuga in
Cuba/Jardines de la Reina