Dive Review of Avalon in
Cuba/Jardines de la Reina

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Avalon: "Jardines de la Reina Liveaboard Exceeded my Expectations!", Sep, 2025, by Elissa A Mayo, CA, US ( Sr. Reviewer 8 reports). Report 13709.
Photos Submitted with this Report Click on an image to see an enlarged version and captions
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	The Avalon dive charter had a SCUBA show special which allowed me to have a room to myself without paying a single supplement. The catch was that it was during hurricane season. No problem. I routinely travel to the Caribbean during this time and have rarely had a problem. I purchased trip insurance just in case, but did not need it. We had a gloriously sunny week with heavenly breezes and virtually no rain or currents. The dive company indicated we would be on the Avalon IV boat, but that was subject to change. In fact, we were notified ahead of the trip that we were now going to be on the Avalon I boat. I believe the Avalon IV is more spacious, but I didn’t care. I had my own room, which mattered the most to me. I arrived in Havana 3 days ahead of the trip so I could see the city, do some touring and dive in the Bay of Pigs. I stayed at an amazing penthouse AirBnB (https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/23335997?check_in=2025-09-04&check_out=2025-09-06&guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=09e832d0-6d7b-4bbf-a5fc-1a4c80e02989). Valentina was the host and she got me the most amazing driver Beny (Beny Classi Car Garcia Santana- +53 5 6139608. He had a beautiful bright pink classic car. We toured the city, drove to the Bay of Pigs for a day of shore diving with Felix, a former Cuban ... Subscribe to get the full story. Active subscribers continue reading here
Websites	Avalon
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	Over 1000 dives
Where else diving	Tanzania, Maldives, PNG, Raja Ampat, Lembeh Strait, Forgotten Islands, Tulamben, Banda Sea, Menjangan, Bunaken, Palau, Mahahual, Puerto Morelos, Isla Mujeres, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Tulum cenotes, Puerto Vallarta, California, Florida, Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Grand Cayman, Grand Bahama, Bimini, Panama, Utila
Closest Airport	Camaguey (CMW)	Getting There	Flew from LAX to Tampa, then Tampa to Habana instead of Camaguey so I could see the city a few days before the trip.
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	calm
Water Temp	87-91°F / 31-33°C	Wetsuit Thickness	2
Water Visibility	60-80 Ft/ 18-24 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	None really. Just come back with 500psi.
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
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
UW Photo Comments	Large communal table on dive deck with outlets. Adequate for large cameras, but no separation from others. At times, others placed their small cameras in my "space." It would be helpful ... Subscribe to get the full story. Active subscribers continue reading here

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Dive Review of Avalon in Cuba/Jardines de la Reina

Avalon: "Jardines de la Reina Liveaboard Exceeded my Expectations!", Sep, 2025,

Photos Submitted with this Report

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 in
Cuba/Jardines de la Reina