Cuba

[jock]

Hi,

I'm going on holiday to Cayo Island Cuba next year & wondered if anybody could:

1. Recommend a Dive School.
2. Tell me if they recognise PADI certification.
3. Is the kit available for hire anygood (if not I'll take mine & pay the excess baggage)

Thanks in advance.

Jock
PS If anybody has any snorkeling experiance on Cayo Island I'm intrested to hear.

 

[CDNScubaMoose]

I was in Cuba for 2 weeks in Feb/Mar 2005. I was in Varadero and so I can answer at least one of your questions:

They do recognize PADI certification but there are no PADI affliated training facilities in Cuba (due to PADI being American owned and the embargo). Can't answer much else but diving in Varadero was ok, but not great, since it is on the north shore and expose to the Atlantic. One day is was too windy so we went to the Bay of Pigs - much better diving there.

 

[Jimmer]

I dove in Varadero last February, and the two operations I went diving with had Mares and Scubapro for rental. It was in reasonable shape. But personally I always recommend bringing at least your own regulator and mask with you. I'm not sure where Cayo Island is, but I was told that if you have the time, you should dive the south side of the island, it is supposed to be much nicer than the North where I was.

Jim

 

[jock]

Thanks for the response, on a none diving topic does anybody know which currency is preffered by the locals?

Again Thanks in advance.

Jock

 

[jock]

Jim,

I'll be located in the South Side of the island, thanks for the heads up re North side.

Jock

 

[CDNScubaMoose]

I suspect when you mention Cayo Island it is the same as Cayo Coco. The currency in Cuba is a bit of a scam because of the embargo. In 2005 the only acceptable currency was something call the convertible peso. Which had the same exchange rate as the US dollar, but the US dollar couldn't be used. So I had to take US $$ and then buy the convertible peso at the hotel. If I had taken Canadian $$ I could still buy the convertible peso but at a much higher rater then if I had used the US $$ (even by taking the exchange rate in to consideration it was cheaper to transfer to US $$ in Canada then to the convertible peso in Cuba). Who says those communists aren't entrepreniurial?

 

[Jimmer]

They will expain the currency when you get there. If I remember correctly it was "Cuban Pesos" which were the exact same exchange rate as the US dollar, but you can only get them or give them in Cuba. The idea is to have an exchange rate everyone can relate to, since the US dollar is the main focal point for currency worldwide. The Cuba Peso is accepted no where else in the world, so be sure to exchange them back before you leave, or else you have some souvenirs or paperweights.

 

[jock]

Thanks again folks, I'm staying at the Emilia Las Dunas Cayo Coco by the way.

 

[annasea]

Regarding currency... tourists are able to use CUCs -- Cuban Convertible Pesos. As the CDN dollar is now higher than the US dollar D), it no longer pays to convert Canadian to US to CUCs. Plus there's a surcharge on converting the US dollar.

I'm sure you'll here this plenty of times while there, but be sure to save 25 CUCs for the exit fee.

Have a great time! Cuba is a wonderful place! The people are incredibly attractive, too.

Be sure to post a trip report when you return. I'm hoping to return to Cuba next year for some decent diving and do not want to go back to Varadero.

 

[jock]

annasea,

Thanks for the info, I'll post the dive reports on my return.

Jock