El Jardin de la Gorgonia - María la Gorda
El Jardin de la Gorgonia delivers precisely what the name implies: a garden of gorgonian corals. We found a good density of the purple and yellow varieties, interspersed with sponges. It’s a site that rewards slow exploration, suitable for divers who appreciate the subtler beauty of the reef rather than chasing pelagics. Visibility here can sometimes vary with the weather, but typically offers clear views of the gorgonians.
- Location
- María la Gorda, Cuba, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 21.810320, -84.512830
Marine Protected Area: Guanahacabibes
Best Time to Dive in María la Gorda
The warmest water temperatures in María la Gorda occur in August, averaging 30.8°C (up to 31.8°C). The coolest conditions are in February at 26.6°C.
The calmest sea conditions are typically in September with average wave heights of 0.70m. Average current speed: 5.0 cm/s.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 26.7°C (air: 26.2°C)
- February: 26.6°C (air: 26.4°C)
- March: 26.8°C (air: 26.5°C)
- April: 27.6°C (air: 27.4°C)
- May: 28.7°C (air: 28.2°C)
- June: 29.4°C (air: 28.8°C)
- July: 30.4°C (air: 29.4°C)
- August: 30.8°C (air: 29.5°C)
- September: 30.4°C (air: 29.5°C)
- October: 29.8°C (air: 29.0°C)
- November: 28.7°C (air: 27.9°C)
- December: 27.5°C (air: 26.8°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in María la Gorda
Nearest Dive Centres to El Jardin de la Gorgonia
- Blue centro de buceo
- Blue Scuba Dive Club
- Centro de buceo Caballeros de Mar - Federación Cubana de Actividades Subacuáticas
- Centro de Buceo Cuba Ocean Diving
- Centro de Buceo Cuba Ocean Diving - La Habana
- Club de Buceo
Marine Life in María la Gorda
Home to 109 recorded species including 85 reef fish, 9 hard corals, 6 sharks & rays, 4 other, 3 whales & dolphins, 2 sea snails & nudibranchs.
Notable Species
- Massive Starlet Coral (Siderastrea siderea) - Hard Corals
- Silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis) - Sharks & Rays
- American Manatee (Trichechus manatus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Great star coral (Montastraea cavernosa) - Hard Corals
- Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) - Reef Fish
- Blue Marlin (Makaira nigricans) - Reef Fish
- Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish
- French grunt (Haemulon flavolineatum) - Reef Fish
- Gutong (Scarus iseri) - Reef Fish
- Dark Green Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) - Reef Fish
- Graysby (Cephalopholis cruentata) - Reef Fish
- Blackfish (Melichthys niger) - Reef Fish
- Crow de brass star (Carcharhinus longimanus) - Sharks & Rays
- Marlin (Kajikia albida) - Reef Fish
- Barracuda (Acanthocybium solandri) - Reef Fish
- Butterfly (Chaetodon capistratus) - Reef Fish
- Mustard hill coral (Porites astreoides) - Hard Corals
- Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) - Reef Fish
- Grooved brain coral (Diploria labyrinthiformis) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis) - Hard Corals
Recommended Packing List for El Jardin de la Gorgonia
Based on average water temperature of 28.6°C, visibility 23 nmi, currents 8 cm/s.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 29°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