Bonjour à tous,
je pars à Cuba le 23 fév pour 15 jours avec ma fille de 8 ans. Je souhaiterais trouver un endroit où faire de la plongée en apnée (sans bouteilles) sans avoir besoin de passer par des organismes de plongée. Une plage où en quelques brasses on atteindrait des récifs coraliens comme j'ai pu le faire au cours d'autres voyages en Asie notamment. Est-ce possible à Cuba sans aller à Holguin qui me paraît un peu loin pour un séjour de 15 jours?
aussi, dans la province de Santiago, hotel Sierra Mar (à 1h00 de Santiago) à 2 minutes de nage tu as des coraux, pas énorme mais beau et pratique pour ta fille.
Idéalement, tu apportes ton tuba au lieu de celui de l'hotel, car qui si tu y penses, point vue hygiène.......
merci pour ta réponse miningou.
En consultant la carte de Cuba, je me rends compte que les coins que tu me conseilles sont plutôt dans le sud. Je pensais rester dans la moitié nord pas plus bas que Trinidad ou Sancti Spiritus, les trajets étant longs et fastidieux surtout avec une enfant. Qu'en penses-tu?
Je pars de Paris et j'arrive à la Havane. Je n'ai pas un budget très large sans être trop serré, du coup je n'ai pas forcément prévu de prendre des vols intérieurs. A vrai dire au départ, je m'étais dit que nous allions passé quelques jours à la Havane, puis que nous prendrions le train pour Santiago et ensuite nous diriger sur Guardalavaca. mais un ami qui connait bien Cuba (mais qui ne fait pas de plongée en apnée!) m'a déconseillé ce trjet, trop long et fatigant d'après lui, insistant sur le fait qu'autour de la Havane il y avait déjà bcp de choses très chouettes à voir, ce dont je ne doute pas bien sur!.
À environ 25 minutes de la Havane il y a Santa Maria Del Mar où il y a plusieurs hôtels et une plage superbe, je suis allé au Blau Arenal il y a 1 an et j'ai adoré! J'ai d'ailleurs fait de la plongé en apné avec des gens de l'hôtel ( environ 20 pesos par personne pour 3 heures) nous sommes partis en petit catamaran c'était vrmt super! En plus, il y a une navette SantaMaria Del Mar / La Havane 2 fois par jour et ce gratuitement! Donc il est possible de visiter cette belle ville et profiter de la plage!!
Salut miss marie, merci pour l'info. Pour le logement à la Havane, que me conseilles-tu? je pensais réserver un hôtel pour les deux premières nuits (le Deauville par exemple, qu'en penses-tu?) puis aller chez l'habitant, as-tu des adresses à me conseiller?
Merci d'avance.
Pour l'apnée près de La Havane et en direction de Varadero, je te conseille de faire un arrêt au Jibacoa. Que ce soit au super breezes ou au villa cameleon, ils se partagent la même plage et la plongée en apnée y est égale sinon supérieure a Holguin. Tu verras en faisant des recherches sur le forum, que la majorité des sites intéressants de plongée (apnée) se situent du côté atlantique de l'ile. Le côté sud et caraïbe sont plutôt rocheux et souvent a pic. Il reste Pinard del rio que je ne connais pas suffisamment pour te venter les mérites.
Bonnes recherches
Merci Alain,
Hier soir en potassant le lonely planet j'ai découvert la plage que tu me recommandes, et j'avais déjà décidé de m'y arrêter!! La mer est-elle très agitée à cet endroit ou bien la barrière de corail arrête-t-elle les vagues?
A+
loubrina, a trinidad, hotel costa sur pour l'apnée, proche de trinidad 10 min, ou de bedon, l'hotel trinidad del mar, ou le ancon, pour aller au costa sur pour l'apnéé qui est a 10 min de marche, beaucoup de gens font ca, a cause qu'il ni ya pas d, apnée a ces 2 hotels
La meilleure période, selon les gens de la place, serait le mois de mai juin. La mer y est plus calme et le température plus stable. Nous avons des amis qui en reviennent la semaine passée et qui on eu beau temps et l'apnée était super. Le récif ou rocher commence a deux trois mètre du bord. Les vagues peuvent être très fortes et cela compromet la visibilité. Concernant Trinidad comme Areski le signale, le seul endroit intéressant pour l'apnée est le costasur. Petite plage et le récif a une 15 aines de mètre de la plage. Le Ancon et brisas donnent sur du sable et des herbiers...
