Twenty-something meters below the calm surface, peacefully exploring the underwater world by scuba diving the Bay of Pigs in Cuba, until something caught my eye. From the depths, with the biggest underbite I’ve ever seen on a fish, a giant barracuda lurked up from the depths to my left. I startled, everything was so clear, how could I only see this enormous fish until it was mere meters from my face?! As effortlessly as it appeared, is disappeared just out of sight into the dark unknown depths. While I was initially terrified, and my have sucked a few breaths in at once, it reinforced why I dive – there’s no better way to encounter these intimidating, yet peaceful creatures.
If you’re thinking of scuba diving in Cuba, the Bay of Pigs is great option, let me explain why.
Vibrant cars rolling around colorful streets is a common sight around Cuba. But, this little Caribbean Island is home to an underwater world of beauty. Below is my experience and plenty of other tips and tricks you need to know about scuba diving in the Bay of Pigs in Cuba.
After the failed invasion lead by the U.S. on April 17th, 1961, this inlet in the Caribbean Sea became well known. Under the surface of the clear blue waves, a diverse marine life survives by the coral reef drop off that runs parallel to the Cuban coast.
If you’re looking to scuba dive in Cuba, that doesn’t cause a headache to visit – looking at you Isla de la Juventud – visiting the Bay of Pigs is a beautiful spot to dive plenty of memorable spots along the Cuban coast.
Yes, a lot of these spots double as great places to snorkel in Cuba as well.
Scuba diving in Cuba was on the top of my list of things to do. I made it a point to include it in my 16 days in Cuba itinerary! Diving Cuba’s Bay of Pigs was easy – it’s super accessible, clear waters and plenty to see under the waves of this picturesque island.
However, I do have some issues with diving in Cuba, along with some real safety concerns. While there are some beautiful spots to dive in Cuba (snorkeling as well), there are some things you should be aware of before you take the plunge.
So, let’s get into why scuba diving Cuba should be on your list of must-dos. And no, you don’t need a qualification to dive in Cuba.
Where to dive in Bay of Pigs, Cuba
There are quite a few dive centers and plenty of dive spots along the eastern coast of Cuba’s Bay of Pigs.
While there are many places to submerge yourself up to 30 meters deep (for advanced certified divers), there are three places I can fully recommend:
- Punta Perdiz
- Caleta Buena
- Cueva de la Peces
There are a number of dive sites at each of these beaches and rocky shorelines along Cuba’s coast. The guides vary the sites every day, to keep it fresh for those who dived previous days and depending on the weather conditions, some may be better than others. There’s plenty to see under the waves of Cuba, so it would be hard to be disappointed.
How much does it cost to dive in the Bay of Pigs?
Diving prices are standardized throughout the Bay of Pigs. If you are certified, each immersion will cost 25 CUC ($25 USD). If you are not certified or have never been diving before, you can still dive but must go through the short introduction lesson, which adds another 10 CUC ($10 USD) to your cost.
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Should I base myself in Playa Larga or Playa Giron to dive the Bay of Pigs on Cuba?
There is a pretty handy shuttle bus linking Playa Larga to Caleta Buena, around 40 minutes apart. Between these two destinations along the Bay of Pigs coast, there is plenty of diving to be had.
If you’re looking to have the easiest access to diving on the Bay of Pigs, Playa Giron is situated almost in the middle of these sites and has plenty of accommodation. While Playa Larga still works for a base for diving the area, it is a little bit further to some of these sites.
Scuba Diving Caleta Buena
Caleta Buena is a scuba site in Cuba I almost missed. To get to dive at Caleta Buena, there is a bit of a different procedure.
Think of Caleta Buena as an all-inclusive day trip resort. You show up (9am to 5pm), pay 15 CUC ($15 USD) entrance fee and you’re in. At Caleta Buena, it’s all you can eat, all you can drink until the restaurant shuts at 3pm, and the establishment closes at 5pm.
I do recommend getting there early if you’re looking to dive, as the dives (usually 2 of them) happen in the morning as the seas are much calmer.
