Several hundreds of diving places indorse Cuba as an underwater paradise, cherished by many nature lovers and adventurers.

Near the holding of Cuba 2000 Tourism, Convention diving is regarded as one of the most requested practices within the specialties of nautical leisure, having a daily new thrust in the island. This leisure field is one of the most attractive offers of the Cuban tourism authorities which expect to end this year with two million travelers. Cuba is a suitable place for this practice sine there are 70,000 underwater Kms2 in the archipelago. It is a real paradise submerged with a coral reef, and a number of cays exposing virginal landscapes, accompanied by a fantastic sea fauna, observed mainly by adventurers. The island has on its sea bottom an average transversal visibility of at least 40 m of warm waters that may fluctuate between 24ºC - 28ºC. Organizations of a well-known international prestige have instructors here, like the World Confederation of Underwater Activities (CMAS), in addition to the American-Canadian Certification of Diving (ACUC) which grant the corresponding identifications to those who pass the courses if they meet diving requirements. As a particular attraction, coral reef has around 500 species of fish, 200 of sponge, and a variety of mollusks, crustaceans, gorgonias, among other animals. There are over 500 diving sites in Cuba, on both coasts, north and south, grouping by certain regions and with an operational base on International centers for these specialties, marinas and piers with the proper infrastructure for such a practice. Cayo Largo comprises the Canarreos Archipelago and Varadero, the main tourism resort of the country, located at some 140 km on the east of the capital. They are wonderful places to dive. The other places for diving are located in the Bay of Pig, Cienfuegos, Trinidad, Cayo Coco, Jardines de la Reina, Santa Lucía, Guardalavaca, Santiago de Cuba and Marea del Portillo, from the center to the eastern of the island. Maria la Gorda is one of the most visited. The name was given in honor to a legend that includes pirates who some centuries ago landed in this place. There are 39 diving sites there, and for the experts, this is one of the best places for this kind of practice in the island. The base is in Guanacahabibes Peninsula (a Biosphere World Reservation). The International Diving Center of Puerto Sol Marina is located at Maria la Gorda, with accommodation and instructors. In Cuba the bases for diving practice are managed by three main chains: Cubanacán Náutica, Puertosol S.A. and Marina Gaviota.