The Jardines Aggressor II liveaboard yacht explores the spectacular Gardens of the Queen (Jardines de la Reina) of Cuba, one of the healthiest marine ecosystems in the Caribbean, on 7 night diving cruises. This remote national park is famous for encounters with giant groupers, a range of sharks such as Caribbean, silky and nurse, as well as saltwater crocodiles. It is a large yacht (120 ft/41m) with a wide beam built and powered for comfort, safety and stability. It is diesel-powered and cruises at 10 knots.
The Jardines Aggressor II, a member of the Aggressor liveaboard fleet, sleeps 24 guests in privacy and comfort. There is a roomy, air conditioned saloon and dining area, sun deck complete with a hot tub, lounge seats and deck chairs, stereo and CD player (with IPod plug-in), shaded wet bar and grill. There is also a photo center with a digital video and still photo editing computer. There is a variety of evening entertainment, including diving and marine presentations, movies, games and more. A small book exchange library is maintained onboard, as well as fish identification reference books.
Diving facilities include nitrox, individual dive lockers with ample storage space, camera table with low-pressure air hoses, and 2 hot, fresh water showers. The dive deck and platform area are very spacious. The egress ladders were designed for convenience to allow divers easy entries and exits. Enjoy fresh water showers on the deck after your dives and dry off with a warm towel. The dive crew of the Jardines Aggressor II, with their unique combination of talents, offers the ultimate scuba service. While onboard, you may pick a buddy of your choice, or dive with one of the crew members. All diving onboard is from 2 x 30 ft/9m long tenders and should be within the limits and standards of the training agency that certified you. The yacht’s video professional will capture your diving adventure to share your Cuban liveaboard dive adventure with family and friends.
The Jardines Aggressor II has 12 guest cabins, all with private bathrooms. There are 2 Balcony Suites with twin or king-size bed beds in the bow of the main deck, with sliding glass doors. On the lower deck of the liveaboard, there are 10 Deluxe Staterooms with twin beds (some of which can be converted to king-size beds). Some of these cabins have portholes, others not.
All the cabins have:
- Individual climate control air conditioning
- Sliding glass doors on main deck, some portholes on lower deck
- Flatscreen TV with movie selection
- Private bathroom with toilet and hot water shower
- Linen changed midweek, on request
- Hand basin, towels, toiletries, and hair dryer
- Closet, drawer and mirror
- Storage space
- Mains outlet 110 volts - 24 hours per day
No. of bathrooms / showers - 12 / 12 - hot water
Jardines de la Reina (8 Days / 7 Nights - 22 Dives)
Trip highlights: whale sharks, shark action, manta rays, turtles, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, healthy reefs, off the beaten track
Dive sites and activities: Gardens of the Queen: Cabezo de la Cubera, Black Coral Land II, Five Seas, Octopus Cave, Cabezo de la Raya, Los Mogotes, Pipin, El Farallon, Russian Mountain, Vicente, Avalon
Day 1
Your liveaboard trip begins at Port Jucaro, where you’ll board the Jardines Aggressor II for an evening departure. Once onboard, your tour leader will give you a warm welcome, show you to your cabin, and conduct a full safety and boat briefing. They'll also introduce you to the rest of the crew and outline the exciting plans for the days ahead.
Take a moment to get comfortable and complete any final paperwork before a delicious dinner is served. After a good night's sleep, you'll be ready to start your diving adventure the following morning.
Core Days
Cuba's Jardines de la Reina National Park encompasses a chain of 250 pristine coral and mangrove islands and it is also widely recognized to represent one of the healthiest marine ecosystems in the Caribbean. You will dive with Aggressor on pristine coral reefs and steep walls dropping from the reef crest into the deep, populated by large populations of fish including Goliath grouper weighing up to 400 lbs (180 kg), large schools of snappers, parrotfish, eagle rays, sea turtles and much more. Additionally, several species of sharks are commonly seen including silky, Caribbean reef, blacktip, lemon, hammerhead, and nurse sharks, plus the occasional whale shark.
Expect up to 4 dives per day. During the week, Cuban specialists will host nightly discussions and presentations on the marine environment, conservation, and the importance of this magnificent marinre ecosystem.
Diving at Cabezo de la Cubera in Cuba's Gardens of the Queen offers a fantastic underwater experience. The site's main feature is a large, circular coral formation, known locally as a 'cabezo'. Look out for large schools of dog snapper and cubera snapper swimming in the water column above the coral. Between the coral patches, you'll also see schools of mutton and yellowtail snapper. Other inhabitants of the area include Caribbean reef sharks, various species of groupers, and sting rays. As you finish your circuit of the coral formation, you'll find clouds of purple blue tangs and large schools of tarpon gliding by.
Octopus Cave is a small, but beautiful wall dive where you can expect to see a rich variety of marine life. While the name suggests an encounter with octopuses, the site is equally known for its larger inhabitants and dense schools of fish. As you descend, you'll find the small cave or overhang that gives the site its name, which often provides a home for various sea creatures. The wall itself is a bustling hub of activity, where you can spot both caribbean reef sharks and the much larger grey nurse shark patrolling the area.
El Farallon is a remarkable dive site consisting of a huge, cathedral-like coral mountain. The most distinctive feature of the site is the series of large tunnels that run through the coral structure, allowing divers to swim right through the mountain. Sunlight streams through openings in the top of these tunnels, illuminating the vibrant colours of the corals and sponges, which creates a truly magical, almost otherworldly, experience.
Russian Mountain is typically a wall dive, where a reef slope drops down to a deeper sandy bottom. The site is known for its resident reef sharks, and you can also expect to see large schools of jacks and snappers. Divers often spot a variety of groupers and other reef fish. The coral formations along the wall are healthy and vibrant, with a mix of hard corals, soft corals, and sponges creating a rich and colourful environment.