If you’re unlucky like I was, the seas will be too rough for the dive centers little boat to brave the waves.
However, there is a little protected lagoon, with a max depth of around 7-8 meter. There’s even a cave and swim through, leading to a freshwater cenote – which is also on-site for snorkeling at Caleta Buena.
The entrance fee of 15 CUC does not include the 25 CUC for diving. Caleta Buena is located around 15 minutes’ drive east of Playa Giron.
Scuba Diving Cueva de la Peces
Cueva de la Peces is around 25-minute drive west from Playa Giron, and about halfway towards Playa Larga. There are two distinctive dive sites at Cueva de la Peces.
- The Bay Of Pigs – there are multiple dive spots along the coastline. There are wrecks and plenty of fish and coral to soak in. Barracuda and little stingrays are quite common in the area. As well as numerous other marine life.
- The cenote – Cueva de la Peces is home to a large cenote, or sinkhole, that is filled with fresh water. I did read online there were turtles in Cueva de la Peces, but as hard as I searched, I couldn’t find any. There are some bigger fish lurking in the depths below the water. If you’re comfortable diving with snorkeling gear, you can get down quite far into the darker depths of Cueva de la Peces.
One thing to note, if you dive at Cueva de la Peces, you’re allowed to rent a snorkel set for free. I was asked to leave my passport at the diving center to ensure I wasn’t going to forget handing the snorkel set back.
During my visit, diving this cenote in Cuba wasn’t allowed, but the beach is still a great place to dive. There are not many places in the world where so many dive sights can be accessed directly from the beach – a lot of the Bay of Pigs diving is accessible right from the coastline.
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Scuba Diving Punta Perdiz
Punta Perdiz is a short 10-15 minute drive north from Playa Giron. There are around 15 dive sites grouped together and are easily reached with direct access from the shoreline. You’ll climb down a rocky staircase and begin your dive right there and then.
Barracuda, stingrays, moray eels, lionfish and stonefish are just some of the memorable life I encountered during my two dives at Punta Perdiz.
The easiest way to dive Punta Perdiz is to visit the dive center in Playa Giron a little bit before 9am. They will fit you out with gear and drive you to the entrance of the water.
Where did I stay to access while scuba diving the Bay of Pigs in Cuba?
Please note, some links below are affiliate links – at no extra cost, I earn a small percentage of any purchase you make. Please contact me if you have any questions.
Mentioned in the Lonely Planet guide of Cuba (which helps so much due to the lack of internet) I called ahead to book a wonderful casa particular – located in Playa Giron.
Lydia, of the casa particular Lydia y Jorge, answered the phone. Being fluent in Spanish, French, and English, communication was easy. She was able to book diving for the next day, and organize everything that was needed very easily! Her husband, Jorge, is a divemaster and instructor at the local dive center and Lydia herself knows much about the area.
On top of that, you get free bikes and a wealth of knowledge about the town of Playa Giron and the surroundings.
Whether you’re looking to dive in the Bay of Pigs, just snorkel, see the sights or lay on a beach all day, Lydia is great for honest and useful information.
You can book through phone call or email – the best and most convenient way to book casa particulars throughout Cuba.
You can also see what Casa Particulares are out there through Booking.com and Hostelworld.
Do I need a diving certification to scuba dive in Cuba?
No, you don’t need a diving certification to dive in Cuba. This is what is called a fun dive. On a fun dive, your instructor won’t allow you to go deeper than around 7 or 8 meters, and with small groups, you can get a feel for diving. Trust me, your first breaths underwater are something you will never forget.
If you have any concerns, you should let your dive instructor know and they will guide you on how to be safe under the surface.
What are my safety concerns with scuba diving in Cuba
As I mentioned, I had a few safety concerns with scuba diving in Cuba. While I was never directly in danger, as I am a certified advanced PADI diver, I knew how to handle these situations.
They are also things I encountered only once or twice, so it’s not to say these are always going to happen when you scuba in Cuba, but it’s good to know they can happen.
Safety stops are not a thing when diving in Cuba
I took my open water and advanced open water in Koh Tao, Thailand. Well known for being incredibly cheap to learn and practice your scuba diving skills. But I also learned strict safe practices, like the safety stop.
