Providing all-inclusive Saturday through Saturday adventures, Avalon Outdoor is a Cuba-based liveaboard operation dedicated to sustainability and marine conservation. Avalon’s primary goal is to support conservation programs in protected marine parks while benefiting local communities. Their ships explore locations 60 miles off Cuba’s southern coast, including the Jardines de la Reina and the Gardens of the Queen. Before boarding the ship, guests fly into Havana, Camaguey, Santa Clara, or Cayo Coco airports. Then, they will be transferred to the port on Saturday morning and board the ship. Setting off on the four-hour journey to the Gardens of the Queen, guests typically enjoy a meal or snack and are given the welcome briefing, including the itinerary and safety protocols.
The first morning includes the first dive of the week, weather permitting. Each day consists of three dives, including night dives. Dives and eco-activities happen from a skiff or dive tender, accommodating 10 to 12 divers and one dive guide for every six divers. The base package includes three dives a day, but there is an optional upgrade for a fourth daily dive. While the daily schedule varies, dinner is typically served at 7:30 p.m. During the evenings, guests can enjoy happy hour drinks on the sundeck.
An essential aspect of the Avalon’s itinerary is the ship’s conservation program, which prioritizes educating guests on interacting with sustainable sports activities and the native flora and fauna. This includes learning about the rotation system of utilization areas within the marine park, which ensures the preservation of the park’s heritage and nature. This program takes a hands-on approach as guests will participate in several environmental projects while on the Avalon. This experience is immersive and woven into activities such as diving and on-land excursions, including taking a population survey with the Fish Counting and Fish Tagging Project. Educational opportunities include presentations from a marine biologist on the Garden of the Queen’s environment, biodiversity, and information on marine life cycles, such as how fish reproduce, spawn, and grow. As a conservation-centric ship, Avalon grants guests a certificate upon completing the program, meaning that each guest has contributed to humanitarian and sustainability efforts.
Liveaboard experiences on the Jardines Avalon ships run from Saturday to Saturday, and guests typically arrive at Cayo Coco, Santa Clara, or Camaguey airports before being transferred to Jucaro port then Jardines de la Reina. A typical day during the week aboard will consist of three daily dives through mangrove channels and off the coasts of virgin beaches. When diving through Cuban waters, such as Jardines de la Reina Marine Park, there are colorful vertical walls decorated with sponges and corals. Explore the canyons and caves while spotting sharks, snappers, and groupers.
Low Season - June to September / High Season January to May & October to December.
MANDATORY SUPPLEMENTS
Port Fee & Supplemental Health Insurance: $340 pp.
Conservation fee: $120 pp.
OPTIONAL SUPPLEMENTS
Full equipment rental: $290 pp./week
Nitrox: $120 pp.
Full Suite (w/ balcony): $590 pp.
Upgrade to 4/dives per day: $200 pp.
Single occupancy: additional 65% of the package rate
Released in 2020, the Jardines Avalon IV was built from the bottom up and now sits at 190 feet long. Onboard, guests can relax and dine between the lounge, dining room, and sun deck. The yacht features 20 staterooms, all of which feature personal air conditioning and heating, storage space, and convertible double beds. Along the main deck, there are eight double rooms as well as the lounge. At the yacht’s main entrance, the rear deck acts as a storage area to organize dive gear. The lower deck is home to the crew and includes the engine room. Four of the suites include balconies, a jacuzzi, and a sundeck. With meals and drinks included, the liveaboard offers all-day snacks, western, local, and vegetarian cuisine as well as a selection of beer and wine. The JA 4 low season is June to September and the high season is January to May & October to December.
Narrative text and photos courtesy of Avalon Outdoor.