JUCARO - Varadero
Jucaro is one of those sites we always recommend to newer divers, or anyone looking for a relaxed, shallow dive that still delivers on character. It's a wooden transport ship, dating back to the late 19th century, lying perfectly upright in just two metres of water. We love how the shallow depth means the natural light just floods the wreck, painting the scene in blues and greens. You can spend a good hour here, slowly finning around the bow and stern, poking your head into what’s left of the cargo holds. The timbers are completely encrusted with sponges and small soft corals, creating mini ecosystems. Look closely in the crevices and you’ll spot a surprising number of juvenile fish – sergeant majors darting in and out, damselfish guarding their territories. We often see small crabs scuttling over the decaying planks, too. It’s not about big pelagics here, but about the intricate beauty of a wreck slowly being reclaimed by the sea. Our tip? Go early in the morning before any wind picks up; the calmer the surface, the better the visibility and light penetration on the wreck.
- Location
- Varadero, Cuba, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 21.595000, -78.975000
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 2m
Marine Protected Area: Cayos de Ana María
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
- Cayo Coco - 16m
- El Acuario II
- El Róbalo (Wreck) - 24m (wreck)
- Espanol
- Español/Borracho - 15m
- La Angelica - 16m
- La Corona
- La Morena - 16m
- La Puntilla
- Las Pajuals - 5-20m (reef)
- Las Terrazas - 15m
Nearest Dive Centres to JUCARO
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 JUCARO
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