Cayo Coco - Varadero
Cayo Coco, off Varadero, is a shallow dive, perfect for those just starting out. You’ll find brain corals and some scattered gorgonians, with the usual suspects like grunts and snapper darting about. At 16 metres, it’s an easy, relaxed exploration, a decent first dip for new divers getting comfortable with their buoyancy. We’d suggest it for an afternoon boat dive, after you've completed your theory.
- Location
- Varadero, Cuba, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 22.535100, -78.572200
- Maximum Depth
- 16m
- Difficulty
- Beginner
Marine Protected Area: Centro y Oeste de Cayo Coco
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
- Barrera de Felipe - 12m (reef)
- Caleta 1
- 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 Cayo Coco
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 Cayo Coco
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