Where is it? On the southeastern coastline, Marea del Portillo and its black sand beaches are about 180 km west of Santiago.

Getting there: In certain seasons, Canadian charter companies offer flights to Manzanillo. Alternatively, you could consider a flight into Santiago or Holguin with a land transfer to the property. Finally, a Fly & Drive program may suit your needs.

The Scuba Diving: A coral reef and sunken ships are highlights of this unspoiled area on Cuba's south coast. The Albacora dive center is located between the Marea del Portillo and Farallon del Caribe hotels.

Marea del Portillo
Dives	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
WoWCuba Price	$27	$53	$80	$106	$120	$144	$168	$192	$216	$227
Public Price	$30	$59	$87	$115	$139	$169	$195	$219	$242	$265
You Save	$3	$6	$7	$9	$19	$25	$27	$27	$26	$38
Save $$ on your dives by booking in advance!
Dives	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20
WoWCuba Price	$250	$273	$296	$319	$322	$344	$365	$387	$408	$379
Public Price	$290	$307	$327	$346	$364	$381	$397	$410	$436	$440
You Save	$40	$34	$31	$27	$42	$37	$32	$23	$28	$61

Dive Reservations/Minimum Booking Requirements: No Fee: For WoWCuba clients booking hotel, car rental reservations or tour packages. No minimum dive requirement. Agency Service Fee applies: For dive only reservations, minimum 10 dives. Included: Tanks, weights, boat and dive guide Not Included: Wetsuit, mask, fins, regulator, BTU and night diving equipment (available for rental locally) Note: Divers must bring their accreditation or Dive License and    passport presentation is required for boarding boats     Valid to: 31 Oct 2008

Description of Dive Zone:
From Cabo Cruz to Río Maceo, the area is surrounded by a virgin coral reef. These areas have a varied presence of tropical fish including, among others, red snapper, barracuda, morays, mollusks, trumpet fish and lobster. An ample fauna is represented by enormous sponges of different species, colonies of black coral, gorgonias, soft corals, brain and fire coral among others. Located at an average distance of 25 minutes from the dive center, depths vary from 10 to 35 meters with an annual temperatures varying from 25 - 37 degrees Celsius. It's possible to dive in the Columbus Site, 57 km from the dive center, with a 20-minute land transfer. The dive site is 10 meters from the point of shore entry.

Recommended dive sites:

Coral Forest - 30 meters, The biggest attraction here is the large population of black coral colonies. Barracudas, cornet fish and cubera snappers are frequently seen here.

Cabo Cruz - 27 meters, Here you can find anything from a coral barrier peppered with lobster, cubera snapper, barracuda, gorgonians, sponges and sea fans to several cannons from a shipwreck. The Bull's Mouth - 30 meters, This site is the habitat of many fish and coral species, gorgonians, sponges and sea fans.

Technical Information:

Name: Albacora International Dive Center
Operator: Marlin, Granma
Address: Playa Marea del Portillo, Pilón Granma
Accommodation: Hotel Farallón del Caribe y Hotel Marea del Portillo
Distance to Dive Sites: 400 meters
Instructors: 2
Instructors' Certification: ACUC
Daily Capacity: 10 divers
Boats: One taxi boat for 8 divers
Dive Sites: 26
Nearest hyperbaric chamber: 180 km away in the Santiago de Cuba Saturnino Lora Military Hospital