Jibacoa Beach - Isla de la Juventud
Jibacoa Beach is an easy shore dive, perfect for those new to the Caribbean or just getting their fins wet. The sandy bottom gradually slopes to around 14 meters, dotted with small coral patches and sponges. You’ll spot plenty of juvenile reef fish, some crabs, and often a curious barracuda eyeing things up. It’s a calm, shallow entry that makes for a relaxed afternoon under the waves.
- Location
- Isla de la Juventud, Cuba, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 23.155500, -81.830900
- Maximum Depth
- 14m
- Difficulty
- Beginner
Marine Protected Area: Boca de Canasí
Best Time to Dive in Isla de la Juventud
The warmest water temperatures in Isla de la Juventud occur in January, averaging 26.8°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 26.8°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 26.8°C (air: 24.1°C)
- February: 26.8°C (air: 24.4°C)
- March: 26.8°C (air: 25.3°C)
- April: 26.8°C (air: 26.4°C)
- May: 26.8°C (air: 27.4°C)
- June: 26.8°C (air: 28.1°C)
- July: 26.8°C (air: 28.9°C)
- August: 26.8°C (air: 29.1°C)
- September: 26.8°C (air: 28.7°C)
- October: 26.8°C (air: 27.7°C)
- November: 26.8°C (air: 26.3°C)
- December: 26.8°C (air: 24.6°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Isla de la Juventud
- ALPHONSE X11 - 2m (wreck)
- ASTORIA - 1m (wreck)
- Baie des cochons
- Bajo Médano
- Banco de Cazones
- Barco Hundido (wreck)
- Bay of Pigs - 21m (reef)
- Cajilone
- Cayo Largo - 17m
- Cayo Piedra Reef - 14m (reef)
- Cenote Cuba Checoslovaquia (cenote)
- Cenote mar (cenote)
- Coral Beach - 11m (reef)
- Cueva de los Peces - 21m (cave)
- El Ballenato
Nearest Dive Centres to Jibacoa Beach
Marine Life in Isla de la Juventud
Home to 143 recorded species including 99 reef fish, 28 hard corals, 6 whales & dolphins, 4 seagrass & algae, 2 jellyfish, 2 other.
Notable Species
- Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) - Hard Corals
- Massive Starlet Coral (Siderastrea siderea) - Hard Corals
- Gutong (Scarus iseri) - Reef Fish
- Dark Green Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) - Reef Fish
- Mustard hill coral (Porites astreoides) - Hard Corals
- Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish
- Gutong (Sparisoma aurofrenatum) - Reef Fish
- French grunt (Haemulon flavolineatum) - Reef Fish
- Lettuce Coral (Agaricia agaricites) - Hard Corals
- Grunt (Haemulon plumierii) - Reef Fish
- Schoolmaster (Lutjanus apodus) - Reef Fish
- Barber (Acanthurus bahianus) - Reef Fish
- Great star coral (Montastraea cavernosa) - Hard Corals
- Butterfly (Chaetodon capistratus) - Reef Fish
- Bluestriped Grunt (Haemulon sciurus) - Reef Fish
- Cola (Ocyurus chrysurus) - Reef Fish
- Sheephead (Microspathodon chrysurus) - Reef Fish
- Finger Coral (Porites porites) - Hard Corals
- Doctorfish (Acanthurus chirurgus) - Reef Fish
- Fire coral (Millepora complanata) - Jellyfish
Recommended Packing List for Jibacoa Beach
Based on average water temperature of 26.8°C.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 27°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories