Dive Destinations
Liveaboards
Resorts / Day Trips
Scuba Training
PRICE PER DAY FROM USD 0
LOWEST PRICE GUARANTEE
The Halcón is the perfect affordable option for small groups of divers wishing to dive the remote, liveaboard only, pristine dive sites of the Jardines de la Reina (Gardens of the Queen) National Marine Park. With a maximum of 12 divers, guests will enjoy personal service by the professional crew of 8 during their Cuba liveaboard diving tour.
Recently refurbished, the steel-hulled Halcón retains her classic 70's styling and is one of the smaller boats in the Avalon Fleet. However, she provides scuba divers with comfort, good food and great service, including 6 complimentary drinks per day. In the evenings the Halcon anchors in one of the many sheltered lagoons or mangrove channels in the archipelago.
The pleasant, air conditioned lounge area is ideal to share diving videos and pictures with fellow tour guests, via the entertainment facilities. These include TV, DVD and sound system. At the end of the day, Halcón's divemasters will happily assist with fish identification while you contemplate the next day's diving over sunset cocktails on the liveaboard's wide bow.
The day's diving begins on the second day of the charter after a breakfast fit for kings. Guests step into the dive tender with their wetsuits where their scuba gear is conveniently prepared and waiting. After the first dive, you can explore the mangroves, islands and beaches. If snorkeling with American salt water crocodiles is on your bucket list, this may be your opportunity! The dive tenders whisk you back to the liveaboard after the 2nd dive for a well-earned delicious lunch. 1 or 2 dives are usually enjoyed in the afternoon before returning to the liveaboard for pre-dinner drinks.
The efficient staff return the diving equipment and cylinders to the Avalon Diving Center in the marine park for rinsing and to refill the tanks in preparation for the next day's diving. The Dive Center is close to Halcon's sister liveaboard, Tortuga. You can make the short transfer to the Tortuga with the dive tender and access the Internet on your personal device. The diving tour includes 15 dives (weather permitting). Additional dives are available on request, however night dives are not permitted in the marine park.
Cruise price per person includes: Cabin accommodation, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, 6 drinks per day (includes beer, wine, cocktails, soft drinks and mineral water), local airport transfers, dives (as detailed in the trips above, night dives are not available), experienced Spanish and English-speaking divemaster(s) (max number of 6 divers per DM), tanks, weights and weightbelts.
Cruise price per person excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own): Scuba equipment rental (USD 175 full set, per trip, torch USD 8 per night dive), it is compulsory to use a dive computer: please bring your own, port taxes (USD 200) to be paid in advance, conservation fee (USD 100) to be paid in advance, transfers from selected hotels in Havana to and from the boat (USD 200) to be paid in advance, gratuities (min USD 200 is compulsory, crew prefer this in Euro). Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival in CUC cash.
Optional extras: Additional dives on request, private divemaster USD 1 200 (subject to availability), dive insurance, alcoholic and soft drinks (other than those included). Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival.
How to get there: If you wish to spend some time in Havana, you need to be in the city by Friday night. From Jose Marti International Airport, you can take a taxi to your pre-booked accommodation in Havana. The ride will take approximately 20-30 minutes and should cost 20-25 CUC one way. Agree on the price first, most taxis have meters however, they are rarely used. Ensure that you have accommodation reservations for at least one night before and 1 night after your liveaboard cruise (Havana hotels are booked up well in advance. Airbnb is highly recommended). A representative from Cuban Diving Centers will collect you at a very early 04:00 hrs from the Parque Central Hotel (or another agreed upon location at the time of your booking) for your 5-6 hour bus transfer to Jucaro Port, in Cuba's Ciego de Avila province.
You will board the Avalon I liveaboard at approximately 09:00 hrs for the 3 hour voyage to Jardines de la Reina National Park. On the last day of the trip, you will cruise back to Jucaro Port and then travel via bus to Havana, arriving at approximately 20:30 hrs. The last dive of the trip will be around 14:00 hrs on the second last day of the trip. Please wait at least 18 hours before flying after diving.
If you want to avoid Havana and the 6 hour bus ride, you can fly via Miami on Saturday to Santa Clara or Camaguey. Upon your arrival you will be picked up and taken direct to the port. The journey takes 2.5 hours. On the following Saturday you will be taken back to the airport. If you have a late flight they will organise a 4 hour city tour for you to avoid to wait hours at the airport.
Non-diver rate: USD 250 off the published price.
Single supplement (if you do not want to share accommodation): This is optional - single travelers may choose to share a cabin or pay a supplement of 65% of the published price.
Dive clubs and group discounts: There are group discounts available for groups of 10 divers and above. Please contact us for more details.
Whole boat charter rate (per night): Whole boat charter rates are available. Please contact us for more details.