Merci à tous les 2. Quel guide de voyage me conseillez-vous? J'en ai consulté plusieurs (routard, lonely, geo-voyage, michelin pratique) Il y a 10 ans j'étais une inconditionnelle du Lonely planet mais celui de Cuba (2006 ou 2007) ne m'a pas paru terrible.
Nous on part jeudi (le 21) pour le coin de Ancon (Trinidad) avec ma fille de 5 ans. Dans ce coin là du pays et plus à l'ouest (jusqu'à la Baie des cochons), je crois bien qu'il y a une foule de trucs le fun qu'on pourra faire avec elle.
Par exemple y a de telles excursions qui doivent être dépaysantes et intéressantes pour l'apnée (départ depuis le coin d'Ancon) : http://www.netssa.com/cayo_blanco.html
Plus près du rivage, y a ce genre d'endroit qu'on ne manquera pas, car c'est facilement accessible (départs quotidiens de Playa Giron et aussi (je crois) de Playa Larga, et probablement des hotels du coin de Cienfuegos aussi, mais de Trinidad, c'est loin) :
http://www.netssa.com/caletabuena-cuba.html
graben, c'est des belles infos ca merci beaucoup. je suis plongeur je suis allé au ancon dec 2006, j, aime aussi l'apnée, au ancon l'animation est tranquille, donc bonne idée pour tes sortie
Petite info complémentaire pour votre voyage. Le trajet Cienfuegos / Playa Giron dure plus de 4 h de route de montagne. Vérifiez bien vos frein avant 😉 si vous louez une voiture. Les tour opérateur débarquent les voyageurs a destination de Playa Giron à Varadero qui n'est qu'à 3 h de route plus facile. Guajimico est un super spot de plongée mais si je me souviens bien, il n'y a pas beaucoup de plage car ils sont situés dans la mangrove. Playa Giron aussi est un super spot de plongée. L'équipe de Soulo inc de Valleyfield y passent leur hiver et donnent des cours sur place.
Bonne vacances et profitez bien de la région 😎
Merci pour ces détails (par exemple le temps entre Cienfuegos et Playa Giron). C'est proche mais on sait jamais combien de temps ça peut prendre quand on n'a jamais passé par là !
Hi everyone,
We’re planning a one-month trip to the Philippines for two of us, spanning April/May 2027, and we’d love your valuable advice to tell us if our itinerary is realistic or not :)
Just so you know, we’re divers and want to take the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course at the start of our trip (which will take up 2 full days) so we can fully enjoy the different dive sites afterward. We also want to limit internal flights as much as possible. Here’s our itinerary:
Arrive directly in Cebu
Take the ferry to Bohol, head to Panglao Island
Diving in Panglao (& PADI training) + visit Bohol Island for 4/5 days
We’re wondering about this part of the trip because Panglao Island seems very touristy—what do you think? Would the Camotes Islands, for example, be more interesting?
Take the ferry to Siquijor, stay there for 3/4 days (combined with a visit to Apo Island)
From Siquijor, return to Cebu to head to Malapascua, stay there for 2/3 days
Again, return to Cebu to take a flight to El Nido
→ So about 12 days in the Visayas
Do the El Nido→Coron 3-day/2-night cruise
Stay 2/3 days in Coron (combined with Apo Reef)
Head to Luzon Island from Coron (by plane or ferry)
Visit the Banaue Rice Terraces (if possible) for 3/4 days
Return to France from Manila
Thanks for your help :)
We’re planning a trip to Thailand for next summer. It’s the rainy season, but that’ll let us explore forest parks (Khao Yai and Khao Sok, most likely) in full bloom and teeming with wildlife. We’d also like to spend a few days on beaches with nearby coral reefs during this trip. That’s where we’re hitting a snag—I’m struggling to find an island or region with favorable weather. I’ve gone through quite a few threads on this forum, but most are pretty old and mention a few names (Tao, Phaluai, Ma, or Phang Nga), though with doubts about visibility or overall appeal. Crowds also seemed like a bit of an issue. Just to clarify, our family has mixed interests when it comes to fish-related activities—some are Level 1 divers, while others are snorkelers only.
