Halcón

Boat

Halcón is a 21.5 meters long, 5.2 meters wide economical liveaboard with a traditional 70's style, it was built back in 1964 and has been refurbished a number of times. It's powered with two GM 450 hp diesel engines, cruises at 10 knots per hour. This is a ideal boat for these who looking for more economical liveaboard options here in the Gardens of the Queen.

On the main deck, there is a large salon, which is fully air-conditioned with comfortable couches making it the perfect place to relax with a cocktail before dinner.

The salon is equipped with a TV, DVD and a good sound system that allows people to either watch movies or for anglers to hook up their video cameras and have fun watching the exciting diving videos shot by their friends earlier that day.

The bow of the boat is very wide, excellent to take the sun after each dive.

On the upper deck, you can find the captain's bridge, with a nice balcony perfect to enjoy a panoramic view. Meals are usually served on the fly deck where there’s a nice breeze.

Dining on board combines the style of the best Continental Italian cuisine with delicious seafood and traditional Cuban favorites like rice and beans, black bean soup and fried bananas.

Beverages available on board are: Bottled mineral water, sparkling and tonic water, various soft drinks, juices, beers, rums, whisky and excellent wines (6 beverages/day included in the package).

Cabin

Halcón has 6 guests cabin onboard, it can accommodate uo to 12 guests per trip :

All cabins have air-conditioners, comfortable beds, electricity plugs, as well as storage in drawers.
All cabins will share the three guest bathrooms onboard (means two cabin share one bathroom).

4 Twin Cabins：
Located on the lower deck, each cabin comes with 2 single beds in bunk style, port window.

2 Double Cabins：
Located on the lower deck, each cabin comes with 1 double bed, port window.

Diving

• Usually 4 dives per day including night dive.

• Only 2 dives will be provided on the last diving day.

• No dive provided on the day of arrival and departure.

• All diving will provide experienced guide to lead the dive.

Other Informations

• Nitrox：Not available at the moment
• REBREATHER Dive：Not available at the moment
• Dive Equipment Rental：Available, rate on request, must book in advance
• Dive insurance：Divers travelling aboard must have valid dive insurance
• Wi-Fi Internet ：Not available at the moment
• Laundry Service：Not available at the moment
• Massage Service：Not available at the moment
• Payment on board：By cash (USD/Euro/CUC)
• Crew Number：6, including 2 dive guides

Gardens of the Queen 8D/7N

Duration :
From Saturday to Saturday for 8D/7N each week.

Arrival Information :
We suggest arriving into Cayo Coco Airport (CCC), Santa Clara (SNU) or Camaguey airport (CMW). Transfers from these airports are US$50 per person one way to Jucaro port. Guests arriving into these airports, the flight must arrive no later than 12:30pm to ensure same day arrival to the port and navigation to Jardines de la Reina.

If clients prefer to arrive and depart in Havana, they must arrive in the city on Friday, overnight, then take the collective land transfer to Jucaro port (US$100 / person / way - 6 hours). This transfer leaves Havana in the morning (6 - 8AM) and ensures that clients will arriving at the port in time to board and navigate on Saturday.

US Citizens :
The cruises fall under the "Workshops, clinics, public performances and other athletic competitions"general license 515.567(b). Marine Biologists working with Avalon will be collaborating with the clients about marine park conservation and the Gardens of the Queen’s unique ecosystem and clients will actively be engaging in the conservation initiative and efforts during their dive week.
Please feel free to read more about this program at BlueSanctuary.Org

Daily routine onboard
Diving schedule is usually at the discretion of the customers following the instructor’s suggestions with 3 daily dives. The day begins with a wakeup call at 7:00 am, coffee/tea ready, breakfast at 7:15 am. Our diving instructors are ready to go diving from 8:00 am. Fast diving boats are used to reach diving spots having the opportunity to explore different sites each day and enjoy the view of mangrove channels, virgin beaches, birds and other exuberant fauna during the trips. There is no chance for loneliness; dive guides and crew are available every single minute.

Our group guarantees all the equipment required to ensure safety (First Aid kits with O2 on every boat, excellent communications with mother boats and mainland, life jackets, etc.). Sunday morning, check-in dive to get acquainted and make sure all equipment is in good shape. During the briefings, our experienced instructors will explain every detail of the dive, from what will be seen in a particular spot to the correct behavior while diving with sharks or highlights of the area and special characteristics of the marine life present. After the first dive, surface interval in one of the beautiful beaches. Second dive and, at midday, boats will return for lunch.

Together with the instructor, arrange time for afternoon dives or for excursions through the lagoon and mangrove channels. Coming back to the live aboard, it is time to drink a frozen “mojito”, enjoy the afternoon pizza and talk about the dives. Around 8:00 pm, dinner is served and, like a family, everyone gets together around the table. Night dives available.

The staff will be in contact every minute to assist and receive special requests or suggestions. Evening time next to the bar, to watch photos and videos while breathing the sea atmosphere, it’s time to plan with the instructors what will happen next day.

In Jardines de la Reina, our season is year round. A normal week includes 17 dives + 1 night dive from Sunday to Friday; return to the mainland is on Saturday morning at around 09am. It is possible to book extra dives on request.

Jardines de la Reina

There are more than 80 dive sites in the Gardens of the Queen, and yet more to be discovered, all dive sites are well protected from wind and marine currents.

The biggest populations of adult fish in the Caribbean, Sharks, Snappers and Groupers; Jewfish up to 400 pounds are an everyday experience. Sharks are one of the main attractions and you can see them everywhere. You can easily dive with 6 different species: Silkies, Reef, Lemon, Black tip, King Hammerhead and nurse sharks. From July to November you have the chance to swim with Whale Sharks. Gardens of the Queen is certainly one of the last virgin reefs known by man. Dive and snorkel sites are well protected from the winds and sea currents. Visibility is more than 40 meters. There is a wide variety of fish and corals.

In addition, this marine park acts as a critical refuge for North American birds migrating along the route through Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to South America. This wildlife sanctuary hosts more than 68 species of migratory birds.

Crocodiles Snorkel : There is an area back in the mangroves where dive operators over many years have developed a relationship with a few resident American crocodiles. Less aggressive than the infamous Nile and Australian crocodiles, American crocodiles are normally shy, but not in the Gardens of the Queen.

This is an absolutely magic environment of clear water (at high tide anyway), with abundant seagrass below and mangrove forest above. If an over/under photo with a crocodile is on your wish list, there may be no better place on the planet to get one.