Inspired by the creatures, critters, cultures and people we’ve met along our journey, The Blue Crew wants to guide you on your pursuit, whether it be shipwrecks around the corner, lakes atop mountains, teeming reefs at 20 feet in the Caribbean or unexplored dive sites at 300 feet.

Join Everette & Blue Crew Divers as he guides our inaugural trip to a nearby Caribbean Island nation and Jardines de la Reina Marine Park (Garden of the Queen).  We will be in a Marine Protected Area in a national park on the southern side of the central province of Camaguey. It is home to the third largest reef in the world. The national park's Blue Sanctuary sustainability management program has resulted in limited access by man.

As a protected environment, underwater creatures including six species of sharks and numerous colorful corals - some of which once thought to be lost - have been able to thrive and flourish. Fish grow to adulthood, including goliath grouper and tarpon, among many other species. This area is only accessible by a scuba diving liveaboard. Jardines de la Reina is one of the top dive liveaboard destinations in the world.

It is legal for Americans to travel to and dive in this country under the Blue Sanctuary program.

Gardens of the Queen Diving Highlights
Diving in the Gardens of the Queen is an extremely unique experience. Due to the area’s lack of human habitation, as well as its many years as a protected marine park, reef health is notably superior in Jardines de la Reina compared to other Caribbean dive destinations.

Long term marine park protection has also allowed many species to grow to maturity, which, otherwise, tend to struggle under human interference. A prime example is the area’s famously friendly population of goliath groupers, which are fished to dangerously low numbers in other places. Many divers who visit the Gardens of the Queen are shocked by the amount of personality displayed by these fish, which act almost like underwater puppies!

These huge groupers, as well as the abundance other large predators such as tarpon and sharks, are an excellent sign of the health of these reefs. Shark fanatics are sure to enjoy the numerous Caribbean reef sharks on the reef as well as groups of silky sharks at the surface.

 
Legal Travel there
Traveling to this nation is now completely legal for US citizens, as long as US regulations are followed. This involves participation in an OFAC-authorized program and documentation to keep after returning from the trip. Fortunately, it’s a simple process that is bundled right into trips on All Star Avalon. Non-US citizens joining All Star Avalon trips must also follow the same program onboard.

Blue Sanctuary, which qualifies as a Humanitarian Project, is our OFAC-approved sustainability management program for divers visiting Jardines de la Reina. Each passenger on All Star Avalon participates in the program through educational/conservation activities throughout the trip. These include taking part in daily fish surveys, sitting in on presentations, and learning about the marine park throughout the week onboard.

Gardens of the Queen Diving Highlights

JARDINES DE LA REINA MARINE PARK
Positioned fifty miles south of the mainland and covering approximately 684,000 hectares, Jardines de la Reina Marine Park went under protection in 1996. Since then, it has become a safe residence for thousands of marine and topside species. From charismatic goliath groupers to the remarkable American crocodile, many animals prone to struggling in other environments are able to thrive under these protected waters.

Commercial fishing and permanent human habitation are not permitted within the park boundaries, so the 230+ small cays, massive mangrove forests, and reefs appear largely unfazed by human intervention. In fact, the number of divers in the park is limited, so exploration in Jardines de la Reina truly is a special opportunity for anyone wanting to experience a unique Caribbean liveaboard diving destination.

WHAT'S INCLUDED:
8 days / 7 nights aboard Avalon IV®
5.5 days of diving (up to 4 dives daily), including night dives
Accommodation, meals, snacks, and alcohol/non-alcohol beverages
Opportunities to have land excursions at the end of the trip
Around-the-clock service from a fun, experienced, and English-speaking crew

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED:
Airfare
Port Fees: US$260 per person
Marine Park Conservation Fee: US$160 per person
Crew gratuities
Dive instruction
Dive gear rental (other than tanks, weights and weight belts)
Nitrox (US$10 per fill or US$150 per week) and retail sales

All divers must have current DAN diving insurance and some form of travel insurance. We recommend travel insurance through DAN (Divers Alert Network).
DAN Trip Insurance:      https://dan.org/partner/2963667/trip 
DAN Diver Insurance:   https://dan.org/partner/2963667  

All deposits are non-refundable, this is why trip insurance is required. 