Are there any good options in July-August for great experiences in the area?
Thanks for your tips!
Hi everyone! 😊
I’m looking for a place in Albania to go scuba diving with my boyfriend. We’ve never done it before and we’d love to try this activity.
Thanks so much! 🌺🌺
hi
I wanted to know the best snorkeling spots in Tuamotu since I unfortunately don’t have enough time to do everything—I’ll have to pick and choose.
Thanks in advance for your help!
I’d describe myself as a "former diver." I’ve done around 450 dives in natural environments across different settings. I put diving on hold about 5 years ago due to work/schedule constraints and, let’s say, family reasons. Since then, I’ve still tried to stay in shape with hiking trips, running, swimming, and freediving in protected environments, etc...
I’m planning to get back into the bubbles somewhere this year.
Any destinations you’d recommend—or avoid—for getting back into it?
I’m looking for a spot for April/May this year.
For my trip to Thailand with two teens aged 13 and 16, do you have any info or tips to share? I’d like to go jet skiing, either in Phuket or Koh Samui, but I’d need at least two jet skis since there are three of us. Can my 16-year-old ride alone? Is it better to rent on-site or book an all-inclusive excursion online or in person?
Our Bali-Lombok trip is taking shape, but we’d love to wrap up the stay with at least a solid week of snorkeling somewhere the coral is still in great condition. In your opinion, are the Gili Secrets in southern Lombok better than Flores Island, where there are supposedly amazing underwater landscapes?
We’ll be in Dahab again this October—we’ve been going since 1979—to freedive. In 2025, to our surprise, access to the Blue Hole is now paid: on top of the 10 € taxi fare, you have to pay $10 per person to enter the park. So we’re heading outside Dahab to the Three Pools site by bike, rented locally. Is there a bus that goes there, or shared taxis, instead of the tourist taxis? And where can we catch them? We’ve seen big buses full of local families on the site, but we don’t know where to find them. Thanks in advance!
Hi there,
The comments about this public beach are generally negative:
tiny beach, crowded, dirty, and noisy.
Is that really the case?
Could you please post some of your recent photos of the public beach—not photos from the big hotels?
Hello,
For flight schedules and prices from Bordeaux, and ease of reaching Alexandria by bus/train afterward, I’m considering spending 4 days around Hurghada (direct flight from Bdx).
I don’t think I’ll go for courses to get my Level 1, since I don’t plan to dive often in the future—unless you think it’s better than doing 2 discovery dives in this area (I only have one baptism under my belt, in Koh Tao 15 years ago—amazing! But I’m not targeting trips for diving; I need to go to Alexandria, so this is a chance to get back into diving and snorkeling).
I’m looking for a spot to do some snorkeling, 1 or 2 baptisms, and explore the surroundings. I’ll arrive in early March on the evening of Day 0. I’ll have 3.5 days after that (I’m planning to leave on Day 4 around 4 PM by bus/train).
Is Hurghada completely to be avoided in favor of another area in the Red Sea, or can I still have a nice 3.5 days there? I know places like Dahab are more pleasant, but the convenience and timing of Hurghada appeal to me...
I usually prefer more authentic travel spots and places, but I’m willing to compromise on that if it’s still worth it for the diving.
Or should I only stay 2.5 days and head to Alexandria a day earlier? (I’ve already seen Cairo and Luxor a bit.)
Hi there,
I’m heading to Hurghada for a few days in November. I’m looking for a spot where I can go snorkeling right from the beach. Is that still possible, or do you absolutely need to take a boat trip to see anything worthwhile?
