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Dive Review of Blue World Diving Centre/Paradisus Rio De Oro Resort in
Cuba/Holguin

 
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Blue World Diving Centre/Paradisus Rio De Oro Resort, Jan, 2011,

by Bob Penhearow, ON, CA (Sr. Reviewer Sr. Reviewer 10 reports). Report 5892.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 5 stars Food 5 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 3 stars Shore Diving 3 stars
Snorkeling 3 stars
Value for $$ 4 stars
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 3 stars
Comments The hotel Paradisus Rio Deo is probably the best in Eastern Cuba. It is a 5* operation: accommodation, beach, food. The hotel provides free diving & equipment via an independent operator - the Blue World Diving Centre. The dive centre pick-up is from each hotel in the morning either at 8:15AM (deep dive) or 10:15AM (shallower dive). Both pick-up & return to and from hotels are free.

Dive Centre: The diving brief is short, buddies and dive depth established. You carry all equipment (inc tank) from Centre to the sea (30 Meters), down steel steps into the sea, swim out to boat (30 Meters) then up steps onto boat ready for transportation to dive site - usually 10 Minutes or so. I personally found the carrying of all equipment on and off the boat overwhelming due to back issues, so asked if it could be carried on and off for me - no problem. Prices are around 25 CUC/dive ($30) for those who do not have a hotel package.

The boat provides drinking water and carries around 20 divers comfortably. A DM leads the dives with another following behind. There is a decent variety of fish with interesting topology. Saw: Turtle, Barracudas, Parrot Fish, Lobster, Grouper, enormous crab, Morey eel etc.

Would like to have experienced a more pro-active help attitude from the DM team. But when asked they would respond well. The exception is George the instructor who is very kind/caring. In summation: Strongly recommendation for hotel (5* out of *5) especially for the mature group 45+; Dive Centre Okay but not outstanding (3* out of 5*).
Websites Paradisus Rio De Oro Resort

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 51-100 dives
Where else diving Philippines, St Lucia, Dominican Republic, Red Sea, Fl. Keys
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas calm
Water Temp 24-26°F / -4--3°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 40-60 Ft/ 12-18 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile no
Enforced diving restrictions Follow DM, when you reach 100Bar (1,500psi) turn back.
Surface 50 Bar (750psi). Depth & time established.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? no

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles None Whales None
Corals 2 stars Tropical Fish 3 stars
Small Critters N/A Large Fish 2 stars
Large Pelagics N/A

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter 3 stars Boat Facilities 1 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 1 stars Shore Facilities 1 stars
UW Photo Comments No dedicated facilities either on shore or boat
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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