You may choose any travel insurance vendor. Blue Crew recommends DAN TRAVEL INSURANCE. This can be purchased for a single trip or they have a policy that covers multiple trips for a 1-year plan.

dan.org/membership-insurance/travel-insurance/per-trip-insurance/

Those who choose not to obtain travel insurance must pay the full trip amount by check or cash at the time of booking.

MARINE LIFE
The healthy ecosystem of the Gardens of the Queen is home to an incredible variety of marine creatures, from tiny nudibranchs to imposing goliath groupers and everything in between. The marine park’s strict rules against fishing have created a safe haven for the many animals living in its boundaries – so much so that some species, especially the resident goliath groupers, actually display a more “friendly” behavior here than in other dive destinations.

Large Marine Animals
Large animals in Jardines de la Reina are the main attraction for most visitors. Goliath groupers, abundant silky and Caribbean reef sharks, and large schools of tarpon are certainly eye-catching. Under the marine park’s protection, these species are thriving and present on most dives – so don’t forget your wide-angle lens!

Though they aren’t found on dive sites, American saltwater crocodiles are another incredibly large animal in Jardines de la Reina. They make excellent photo subjects for travelers who are brave enough to snorkel with them during surface intervals in the mangroves.

Macro Life
For divers with a keen eye, there’s no shortage of fascinating little critters to see in the Gardens of the Queen. Lettuce sea slugs are abundant, as are plenty of small crustaceans. Also, due to the relatively unexplored nature of the area, it’s not uncommon to come across an unidentified nudibranch species!

Snorkeling in the mangroves is another great way to spot macro life underwater in the Gardens of the Queen. The mangroves act as a nursery for countless species, so many fish can be seen in their juvenile form here.

DIVING CONDITIONS
Diving here is generally very easy. Divers enjoy nice visibility, minimal currents, and comfortable water temperatures. Most dive sites max out at approximately 75 feet of depth, though there are a few sites that reach nearly 100ft.

Gardens of the Queen liveaboards offer a unique diving experience, designed to make the most of this marvelous destination. All dives are done from large tenders, which navigate through the mangrove channels from the mothership out to dive sites 10-15 minutes away. Usually, two dives are done before returning to the mothership – this leaves time for a topside excursion during the surface interval between dives.

Many dives are treated as “drifts” in that divers are dropped in at one mooring and picked up at another. The light currents make covering the distance between moorings a relaxing activity. Divers simply follow along with the guide and get back onto the tender after a safety stop.

The water temperature in January varies from 78-82 degrees.

HOW TO GET THERE
For Blue Crew Divers joining a trip on All Star Avalon, travel to this country is very simple. All necessary documents are provided before travel, and there is a weekly American Airlines flight from Miami to Camaguey (CMW), which is the easiest airport for getting to and from the dock. 

All Star Avalon boards in Jucaro, which is approximately 3 hours from Camaguey by bus.
There are also flights straight into Havana (HAV) from several US cities. A bus transfer from Havana to Jucaro is approximately 8 hours.

TRIP ITINERARY
Itineraries are weather dependent and tailored to best diving available each trip.

Saturday:
Morning – Transfer from Havana or Camagüey to Jucaro
Boarding begins at 2pm. Arrive at the dock, board, check in
Safety briefing, equipment outfitting, prep dive equipment
Dinner
Educational presentation by marine biologist giving an overview of coastal marine habitat preservation
Evening – Travel to the marine park, a 4-hour trip

Sunday to Friday:
6:30am – Breakfast – made-to-order
7:30am – Depart for first dive following dive briefing
9:00am – Return to boat for snack
10:00am – Depart for second dive, following dive briefing
12:00pm – Lunch
1:30pm – Depart for third dive, following dive briefing
3:00pm – Afternoon snack
4:00pm – Depart for fourth dive, following dive briefing
6:00pm – Log fish surveys after dives, review findings with marine biologists and guides.
7:00pm – Educational and conservation lectures with marine biologist
8:00pm – Dinner, plan for next day’s activities and review video footage
*4 dives per day including 2-night dives during the trip; additional night dives possible on request by chatting with your dive guide. 

Saturday:
9:00 am – Disembark to Havana or Camagüey. 

Please contact us before you book your flights. 

If you are interested in a land excursion in the capital after the trip, let us know so we can assist you in arranging this visit.