Dive Review of Avalon in
Cuba

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Avalon: "Cuba Avalon Live Aboard", Nov, 2023, by Lori Price, OR, US ( Reviewer 3 reports with 1 Helpful vote). Report 12811 has 1 Helpful vote.
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	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	The overall quality of this live aboard is so far away from what was advertised that it was close to a fraudulent experience. The reef condition was advertised as "pristine, the best reef in the Caribbean." It is clearly NOT as advertised. About 25% of the hard corals are alive with only 5% of soft corals. The reef is mostly covered with reddish brown algae. This trip cost as much as a top 5 star experience but delivered at a 2-3 star level on all aspects. The accommodations were sparse with plumbing that did not support toilet paper. They encountered difficulty with the sewer system more than once during the week and each time our room smelled like a sewer. Cockroaches were seen in the dining room, in the bread basket and in the stateroom. The food was generally overcooked and soggy. Canned fruit was presented daily. When fresh fruit or vegetable was presented it was not ripe. Example-green tomatoes for your salad or sandwich, and white pineapple that was crunchy with no sweetness. Powdered milk was reconstituted for any use of milk. Dive gear was useable but not well maintained. They tied a string on my BC to hold the air hose in place because the original strap was broken. No clips were available to secure the second stage. The belts were so worn that the clasps did not hold tight. Several O rings blew and the replacement rings were crusty while the crust had to be dug out in order for it to seat correctly. The guides were very nice but did not post out very much unless you asked ahead. They served to corral the group of 9 divers. I would not recommend this trip at all. There are other places in the Caribbean where the experience would be tons better-this was a huge disappointment. If they managed expectations better on the front end advertising it would not have been such a shock. But delivery was far below the advertised experience all the way around.
Websites	Avalon [same]
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	501-1000 dives
Where else diving	Sipidan, Maldives, Florida, Bonaire, La Paz, Indonesia, Cayman Islands, Curacao, Fiji, Barbados, St Thomas, Hawaii, Raja Ampat
Closest Airport	Santa Clara	Getting There	Once you arrived at the airport, you travel by automobile for 3-3.5 hours to the port where the live aboard is docked.
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	choppy
Water Temp	78-80°F / 26-27°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	-50 Ft/ -15 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	no
Enforced diving restrictions	No deco diving, must be with divemaster and group.
Liveaboard?	yes	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	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	The boat has a nice and spacious camera table and a specific rinse tank for cameras. Charging area was good. No security was provided for the gear and one of our torches "disappeared" for several days.

Report currently has 1 Helpful vote

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Dive Review of Avalon in Cuba

Avalon: "Cuba Avalon Live Aboard", Nov, 2023,

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