Barrera de Felipe - Varadero
Barrera de Felipe offers a straightforward reef dive, shallow at 12 meters, making it ideal for newer divers or those looking for an easy second tank. You’ll find typical Caribbean reef fish here, like parrotfish and small snappers, navigating the coral formations. It's a relaxed site, good for getting comfortable in the water and enjoying the general reef scenery without strong currents to contend with. We'd suggest it as a gentle introduction to Varadero's underwater world.
- Location
- Varadero, Cuba, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 22.613000, -78.626400
- Type
- reef
- Maximum Depth
- 12m
- Difficulty
- Beginner
Marine Protected Area: Los Caimanes
Best Time to Dive in Varadero
The warmest water temperatures in Varadero occur in January, averaging 26.1°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 26.1°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 26.1°C (air: 23.8°C)
- February: 26.1°C (air: 24.1°C)
- March: 26.1°C (air: 24.7°C)
- April: 26.1°C (air: 25.7°C)
- May: 26.1°C (air: 26.7°C)
- June: 26.1°C (air: 27.7°C)
- July: 26.1°C (air: 28.7°C)
- August: 26.1°C (air: 28.8°C)
- September: 26.1°C (air: 28.5°C)
- October: 26.1°C (air: 27.5°C)
- November: 26.1°C (air: 26.3°C)
- December: 26.1°C (air: 24.6°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Varadero
- Bajo del Francés
- Bajo Los Colorados
- Caleta 1
- Cayo Coco - 16m
- El Acuario II
- El Róbalo (Wreck) - 24m (wreck)
- Espanol
- Español/Borracho - 15m
- JUCARO - 2m (wreck)
- La Angelica - 16m
- La Corona
- La Morena - 16m
- La Puntilla
- Las Pajuals - 5-20m (reef)
- Las Terrazas - 15m
Nearest Dive Centres to Barrera de Felipe
Marine Life in Varadero
Home to 107 recorded species including 82 reef fish, 13 hard corals, 6 whales & dolphins, 2 jellyfish, 1 other, 1 sharks & rays.
Notable Species
- Cowfish (Tursiops truncatus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) - Reef Fish
- Fire coral (Millepora complanata) - Jellyfish
- Escolar (Lepidocybium flavobrunneum) - Reef Fish
- Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish
- Barber (Acanthurus bahianus) - Reef Fish
- French grunt (Haemulon flavolineatum) - Reef Fish
- Gutong (Sparisoma aurofrenatum) - Reef Fish
- Gutong (Scarus iseri) - Reef Fish
- Dark Green Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) - Reef Fish
- Dorado (Coryphaena hippurus) - Reef Fish
- Bluestriped Grunt (Haemulon sciurus) - Reef Fish
- Sheephead (Microspathodon chrysurus) - Reef Fish
- Schoolmaster (Lutjanus apodus) - Reef Fish
- Grunt (Haemulon plumierii) - Reef Fish
- Lettuce Coral (Agaricia agaricites) - Hard Corals
- Coney (Cephalopholis fulva) - Reef Fish
- Hogfish (Bodianus rufus) - Reef Fish
- Massive Starlet Coral (Siderastrea siderea) - Hard Corals
- Blackfish (Melichthys niger) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Barrera de Felipe
Based on average water temperature of 26.1°C.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 26°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