After 2 morning dives on the last full day of your trip, the Jardines Aggressor II will head back to port to get new supplies and refuel. A sunset cocktail party and dinner will be held on the liveaboard during the evening.
Day 8
Once you've had a quick breakfast in Port Jucaro, the provided transport will take you to the airport. The transfer includes a scheduled stop for lunch.
[Information is best estimate in ideal circumstances and subject to changes beyond our control. The itinerary is a guide only and may be adapted to best suit the weather, tides, currents, availability and other prevailing events. Price is for the cruise, not for an exact number of dives].
On board Jardines Aggressor II, the menu is diverse and abundant, featuring a variety of international and Cuban dishes, and served in the dining room on the upper deck of the liveaboard.
In the mornings, you can enjoy a full breakfast spread with 'eggs your way,' pancakes, toast, muffins, yogurt, fresh fruit, and cereals.
For lunch, there's a buffet, and dinner is a served meal. The selection includes spinach salad, salad nicoise, Cuban black bean soup, ajiaco Cubano soup, ham and cheese crepes, calamari a la romana, chicken a la valdostana, roast beef with gravy, eggplant lasagne, fettuccini with amatricana sauce, and stewed leg of lamb, all served with rice and vegetables.
For dessert, there are homemade papaya and pineapple sweets, ice cream, rice pudding, and chocolate mousse.
- Mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks are also provided and include homemade Cuban scones, homemade pizza, plum cake, and bruschetta.
- A variety of beverages are available, including fruit juices, soft drinks, iced water, iced tea, and coffee, along with a limited selection of local beer and wine.
- For dietary restrictions, please inform us when you book. You can also speak with the yacht's kitchen onboard, to ensure all your needs are met.
The typical daily routine on the Jardines Aggressor II is centered around diving and relaxation. While the schedule can be adjusted based on the weather and other factors, a general day looks like this:
Morning:
Guests wake up early, around 6-6:30 am
Breakfast is served, offering a variety of fresh fruits, hot entrées, cereals, and juices.
After breakfast, there is a dive briefing and equipment check.
Guests embark on 2 morning dives from the tenders, with a snack provided on board between dives.
Afternoon:
Lunch is served around noon.
In the afternoon, guests go on 2 more dives from the tenders, with another snack provided in between.
After the afternoon dives, guests are welcomed back on board with hot towels.
Evening:
Dinner is served around 7 pm and often features a special theme, such as 'Grill Night"' or 'Italian Night' with homemade pasta.
There may be an optional night dive. Guests have time to relax at the bar and socialize before heading to bed.
MORE TRIP DETAILS
Notes: The age limit to scuba dive by Cuban law is 15 years of age.
Dive experience: When guests compete their Cruise Application they affirm to Jardines Aggressor II that they are fit to dive in Cuba. That 'fit to dive' implies physical fitness, dive skills, and dive experience. Aggressor expect divers to accept personal responsibility for their fitness to dive.
Cruise price per person includes: Cabin accommodation, breakfast, lunch (including on final day), dinner, snacks, drinking water, soft drinks, hot drinks, local beer and wine, dives (as detailed in the trips above), experienced dive guides (DM ratio 12:1), tanks, weights and weightbelts, sales tax.
Cruise price per person excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own): Scuba equipment (incl. dive computer and torch: USD 225 per week), port fees (USD 240), marine park conservation fees (USD 120), dive insurance. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be prepaid.
Optional extras: Alcoholic drinks (other than local beer or wine), nitrox fills for enriched air certified divers (USD 100 per week), 15 liter tank (USD 75 per week), transfer to the boat from the local airports (Santa Clara, Cayo Coco or Camaguey: USD 60 each way, prepaid), transfer to the boat from Havana Airport (payable in advance: USD 120 each way). Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival. Note: prices of items purchased onboard are subject to change.
How to get there: These liveaboard cruises are operated under the Oceans For Youth Foundation which has an approved license for the 'People-to-People' educational exchange program. This means they meet OFAC regulations that permit US citizens to travel to Cuba, as well as citizens of the rest of the world.
You will be met at Santa Clara (SNU) or Camaguey (CMW) airport on the Saturday and transferred to the Jardines Aggressor II at Port Jucaro. A Cubatur representative in a yellow shirt who will assist with your luggage and transfer. If you arrive after 6 pm, you must make your own way to the boat in Jucaro which is about a 3 hour ride. Transfers can also be arranged from Havana (pick up at 12 noon, 7 hours). Boarding begins at 5 pm for guests making their own way to Jucaro. Once at Jucaro Port, you will board the Jardines Aggressor II liveaboard for the 3 hour voyage to Jardines de la Reina National Park.
On the last full day of the trip you will cruise back to Jucaro and then disembark at 4-5 am on the final morning (Saturday). You will then be taken back to the airport, stopping along the way for lunch. The last dive of the trip will be around 11 am on the second last day of the trip. Please wait at least 18 hours before flying after diving.
There are many daily international flights available to/from Cuba. For more details, including airlines, see our Cuba travel information section.
Non-diver rate: USD 200 off the full published price (does not apply to specials).
Single supplement (if you do not want to share accommodation): This is optional - single travelers may choose to share a cabin and pay the standard tariff, or pay a supplement of 65% of the normal published price for the sole occupancy of a cabin.
Dive clubs and group discounts: Pay for 12 guests, and 2 extra persons can join the cruise in a Deluxe Stateroom free of charge (total 12 or more guests).
Whole boat charter rate (per night): Pay for 21 guests and 3 additional persons can join the cruise free of charge (24 guests).
