Diving Cuba: Playa Maria La Gorda

[boyfromoz]

Im looking to do some diving off western cuba at playa maria la gorda, wondering if anyone had been here, and if so how does it rate with other diving in cuba? (liveaboards aside)
thanks heaps

 

[alijtaylor]

Hi Boy from Oz I am a gal from NZ and am planning the same thing. I don't have personal experience but I have done a bit of research and Maria La Gorda comes up consistently as one of the best (if not the best). The other favoured sites appear to Jardinne De Riena (I think my Spanish spelling is a wierd there) andf the Isle of Youth. I have opted for Maria La Gorda partly because it is more accessible - despite being far west all the sites are a few minutes boat trip away from shore where there is reasonably priced accommodation. One downside appears to be that it is hard to get more than 2 dives in a day.
I am trying to find out how much damage Ivan did - appears that it took some roofs off but the rebuild is already underway. Hard to know how much it damaged the reefs but I figure by late Janaury it will be worth a visit.
Cheers and post a trip report if you get there before January!
Alison

 

[RSoper]

I dived at Maria La Gorda recently, the dive operation and accomidation is VERY BASIC, the diving very similar to Grand Cayman. Good diving, but personally i would not reaturn as the hotel (if you can call it that,) was so basic.

 

[alijtaylor]

Yeah,
the Rough Guide says 'don't expect to be pampered at Motel Maria La Gorda which is more a base camp for divers than a hotel for beach bums (I think about $US40 a night). The small sea facing collection of wood panelled bungalows and a two storied conctrete apartment block are comfortable enough for a good nights sleep and all equipped with air con and televisions."

The other note is there is no shop so unless you want to entirtely eat in best to bring a few provisions $US5 breakfasts and $US15 lunch and dinners.

If you are on a budget sounds about right..

Alison

 

[RSoper]

I stayed in the bungalows you talk of, and they were pretty grim to be honest, trminded me of something out of a cold war movie. There are much nicer log cabin type things set back in the forest, but probably cost more.

On a posotive note there are very friendly "tribes" of cats with their kittens running about the place (posoitive if you like cats that is.)

Yeah,
the Rough Guide says 'don't expect to be pampered at Motel Maria La Gorda which is more a base camp for divers than a hotel for beach bums (I think about $US40 a night). The small sea facing collection of wood panelled bungalows and a two storied conctrete apartment block are comfortable enough for a good nights sleep and all equipped with air con and televisions."

The other note is there is no shop so unless you want to entirtely eat in best to bring a few provisions $US5 breakfasts and $US15 lunch and dinners.

If you are on a budget sounds about right..

Alison[/QUOTE]