While being a guest in Los Jardines de la Reina, accommodations are provided primarily on 3 large live-aboard boats or on our original 110-foot double deck houseboat, the Tortuga. The Tortuga functions as a floating hotel with seven guest cabins that accommodate 2/3 divers each (14 divers up to 21). The Tortuga is a massive, steel houseboat that is permanently secured in a small, protected channel of a big island, so that it never moves. It is extremely stable and level at all times so there is never any chance of guests getting seasick.

We refurbished the Tortuga again in 2008 this was a major rebuild with a total cost of 1.5 million usd. The guest cabins on the upper level have their own bathroom with sink and toilet and a good shower with plenty of hot water. Each cabin has its own easily adjustable air-conditioning system. On the lower level you will find our large air conditioned dining room along with a foredeck and afterdeck, with chairs and tables perfect for relaxing after a day of diving. The foredeck is everyone’s favorite place to enjoy appetizers like pizza and your favorite beverage before dinner. A great spot to kick back and relax, enjoying the perfect mojito cocktail, or smoke a great Cuban cigar.

Electricity on board is supplied by generators located on a small island nearby and is available twenty-four hours a day. We have many outlets on board that provide both 110 and 220V. We have a satellite Wireless connection making communication with the outside world easy and free for our guests. You can use your laptop in our dining room at any time or in the cabins using our Avalon Hot Spot network as long as you have wireless capability with your laptop or other device.

Dining on board, combines the flair of the best Continental Italian cuisine with delicious fresh seafood every day and traditional Cuban favorites like rice and beans, black bean soup and fried bananas. Beverages available on board include bottled water (2 lt/day included in the package), Mineral and Tonic water, various soft drinks, beer, rum and excellent wines. Chef on the Tortuga is excellent. The day starts out with a energetic breakfast. Lunch and dinners are primarily fresh fish, sea food, every day provided by the crew. Lobster is our specialty that you can enjoy and served in a variety of ways. For those that would like something different, chicken and pork are also available. Salads and a variety of fruits are served every day. Desserts feature our famous Cub flan, or rum cake topped off with some aged Havana Club rum.

Daily routine:

Diving hours are usually at the discretion of the clients following instructors´ suggestion. 2 to 3 daily dives. Our diving day normally begins with wake up at 7:00 with coffee, breakfast at 7:30am, and our Dive Masters and instructors are ready to go diving from 8:0 0 am on. Specialized modern skiffs will be used to reach diving spots and divers have the opportunity to explore different sites each day. There´s no chance for loneliness, dive masters and boatmen help every single minute. Our group guarantees all the specialized equipment required (Fist Aid kit with O2 on every boat). Once reaching the selected diving area, instructor will make a briefing. . Explaining what would be seen during diving, behavior when diving with sharks, highlighting characteristics of the marine flora and fauna present. After the first dive, divers surface interval on one of the beautiful beaches…to rest and suntanned. At midday, boats will be ready for the second dive. Together with the instructor, arrange time for afternoon or night dives or for excursions through the lagoon, boat ride along the mangrove channels. Coming back to the life aboard, there´s time for drinking, chatting and to watching photos and videos. Around 8:00 dinner is served and, like a family, is time to enjoy this pleasant time with other divers. Some staff members will be in contact with clients, thus they have chance to make special requests or suggestions. Evening time next to bar, breathing the sea atmosphere, it´s time to plan with Dive Master what will happen next day.

In Jardines de la Reina, our season is year round, with no service in September to mid-October. A normal week includes 12 dives in five full days of diving and one half day. On request is available to book night and extra dives. Our diving weeks on board the yachts run from Saturday to the following Friday.

Shopping on board the Tortuga: We have for sale Diving T-shirts, at very reasonable prices. We want to remind you that we do not accept credit cards. You will need cash for any purchases and gratuities. You can easily exchange money at the airport or at any bank for CUC (Cuban Convertible Pesos). The best currency to bring on your trip to Cuba is either Euros or Canadian Dollars. At present there is a 10% penalty in addition to the exchange rate for US dollars. Tipping

Tipping is widespread in Cuba. Many Cuban workers rely on tips to supplement their basic income and they all work really hard. Tips help them get better lifestyle. So if you receive a good service, it is very good etiquette to tip accordingly.

Our Recommendations:

Tortuga: 80 Euros x person would be appreciated at the end of you stay.