Wreck Ancon - Varadero

We’ve always had a soft spot for the Ancon, partly because it’s just so accessible from Varadero’s main strip. You’ll head out a little past the Santa Marta inlet, and then it’s straight down onto a fantastic little freighter, sunk intentionally back in the 80s. She sits upright, about 100 feet long, with the deck around 20 metres and the deepest point hitting closer to 30. What we love about the Ancon is how open she is. Penetration is relatively easy and safe, especially through the cargo holds, which are now completely colonised by schooling fish. We’ve seen tarpon cruise through these holds, and the light streaming in through open hatches creates some genuinely dramatic scenes. Our favourite spot is always the wheelhouse; it’s largely intact and you can often find glassy sweepers schooling inside, shimmering in the torchlight. Outside, expect to find plenty of grunt and snapper sheltering among the superstructure, and the occasional moray eel peeking from a crevice. It’s a great wreck for divers who enjoy exploration without extreme challenges, offering a good balance of history and reef life. We’d suggest going early in the morning to beat the crowds and catch the best light.

Location: Varadero, Cuba, Caribbean
Coordinates: 21.725746, -80.007545
Type: wreck
Maximum Depth: 10-30m

Marine Protected Area: Delta del Agabama

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 Wreck Ancon

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 Wreck Ancon

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