PORTO PENA - María la Gorda
Porto Pena isn't deep, but it's one of our favourite little wrecks in María la Gorda. This old tugboat sits upright in barely two metres of water, so it’s perfect for extended bottom times and a really relaxed dive. The shallow depth also means fantastic light penetration, often making the water glow on sunny days, which really brings out the colours of the sponges and soft corals that have started to cover the hull. What we love most about Porto Pena is how accessible it is. You can practically snorkel it, but getting down amongst the structure, peeking into the wheelhouse and seeing the winches, that’s where the real charm is. Little schools of snapper and grunts hang around the bow, and we’ve often spotted eagle rays cruising past in the blue just off the wreck. It’s a great site for photographers, especially macro, with plenty of nudibranchs and blennies tucked into the nooks and crannies. If you're looking for a peaceful, easy dive with a touch of history, Porto Pena delivers.
- Location
- María la Gorda, Cuba, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 21.941668, -84.921670
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 2m
Marine Protected Area: Banco de San Antonio
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 PORTO PENA
- 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 PORTO PENA
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