El arribo a la Habana y buceo en la Isla de la Juventud

Hi there!

Sorry guys but I think I'm gonna write in english to make sure my new friends can understand.

This pictures were taken on the day of my arrival to La Habana vieja on January 3rd. That's Avenida el Prado, which goes through the Capitolio down to the Malecón.


People of La Habana will inmediately aproach to you trying to sell you cigars or to take you to a casa particular for which they'll recive a comission. I gets a bit overwhelming some times, specially if they realise you speak spanish. Still la Habana is a safe place to walk.




Ok, so the morning after I got to Cuba I took a plane to la Isla de la Juventud. That's located about 200 kms down south La Habana. And together with Maria la Gorda, in the province of Pinar del Río, are supposed to be the best diving sites in Cuba.

The plane of Cubana de aviación was a pretty old Antonov 75, soviet made aircraft, built in the sixties probably. It was pretty much like an old school bus with wings. Surprisingly the flight was short and quite confortable. As the cabin was not pressurized, the plane had to cruise at 1200 metres. Also you could actually se the steam from the clouds coming inside the plane! It was like natural air con!



This was the view I had from my room at the Hotel El Colony at the isle. The Hotel was brilliant, It had just had a big make over and the new cabins have all the comodities you could probably find in a three or maybe four star. Much better than the shithole I stayed in La Habana.

Pretty gorgeous I think, I couldn't get tired of taking the same picture over and over again.

So the next day I finally went diving!

La isla has 56 diving sites all located around the natural reserve called La Punta del Frances. Wich is a key with a beautiful white sand beach, a park and a salt water lagoon with crocodiles.





This is one of the first pictures I took with my little point and shoot Minolta. It was taken on the wall over La Cueva Azul, at about 20 metres deep where we did our check up dive.

As you can see the visibility was quite good. On average say 20 metres.

That water was around 27º C, and there were barely any currents at all. Also there weren't any waves. The sea was flat. You could actually read on the boat.




She's my friend Bergljot from Norway. She was also travelling by herself. She was in Maria la Gorda before la Isla. Her, and probably the general opinion was that the diving was slightly better there. Probably because there was this divemaster who looked just like Denzel Washington girls said!





This was also during our first dive. Here we are going though a small canyon above the blue cave





That's a really small Damsel. She wasn't too happy to have me that close, they are quite territorial, you know.




At least in Chile we call these Soldier fish. There was plenty of them.
I did'nt realise they were red until I saw the picture. You lose the colours with depth!



That's my friend Stefan from Germany. He stayed with us at the Isle for a couple of days. He was traveling with His girlfiend Simone which was also very nice



That's me. I think Stefan took this picture. He's good with the camera.










I'm sorry guys i don't know what's the name of the fish. I think it's probably a Grunt.







When we got back to the hotel. Like I said I can't get tired of taking that picture








These guys are a cople from Madrid on their third trip to La Isla. Que viva España!!!








They are are French couple. Since I don't speak french at all, we were not able to talk much. Which was a pitty cause they were really friendly and enthusiastic. Mental note: I must learn french. Anyway... Viva la France!!!




Once again your humble narrator this time in a self portrait.










That's a really nice cornetfish. There were quite a few of them.









That's a grunt...













...And another one.












A small one hidden between the rocks.











Here we are having dinner with Stefan and Simone on their last night at the Isle. But we've got new friends! On the right there's Kirsten and Trevor. From London, England.



Ok Guys That's only a sample. The best is yet to come so keep on checking on this blog. See yaa.