DEPARTMENTS DIVING WORLD Cuba Ñ A Jewel of the Caribbean By Alvanir “Jornada” S. Oliveira, NAUI 19845 Cuba, officially the Republic of Cuba, Between 1953 and 1959, the Cuban on the island are Cayo Largo, Maria is an island country located in the Revolution took place, removing the la Gorda and Isla de la Juventud, northern Caribbean. It is bounded by dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista and among others. Some portions of the the Caribbean Sea (or Mar Caribe) to installing the communist regime Underwater Photography World the south, the Gulf of Mexico to the under Fidel Castro. Since then, Cuba Championship took place in Cuba, the northwest and the Atlantic Ocean to seems in many ways to have stopped most recent occurring in 2013. All of the northeast. The Cuban archipelago in time. It is still possible to see the island’s dive centers are owned by consists of the main island of Cuba, hundreds of well-maintained cars government companies. the Isla de la Juventud (Isle of Youth) from the 1950s driving through the The photos accompanying this and several smaller islands. Havana streets of the country. article were taken on Isla de la is the largest city in Cuba and the Cuba is home to more than 11 Juventud at the Punta Frances Marine capital of the country, with Santiago million people and is the Caribbean’s National Park, which has more than de Cuba being the second-largest city. most populous island nation. 50 different dive sites. There are Cuba’s geographic neighbors include Politically, Cuba is the only socialist excellent dives for beginner divers as the United States and Bahamas to the country in the Americas today. well as for the more experienced. The north, Mexico to the west, the Cayman Throughout the world, only China, great diversity of fauna also surprises: Islands and Jamaica to the south, and Laos, Vietnam and North Korea barracudas, tarpon, turtles, stingrays, Haiti to the southeast. continue to adopt this form of large moray eels, huge lobsters and a Christopher Columbus arrived on government. great variety of reef fish. Corals and the island in 1492 and claimed it for The Cuban people were always sponges are also found everywhere. To the Kingdom of Spain. Cuba remained happy and willing to help during our get to Isla de la Juventud, you need to a territory of Spain until the Spanish- recent trip to the island, making our take a domestic flight from Havana, American War in 1898 resulted in stay very enjoyable. which takes approximately 30 minutes. Spain’s removal from the island. It was Cuba is also considered one of the NAUI Brazilian divers have had recognized as an independent country best diving destinations in the world. a tradition of trips to Cuba for over in the early 20th century, although With its warm and deep waters, 20 years and are well known and its independence from the United visibility can easily reach 50 meters respected by local diving teams. Cuba States’ influence was largely nominal. (164 feet). The preferred dive sites truly is a jewel of the Caribbean. 30 SOURCES | THIRD QUARTER 2017.