Explore a colorful coral reef with scuba divers in the deep ocean.
Cuba · Maria la Gorda

Ancla del Pirata

Also known as: Pirate's Anchor (Ancla del Pirata)

Best time to dive

January to December; December to August; November to April

What you might see

  • BarracudaLikely
  • Manta rayPossible
  • Whale sharkPossible

Sightings are seasonal probabilities, not promises - even in peak season nature does its own thing.

Certification & difficulty

Open Water - advanced conditions (currents/depth); dive within your training.

Snorkelling

Snorkel-friendly - Shallow upper reef suits confident snorkelers; run as a boat scuba dive

Safety notes

Remote Guanahacabibes location (~300 km from Havana) with limited nearby emergency/medical infrastructure; otherwise standard boat-diving practice. Named for a giant ~2-ton 18th-century anchor resting on the coral, encrusted with corals and crustaceans.

Permits & fees

Inside Guanahacabibes Peninsula National Park (UNESCO Biosphere Reserve); diving is arranged exclusively through the government-operated Maria la Gorda International Diving Center; proof of certification/logbook and a signed waiver required; no separate park dive-permit fee documented

Permits and operators change - confirm before booking.

Location

Nearest hub: Maria la Gorda

This profile is desk research, compiled from public sources - not a first-hand dive report. Coordinates are approximate.