Cuba, an Underwater Archeological Paradise

Havana, Sep 1. -Thanks to its well preserved sea bottom and wrecks of ancient ships in many places, experts consider Cuba a very special paradise for those interested in underwater archaeology and scuba diving.

A report released by the Tourism Ministry (MINTUR) website Cubatravel.cu indicates the existence of more than 500 well-studied diving sites in the country with exuberant underwater landscapes, exotic places, caves, vertical walls and tunnels.

Divers can also find riffs and canals with infinite options for this practice, day and night. However, there are ship wreck secrets of the times of the Spanish fleet yet to be unveiled.

Coral reefs are also attractive scenes for this practice, MINTUR insists.

Both the country's northern and southern litoral regions include promising cays among ideal places for diving. Most recommended areas include the Isle of Youth and Cayo Largo; Maria la Gorda, in Pinar del Rio; the northern Havana coast and Varadero with its artificial underwater park.

Other areas are the Zapata Peninsula for speleodiving, as well as the coastal areas of Cienfuegos, boasting the 20 foot high Notre Dame coral.

Divers can also enjoy their practice in Santiago de Cuba, with ship wrecks; the northern coast of Camaguey, Holguin and the promising pole of Jardines del Rey and in the Coco and Guillermo Cays, north of Ciego de Avila.

They can also enjoy incursions in Trinidad village, with crystal clear waters of enviable visibility, like those in the southern cays of Jardines de la Reina, which is the favourite site for the most adventurous.

MINTUR cites interesting ship wreck sites around Santiago de Cuba, 559 miles east of Havana, with numerous ship wrecks, old witnesses of the final naval battle of the Spanish-Cuban-American War in 1898.

At least 1,000 ships were sunk in those waters, including caravels carrying New World treasures, victims of pirates and storms. (Prensa Latina)