Barco Hundido

Barco Hundido, literally the Sunken Ship, is one of Varadero's easier wreck dives and a good first introduction to Cuban Caribbean diving. The site sits off the northern coast of Cuba's narrow Hicacos peninsula, a short boat ride from the resort strip, and it pairs the relaxed pace of a beginner profile with the genuine pleasure of swimming around a proper wreck that has been on the sand long enough to feel like part of the reef. The ship rests upright on a sand bottom in shallow water, with the upper structures well within recreational limits and the deck available for a leisurely tour on a single tank. Most operators run the site as the second dive of a morning two tank, after a reef dive further out. Entry is a standard giant stride from the dive boat followed by a short descent to the hull. The dive plan is genuinely simple. You work your way around the exterior, peer into the open holds from outside, and finish with a slow lap of the superstructure. Open Water certification is enough and this is a classic site for a first post course holiday dive. The marine life reflects a healthy section of Caribbean reef layered onto a metal canvas. Schooling grunts and snappers line up along the rails, trumpetfish hang vertical near the bow, and small moray eels occupy the narrower spaces. Queen angelfish, stoplight parrotfish and rainbow wrasses patrol the exterior. Scattered barrel sponges and sea fans have taken hold on flat surfaces, and night dives here reveal the lobsters and octopus that stay out of sight during daylight. Visibility is usually in the 20 to 30 metre range, and water temperature sits between 26 and 29 degrees depending on season. The best stretch is from November through April when wind is consistent and surface chop stays low.