A safety stop, or two, is common safe practices as you ascending from deep water diving. They last around 5 minutes and ensure your body is comfortable and safe for you to continue to the surface.
Seeing as Cuba were all beach entrances, all my instructors would slowly ascend, following the gradual incline of the seafloor to the surface. This didn’t include any sort of safety stop, not once, even at 30 meters deep.
I get that my instructor rose slowly to the surface, and I didn’t fear for my life, but it still wasn’t the right way of ending a dive – in my mind at least.
It’s not hard to take a few extra minutes (I never got close to 50psi, a quarter of my tank remaining) to ensure yourself and those following you are completely safe.
It didn’t stop me diving in Cuba, but I was always conscious of my limits and when slowing down was necessary.
You’re not required to show a scuba diving certification in Cuba
This was incredibly surprising to me. I’m PADI advanced open water certified, allowing me to safely explore up to 30 meters deep, but I was never once asked to produce proof of my certification.
I’ll admit, I was silly, and left my card at home (super silly!), but had online records of my certificates. They were never needed.
Now, I’m okay with diving not having my diving certification with me. When I’m under the water it’s the training that I’ve had that will keep me safe. However, I don’t believe all those I dove with were truthful about their level of experience.
For example, I dove in Punta Perdiz with a small group of 4. One diver, who said he had around 20 dives under his belt, had issues with his goggles fogging. Normally, a quick rinse and blow the water out is all that is needed when submerged, but he decided to surface. From about 8-9 meters deep.
Now, I may have been trained a little different, but surfacing early and abruptly should be a last resort. A very last resort. While I didn’t follow him to the surface and stayed at depth, it could have been a much more dangerous ending to the dive for the entire group.
It instantly made me question if this diver, who had just been around 28 meters deep, had been trained in advanced open water, or if he just said he had and came along for the dive anyways.
Diving instructors try to touch marine life and corals
Diving instructors generally care deeply about the oceans, at least all I’ve encountered. However, during my 4 dives in Cuba, I noticed guides touching, or trying to touch animals under the water, including corals.
Taking a water bottle filled with, what looked like bread and/or brine, and feeding a school of fish with it was a pretty common practice for guides looking to give tourists the best experience possible.
One guide I had also poked a flat sponge-like coral, hard enough to send spores all around the area. While I didn’t see the touch, so I can’t say whether or not it was intentional, these guides have many, many dives under their belt, and shouldn’t put themselves in a position to come into contact with coral.
I get it, this underwater world is new and exciting, especially if you’re new to the experience. But touching anything under the water is not a good thing – for you or the marine life.
Touch the wrong thing? Well, there’s stonefish and lionfish in abundance here, you will come off worse. But the point of recreational scuba diving is to experience another world. Not to handle other living things. Just observe this world, as it’s a great way of preserving the coral and the marine life it sustains.
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Surfacing with 80-100 psi left in my tank
Alright, first to admit, not a safety concern. But it was still a little annoying. Even on one dive I had that was just my instructor and myself, calm waters and plenty to see, I still surfaced with above 80 psi.
One dive, where one diver decided to surface mid-dive, I finished with 105psi. Roughly half a tank of air still strapped to my back. I get problems occur under the surface, and in the end, shit happens, but it wasn’t a one-off situation.
Should I scuba dive in Cuba after all that?
Scuba Diving in Cuba is amazing. There is visibility of over 30 meters most days and plenty of marine life to marvel at. There are more pristine reefs in Cuba, but are much more difficult to access.
Diving along the Bay of Pigs is easily reached and situated near plenty of accommodation, Playa Giron and Playa Larga being the main sites.
If you’re visiting Cuba and want to try scuba diving in the Carribean or want to extend your diving portfolio, check out the Bay of Pigs for cheap diving!
That’s what to expect from scuba diving in Cuba’s Bay of Pigs – from where to go and dive to what to expect when under the blue waters surrounding Cuba.
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Ben – Horizon UnknownÂ
