Travel legally to Cuba with us on a humanitarian environmental project expedition in the spectacular Gardens of the Queen marine park onboard Avalon III. Travel to Cuba under this program is legal for U.S. citizens and residents.
This licensed humanitarian environmental project visit examines the relationship of Cuban citizens with their natural environment, including socioeconomic and cultural issues brought about by Cuba’s growing ecotourism industry. The exchange also represents an opportunity to explore important environmental issues that impact the marine waters that both nations share through face-to-face interaction. The environment, and particularly the marine environment, is something that both biologically and culturally joins Cuba and the U.S. Visitors will meet with Cuban scientists and resource managers in workshops and perform citizen science.
You'll spend seven nights onboard the beautiful liveaboard dive vessel, Avalon III, in the heart of Cuba's Gardens of the Queen (Jardines de la Reina) National Park, located 60 miles off the southern coast of Cuba, an archipelago comprising a chain of 250 virgin coral and mangrove islands extending along 75 miles of turquoise waters. Gardens of the Queen was featured on an award-winning segment of the CBS news program, 60 MINUTES hosted by Anderson Cooper. Gardens of the Queen is Cuba's first marine park and the largest no-take marine reserve in the Caribbean, where much of the story lies underwater. U.S. visitors will accompany Cuban specialists and scuba dive in one of the healthiest marine ecosystems remaining in the Caribbean.
An optional land tour of Cuba will be offered the week prior to our dive adventure. A special Christmas like none you've ever experienced! More details to follow.
