Diving in Varadero, Cuba

[annasea]

I'll be spending a week at the Breezes Varadero resort in Cuba at the end of September. The rep I spoke with at Air Canada Vacations wasn't able to supply any info regarding diving, nor could I find much info on the internet other than the following from wowcuba's website:

Diving is offered from the Barracuda Diving Center (beside Cuatro Palmas Hotel) and the Coral International Dive Center (beside Kawama Hotel) as well as from several other hotels in the area. Trips are also offered from the Barracuda & Coral dive centers to the Bay of Pigs on the south shore. Sites in Varadero alone total 21 and highlight shipwrecks, flooded caves, gulf walls, coral barriers and even friendly moray eels. Gaviota also has a marina in the eastern tip of Varadero, but note that our offers below are valid for the Marlin marinas in western and central Varadero.

Recently, I read some feedback regarding Barracuda, and I'm wondering if anyone has tried Coral IDC or could recommend another dive op?

(The purpose of the trip is not specifically to dive, but for the few dives I'm able to do, I'd like them to be worthwhile.)

Thx!

 

[Torontonian]

My wife and I stayed at Beaches Veradero 3 years ago in late Aug.

The diving was included at Beaches, but they were ok only, not much to boast about. Then there were winds for several days and they cancelled diving. On the 3rd day when diving was cancelled, I asked them what else can they do. They offered to send me to downtown Veradaro where a dive op had a bus to go to Bay of Pigs. I took up that option. It was Barracuda. They were an ok op. It was 2-2.5hr ride to get to Bay of Pigs.

We did 2 shore dives. They were quite good. It was a short swim out to the wall that drops off. The coral growth was a lot better there, lots more color. After the dive they drove to a restaurant where we could order lunch for $10 for chicken, lobster, or some other meat, with a can of pop. It was not bad.

The bus ride was long, but you get to see the country side. Cuba is a very poor country. The dive op divemasters did not talk to us. They only talked to themselves in Spanish. One photographer was taking pictures, and got everyone's hotel info. Before we left the shop, he told everyone what time he will come by the hotel lobby to show you the pictures so you can decide if you want to buy them. The pics with me in were pretty good, so I bought them.