NICOLIS - Varadero
The Nicolis, a small motor vessel, sits in just four metres of water, making it a dream spot for a long, easy dive or even some extended snorkelling. We love how accessible it is; you can really take your time poking around every crevice. The wreck itself is pretty intact, with enough structure remaining to give you a real sense of its former life. You’ll find schools of sergeant majors darting through the broken wheelhouse and the occasional parrotfish grazing on the soft corals that have started to colonise the deck plating. Our favourite part has to be swimming through the cargo hold, which is now home to a resident barracuda that gives you the side-eye as you pass. It’s perfect for new divers wanting to experience a wreck without the depth, or for photographers looking for an unhurried session in good light. Just be mindful of the occasional small current, though it rarely builds to anything serious.
- Location
- Varadero, Cuba, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 22.925000, -79.944440
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 4m
Marine Protected Area: Las Picúas-Cayo Cristo
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
- JUCARO - 2m (wreck)
- La Angelica - 16m
- La Corona
- La Morena - 16m
- La Puntilla
- Las Pajuals - 5-20m (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to NICOLIS
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 NICOLIS
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