I’ve read about Makadi Bay, but also that it’s packed with big resort complexes—which I’d rather avoid. Are there any beaches accessible without staying at one of those huge hotels?
Any great tips or advice for me?
Thanks in advance,
Lucille
Hey everyone!!
I’m planning a 3-month trip to the Philippines for May 2026.
As a diving enthusiast, I’d love to hear about must-visit diving spots.
I’m traveling with a buddy, and we don’t really want to spend all our time moving around, so if you have recommendations for one area that’s better than others for diving, that’d be great!
What do you think are the best diving sites? (I’d appreciate an overview of the country so I can decide based on that.)
Compared to my buddy, I love macro photography (nudibranchs, etc.), so I’d also love any tips on that.
And completely unrelated to diving, but I’d also like info on places to visit (national parks, reserves, etc.) to see the local wildlife.
Thanks in advance to anyone who takes the time to reply!
Safe travels, everyone!
Hello everyone!
So glad to be back on this forum to swap some great tips.
I’m heading to Malaysia from mid-May to mid-August 2025 for nearly 3 months.
With my advanced certification in hand for a few years now, I’m on the lookout for the best dive spots in Malaysia.
I’ve obviously heard about the Perhentians and Sipadan.
Someone mentioned Tioman too, but not necessarily for diving.
Do you have any feedback on these places for diving? (visibility, marine life diversity, etc.)
Any idea about the rates for fun dives?
Dive centers you’d recommend?
Any help would be super valuable for planning the trip, so thanks a million in advance to those who take the time to reply.
Safe travels, everyone!!
Hi there.
For taking photos while snorkeling, is it better to go with a disposable camera or a waterproof pouch? If a pouch, which brand is reliable? Thanks for your feedback!
Hi there,
I’m looking for a destination in Vietnam for January to spend a week and go snorkeling.
Anyone have any suggestions?
I know Thailand well, and with my Thai friend, we’d like to try a different country.
This is the excursion we shouldn’t have done in Mauritius.
We did it with The Friendly Dodo, but from what I saw, it’s the same with most agencies.
Departure at 6 a.m. (even though the sun rises at 7 a.m. in August). Why? Because there’s only one well-known spot where the dolphins are, and all the agencies race to get there first.
For 45 to 60 minutes, it’s just straight-line navigation to the spot. No one’s looking for dolphins—we’re just speeding there in silence, full throttle.
Once we arrive, there are already 5-6 boats. The dolphins are there, sure. The boats fight for the best position, cutting off the dolphins’ path, and then—go, go, go—everyone jumps in. Not a single instruction is given on how to approach the dolphins respectfully. Result: everyone jumps in at the same time from 3 boats, creating a huge splash, and rushes toward the dolphins. Outcome: faced with this chaos, the dolphins dive, and you can’t see them from the boat anymore. The swimmers who are right in their path might see them pass below for a few seconds at best.
Everyone climbs back onto the boats, and as soon as the dolphins resurface, the same cycle starts all over again.
After 5 or 6 jumps like this (3 of which I didn’t even see the dolphins), it’s back to the port the same way we came.
Not a single explanation is given during the entire excursion about the dolphins themselves or how to approach them.
Safety-wise, I didn’t feel comfortable either with all the boats fighting for position. I bumped into another boat (no pain) while swimming, and I wasn’t reassured about the propellers.
With all this circus, my daughters didn’t even want to get in the water. The problem is, when you stay on the boat, you don’t get much out of it either—because as soon as the dolphins resurface, everyone jumps in haphazardly and scares them off again.
Having done the same kind of outing in Réunion, I can confirm it’s nothing like this (much better organized and ultimately much more rewarding in Réunion).
Under these conditions, this is an activity we never should’ve done! !
My partner and I are heading to Mauritius at the end of October (Tamarin Bay), and one of our wishes is to find a great small-group excursion out at sea to meet dolphins.
I’m looking for a provider that’s respectful of the animals and gives us a fun, discovery-filled day.
I’ve heard a lot about Amistad on this site—what do you think?
