Dive Destinations
Liveaboards
Resorts / Day Trips
Scuba Training
PRICE PER DAY FROM USD 0
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The Tortuga is a floating steel house boat that is permanently anchored in a protected channel in the Gardens of the Queen National Marine Park. She is the original Avalon fleet liveaboard, and comfortably accommodates a maximum of 25 guests in 8 ensuite cabins across 2 decks. She is stable and provides divers with similar experiences to the other Avalon fleet Cuban liveaboards.
Avalon transfer boats will take you from the port of Jucaro to the Tortuga. On arrival you check into your cabin and savor your first meal that Avalon is so well known for. While your day away on the large open air deck, sipping cocktails from the bar and get to know fellow divers who you will share your 6 night Cuban liveaboard diving trip with.
In the evening dinner is served in one of the 2 dining areas. Quench your thirst at the bar that offers a wide selection of wine and spirits available for purchase. Divemasters will be on hand to share their extensive knowledge about the dive sites and provide guidance on diving with the large number of sharks that call Jardines de la Reina Marine Park home.
Breakfast is an early morning affair in preparation to depart for the first dive via the speedy dive tenders. Excursions to the many small islands between dives give guests the opportunity to marvel at the myriad of beautiful flora and fauna, or work on their tan on one of the uninhabited golden beaches. You will return to the Tortuga to enjoy a scrumptious lunch and to discuss the afternoon plans.
After an additional afternoon dive or 2, you again return to the houseboat to share diving videos and pictures in the air-conditioned saloon. Alternatively, chill in the liveaboard's large outdoor shaded seating area while sipping frozen mojitos. Be sure to bring along your personal smart devices and keep connected with loved ones back home or post jealous worthy diving pictures on your social media accounts via the free Wi-Fi onboard the Tortuga.
The Tortuga is a great option for budget conscious divers or for those who don't want to wait to dive one of the best Caribbean diving areas. The low numbers of liveaboards operating in the area and the popularity of this Cuban destination ensures that spaces on liveaboards are booked up well in advance.
Dive experience: The recommendation is for scuba divers to have a minimum of 50 logged dives to join these Cuba liveaboard tours.
Cruise price per person includes: Cabin accommodation, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, 6 drinks per day (includes beer, wine, cocktails, soft drinks and 2L mineral water), Wi-Fi access, local airport transfers, dives (as detailed in the trips above, night dives are not available), experienced Spanish and English-speaking divemaster(s) (maximum of 6 divers per DM), tanks, weights and weightbelts.
Cruise price per person excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own): Scuba equipment rental (USD 341 full set per trip), port taxes (USD 282) to be paid in advance, conservation fee (USD 141) to be paid in advance. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival.
Optional extras: Torch (USD 8 per night dive) to be paid in advance, dive computer (USD 60 per trip) to be paid in advance, additional dives on request, dive insurance, private divemasterUSD 1 200 (subject to availability), alcoholic and soft drinks (other than those included), transfers from selected hotels in Havana to and from the boat (USD 141) to be paid in advance. 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 06:00 - 06:30 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 approx. 65% of the published price.
Dive clubs and group discounts: Pay for 8 guests and 1 additional person can join the cruise in the Standard cabin free of charge (total 9 or more guests). Pay for 14 guests and 2 additional guests can join the cruise in a Standard cabin free of charge (total 16 or more guests.) See whole boat charter rate below.
Whole boat charter rate (per night): 2018: USD 6 170
