Cuba’s Pristine Coral Reefs Could Become the Caribbean’s Best Dive Spots
Cuba’s Pristine Coral Reefs Could Become the Caribbean’s Best Dive Spots
Chris Gillette , Associated Press
Jun 20, 2015 1:00 pm
[font size=1]
In this June 10, 2015 photo, divers make an immersion at the International diving Center Maria la Gorda on Guanahacabibes peninsula in the province of Pinar del Rio, Cuba. Chris Gillette / Ap Photo
[/font]
The coral reefs and gin-clear waters off the coast of Cuba offer some of the best diving in the Caribbean and some of the best-preserved reefs on earth.
And if travel restrictions on U.S. tourism to Cuba are ever lifted, the remote Peninsula of Guanahacabibes could well become a popular destination for American divers.
The land and marine reserve encompasses some 200 square miles (518 square kilometers) on Cuba’s westernmost tip about 135 miles (217 kilometers) northwest of Havana. It juts into the Caribbean, with protected forests on land, aquamarine waters lapping at white sand beaches and pristine coral beds teeming with a colorful variety of fish just offshore.
In some ways, the peninsula is just as frozen in time as other aspects of life in Cuba, where 50-year-old cars are common and Wi-Fi is scarce.
But the lack of change here has had a positive effect, sparing Cuba’s reefs from the degradation evident in coral beds elsewhere. Lack of agricultural run-off, little coastal development and strong environmental laws have all helped keep Cuba’s reefs healthy.
More:
http://skift.com/2015/06/20/cubas-pristine-coral-reefs-could-become-popular-attraction/
(Hoping Cuba will find a way to stay clean after the flood.)