Gardens of the Queen, Jardines de la Reina
Avalon II is a state-of-the-art vessel with 10 staterooms that began operating as a floating hotel in April 2014.
The Avalon Fleet II has twelve air-conditioned Deluxe Staterooms feature individual thermostats, a bunk bed with a double lower and single upper, a private bathroom, and modern comforts for a relaxing stay.
Avalon II is a state-of-the-art vessel with 10 staterooms that began operating as a floating hotel in April 2014.
NOTE: This boat forms part of the Avalon Outdoor fleet. When you book a trip to Cuba with Avalon Outdoor, you'll be assigned one of their boats upon arrival. For an overview of the fleet, please visit this page or contact us for more information.
Divers booked on the Avalon will board at the port of Jcaro. The trip to Jardines de la Reina lasts 5 hours. Once the Avalon arrives at Jardines de la Reina, it will remain stationary and tender boats will take divers to sites within a 20-minute ride.
The underwater paradise is all that comes into the mind when you first enter the water, the vertical walls covered with brightly hued sponges, the huge Pilar Corals (Montastraea Annularis), the black corals extending the branches in the contrasting blue water, many species of gorgonians, fragile laminar corals (Agaricia sp.) showing its beautiful shapes through crevices, canyons and caves built along thousands of years of invertebrates work, converting tons of calcium carbonate into architecture masterpieces, all this combined with one of the biggest fish diversity and biomass of the Caribbean makes each dive an unforgettable experience.
[See: Cuba Dive Travel Guide]
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Avalon Fleet II has 10 deluxe, comfortable staterooms air-conditioned, with individual thermostats. All cabins have private bathrooms and 1 Bunk bed (double lower, single upper). The vessel has an overall capacity of 20 passengers and 9 crew members.
The "Gardens of the Queen", are a complex network of untouched marine ecosystems that have been regarded by many knowledgeable scientists and organizations as a reference of what is the original status of a coral reef as Christopher Columbus found it in the times of the discovery.
The underwater paradise is all that comes into the mind when you first enter the water, the vertical walls covered with brightly hued sponges, the huge Pilar Corals (Montastraea Annularis), the black corals extending the branches in the contrasting blue water, many species of gorgonians, fragile laminar corals (Agaricia sp.) showing its beautiful shapes through crevices, canyons and caves built along thousands of years of invertebrates work, converting tons of calcium carbonate into architecture masterpieces, all this combined with one of the biggest fish diversity and biomass of the Caribbean makes each dive an unforgettable experience.
The amazingly healthy mangrove system provides nursery area for young fish populations, filtering the water that goes to the reef together with the seagrass beds (Thalassia testudinum) and in return receiving from the reef protection against the open ocean wave energy, all interconnected in a very fragile network that here keeps its variety, richness and splendor intact.
The biggest populations of adult fish in the Caribbean, Sharks, Snappers and Groupers, Jewfish up to 400 Pounds are an everyday experience.
Avalon Diving Center is the only operation in the area, and hosts no more than 900 divers per year. Dive sites are well protected from the winds and sea currents. Visibility is more than 40 meters. The dive center is well equipped with new compressors, nitrox blenders and quality equipment for rent.
Diving with sharks is one of the main attractions in Gardens of the Queen. There are resident populations of Caribbeans and Silkies, in some spots is absolutely guaranteed to have more than 25 curious sharks swimming around during the dive, at least 6 different species can be seen: Very abundant: Caribbean, Nurse and Silky sharks, occasional: Lemon, Blacktip, Great and Scalloped Hammerhead and the amazing Whale Shark.
Program includes transfers from/to the Santa Clara or Camaguey Airport to Jucaro Port (2 1/2 hours) where the Liveaboard departs from. Transfers are included for flights arriving by 6 pm Saturday at both airports. Guests arriving before may wait for the transfer. Clients arriving by their own to Jucaro will board around 6 pm. Clients booked on Tortuga need to arrive to Santa Clara or Camaguey airports on Friday, so to be able to take the transfer on Saturday morning.
Diving will start on Sunday morning through Friday.
Marine Biologists working with Avalon will be speaking with the clients about Marine conservation and Gardens of the Queen unique ecosystem.
Saturday 9:30 am: disembark and transfer to Santa Clara or Camaguey Airport.
GMT-5
CUC (Cuban Convertible Pesos)
Spanish and English
220 & 110 V
Cash