El Róbalo (Wreck) - Varadero

We love a wreck with a story, and the El Róbalo delivers. This old merchant vessel, sunk deliberately in 1999, sits upright in about 24 metres of water, offering a decent penetration for those with the training. The original intention was an artificial reef, and it's certainly doing its job, but the wreck itself has a charm that goes beyond just being a fish hotel. Dropping down, the first thing you notice is the sheer scale. The bow points slightly upwards, creating a dramatic silhouette against the blue. Schools of horse-eye jacks often hang off the stern, a shimmering curtain you swim through to reach the main deck. Inside, we’ve found nurse sharks snoozing in the darker holds, and the odd green moray eel peeking from behind twisted metal. Light filters in through portholes, illuminating massive barrel sponges and gorgonians that have firmly taken root. It’s an intermediate dive, definitely, with some current often present, but nothing too taxing. We’d suggest a nitrox blend if you want decent bottom time to properly explore the interior and photograph the incredible invertebrate growth. Our favourite moment? Hovering above the bridge, looking down into the guts of the ship, feeling that sense of history and the ocean's reclamation.

Location: Varadero, Cuba, Caribbean
Coordinates: 22.632400, -78.651000
Type: wreck
Maximum Depth: 24m
Difficulty: Intermediate

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

Nearest Dive Centres to El Róbalo (Wreck)

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 El Róbalo (Wreck)

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