The Bay of Pigs (Bahía de Cochinos) is most known for the unsuccessful CIA attempt to overthrow Castro’s government in April 1961. (and no, that is not why its name. The bay is named after a species of Triggerfish that live in the bay and that looks like a pig.) Does that not ring a bell? It is because it is something of a secret destination, a little off the beaten track, rarely visited, which is part of its appeal as there are not many tourists there. The other alluring quality is its amazing diving with a number of fascinating attractions around – small group tours cuba.
It is located on the southern side of Cuba, about 2.5 – 3 hours southeast of Havana. The towns closest to the Bay of Pigs are Playa Larga in the North and Playa Giron in the south. The water is actually warmer, with water temperatures around 29°C in summer, and drop to 22°C in winter, with air temperatures similarly balmy. Just perfect to enjoy your dive and relax without being swamped by other people.
The Bay of Pigs is a deeply cut bay (approximately 20km), protected from the breaker, with no strong streams, and therefore enjoys permanently excellent visibility. It has plenty of dive sites offering wrecks, walls with tunnels, canals, terraces and caves, and cenotes (sinkholes) with haloclines between the top freshwater layer and the saltwater below, offering the sights of colonies of stony coral, brain coral, gorgonian, and large sea sponge, and numerous schools of coral fish running around between them. Barracuda and little stingrays are quite common in the area as well.
Diving is possible there from two bases: Playa Larga and Playa Girón. There are several dozens of flooded caves between Playa Larga and Playa Girón that can be a sight to behold or enjoy some dramatic wall dives between these towns. If you are into wreck diving, you are also in luck here as in 1994, locals deliberately sunk the Jaruca to provide another interesting dive site for visitors. If you’ve never dived a wreck before, this is a good place to start.
Or enjoy the sights of El Cenote, this limestone sinkhole is found in the Zapata marshes. It has been explored to 70 meters (230 feet), but no one really knows just how deep it is. Or enjoy the Cueva de la Peces (Fish Cave), also another cenote that is filled with fresh water and among other things some rather scary-looking large fish. Its cooler freshwater is a refreshing change from the sea.
If you’ve ever wanted to see what it would be like to dive at the Bay of Pigs, now is your chance! Join us on Simple Cuba Scuba Underwater Photography Tour and not only will you get to see the magnificent marine life with experienced dive masters, you will also have our local tour guide to provide you with a cultural experience, and our underwater photography expert to ensure you take home the most amazing pictures of your holiday!
