El Salón de María

El Salón de María (María's Hall) is a beginner-friendly dive at María la Gorda on Cuba's Guanahacabibes Peninsula. This spacious reef site features a wide, open coral amphitheater surrounded by healthy reef walls, creating a natural underwater hall. The sandy center attracts southern stingrays and garden eels, while the surrounding coral walls host dense populations of angelfish, parrotfish, and butterflyfish. Nurse sharks are regular visitors, often resting on the sandy floor of the salon. The open layout provides easy navigation and excellent natural light for photography, making El Salón de María one of the most welcoming and enjoyable dives at María la Gorda.