Dive Review of Colony Hotel in
Cuba/Isle de Juventud

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Colony Hotel: "Isla de Juventud, Cuba", Mar, 2016, by Joseph H. Saunders, FL, US ( 1 report). Report 8882.
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
Snorkeling
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	Excellent diving and very few people here. The coral reefs at Punta Frances are pristine. I saw a great variety and large numbers of snappers, parrot fish, wrasse, and small grouper. There were large lobster everywhere. I also saw large stingrays and a few eagle rays gliding along the wall at about 100 feet. There were tarpon and barracuda as well. There are shallow reefs that are easily accessible to snorkelers. This area is a marine preserve so there is no fishing or spearfishing allowed. Divemaster Henry was excellent. His name was mentioned in an undercurrent report 10-15 years ago. Punta Frances is in the lee side of the shore so it is protected from the trade winds. The current is negligible so this is comfortable easy diving. It is a 90 minute boat ride from the marina near the colony hotel to the dive areas at Punta Frances. Travel in Cuba is difficult and food is marginal because this is still a communist country. There is little infrastructure. The dive shop has good Cressi gear but nothing else. You cannot buy any dive supplies or equipment here. If you are an adventurer you will love this place. The Colony Hotel is a 1950's mafia built hotel. If you want a luxury hotel with great food this place is not for you. I was on a person to person U.S. visa for marine research chaperoning a high school class. I went to the marina one day by myself to dive and I was the only person there. The marina required a minimum of three to do a trip so I paid $80 times three to cover myself and two others (who of course never showed up) and I was the only diver all day with divemaster Henry. I had a great experience here and I would and probably will go back.
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	101-250 dives
Where else diving	Florida, Hawaii, Caymans, Mexico, California
Closest Airport	Nueva Gerona	Getting There	80 miles off the coast of Cuba. Air from Havana or ferry boat.
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	calm, no currents
Water Temp	75-80°F / 24-27°C	Wetsuit Thickness	1
Water Visibility	60-80 Ft/ 18-24 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	?
Enforced diving restrictions	One of the popular wall dives is to 140 feet
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	no
What I Saw
Sharks	None	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	None	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	They have a wash tank at the marina.

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Dive Review of Colony Hotel in Cuba/Isle de Juventud

Colony Hotel: "Isla de Juventud, Cuba", Mar, 2016,

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 Colony Hotel in
Cuba/Isle de Juventud