Do you have any tried-and-tested alternatives to suggest?
Thanks so much!
We're heading to Praslin, La Digue, and Mahé for 15 days in early March. Do you have any good snorkeling spots to recommend? Just to let you know, we're beginners, and I get scared easily if it's too deep.
Also, another important question: what do you do with your belongings on the beach while snorkeling? Our phones, accommodation keys, wallets, etc.?
Hi everyone!
I’ve been in Malaysia for a month now and still have two more to go. I started traveling with friends, but I’ll be solo for the next month and a half.
We did a pretty classic route: Perhentians, Cameron Highlands (which I found pointless), Tioman, and Kinabatangan in Borneo. Now I’m thinking of heading to Redang Island—Langkawi is also an option, but it doesn’t appeal to me as much. Any feedback on these two spots?
Especially Redang?
Any thoughts on the diving there?
So far, I haven’t had much luck with diving—at the Perhentians, it was pretty disastrous with water at 31°C 😵😫
I’d love to find a nice island where I can meet people (locals and travelers) because going from a group of six to solo at the end is going to feel weird.
So I’m open to all tips and opinions. Also, I’d love to hear about Langkawi, and if anyone knows of an island that’s a bit more off the beaten path, that’d be amazing. Thanks in advance, and happy travels to you all!
hi everyone
we’d love to visit Borneo and I’m not finding much info on it yet (just starting my research)
so I’m reaching out to you, like I do for every trip—it’s worked out great for us so far 😎
we’re a family of 4 with two teens, 14 and 18, and we’re going for 3 weeks.
what’s the weather like in August—too much rain?
any political issues to be aware of?
which little beach paradises should we not miss?
we love discovering animals and diving… any top spots?
as for airfare—any budget-friendly airlines or easy routes? (Singapore, Denpasar, etc.)
I’ve got so many questions! All of this on a reasonable budget…
thanks in advance to anyone kind enough to take the time to reply
Hi,
I’d like to do several boat trips to go snorkeling during my stay in Florès: Islands departing from Riung, Maumere, and Labuan Bajo (Seraya).
- WHO?: Do you have any contacts to organize these boat trips?
- HOW MUCH?: What’s the cost for a full-day trip, including boat rental and possibly meals (picnic, barbecue, etc.)?
Hello,
I’d like to go on a 5-day kayaking trip with snorkeling, island visits, and village tours in the Philippines. I don’t have a specific island in mind, but I’d love something off the beaten path. I’m traveling solo but can join a small group. This would be around March 20th. Thanks so much for your suggestions!
I’m looking for a 5-day kayaking and snorkeling trip with a few village visits and no mass tourism. I’m alone but open to joining a small group. Any recommendations for around March 20th? Thanks a bunch for your feedback!
Hey everyone reading my post!
I’ll be in Mexico, specifically in Playa del Carmen and Tulum, from March 11 to April 2.
I’m looking online for things to do, but they all seem pretty similar—I’m after something a bit more original but don’t wanna get ripped off either!
If you’ve had any great experiences in those areas, feel free to share them. Thanks in advance!
Hi there,
I have my flight to Malé from February 3rd to 15th.
I want to visit Malé first, then head to 2 or 3 nearby islands. I’d like to take the ferry to keep costs down.
I’d love to be able to snorkel right from the beach.
Which atolls or islands would you recommend?
Thanks for your help!
Hi there, my husband loves fishing, and during our upcoming vacation in French Polynesia, he’s planning to do two half-day trips. We’ll be staying in family-run guesthouses on the following islands: Tahiti, Moorea, Huahine, Bora Bora, Rangiroa, and Fakarava. Which type of fishing should he choose for the best experience, and on which islands? Thanks in advance for your help! 🙂
Hi there,
We’re heading to South Africa for a two-week vacation next March.
We’d love to see great white sharks and maybe even try the cage diving. We’re planning to go to Gansbaai—do you think we’ll have a chance to see them? Also, do you know of any specialized agencies that aren’t too commercial and are respectful of the animals?
Thanks
