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 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, 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 - 14 / 14 - 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, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving
Dive sites and activities: Gardens of the Queen: Cabezo de la Cubera, Black Coral Iand II, Five Seas, Octopus Cave, Cabezo de la Raya, Los Mogotes, Pipin, El Farallon, Russian Mountain, Vicente, Avalon
Day 1
Board the Jardines Aggressor II in Port Jucaro, before the yacht departs late in the evening; the tour leader will welcome you onboard, assign your cabin to you, give a safety briefing, crew introduction, and explain in detail the liveaboard boat features and the plans for the coming days. You will have time to complete the necessary registration paperwork, familiarize yourself with the boat and make yourself comfortable. Then dinner will be served. After a good night's sleep in your comfortable cabin, the diving will commence the next day.
Days 2-7
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 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, parrotfishes, 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 ecosystem.
The menu onboard is varied and plentiful, with a variety of international and Cuban cuisine. You will wake up to ‘eggs your way’, pancakes, toast, muffins, yogurt, fresh fruit, and cereals. Buffet lunch and waiter-served dinner include 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 Lasagna, Fettucini with Amatricana Sauce, Stewed Leg of Lamb, rice, vegetables, Homemade Papaya and Pineapple Sweets, ice cream, Rice Pudding, Chocolate Mousse. Mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks include Homemade Cuban Scones, Homemade Pizza, Plum Cake, Bruschetta. The yacht has a selection of fruit juices, soft drinks, iced water, iced tea, coffee, and a limited selection of local beer and wine. If you have any special dietary requirements, please let us know during the booking process and speak to the yacht chef once onboard so he can adequately prepare to meet your needs.
After 2 morning dives on the last full day of the trip, the Aggressor returns to port to provision and re-fuel. A sunset cocktail party and dinner will be held onboard.
Day 8
After a quick breakfast, you will depart for the airport in the provided transport, stopping for lunch along the way.
[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].