Cave diving Cuba?...... Maybe..

[T. Bix]

So this past weekend at the local dive show ( Our World Underwater) we ran across a booth dedicated to reef diving in Cuba legally. It goes something like you're part of a research outreach program and aiding scientific collaborative efforts blah blah blah..... We asked the question about what kind of collaborative research they need in the caves of Cuba. It turns out it's something that never dawned on them to try and pursue of course in the interest of furthering scientific research into the (prolly) pristine, untouched, knock your socks off cenotes and caves of our southern neighbors. Maybe Wayne (Amigo's) has a grip or a lock on making something like this happen as a part of his gear donation program, I dunno but I'm guessing there are prolly dozens of us that would and could jump at the chance to head down there and explore their cigar factories and rum distilleries...... errr I mean cave systems.... Stand by for more or feel free to chime in if you know anything!!!

[Sly-vester]

I like it! I like it a lot.

[Jont]

Tim,

Be careful when anyone says they will arrange a trip to Cuba legally, a dive shop in Manhattan called PAN AQUA made that very same claim, so a bunch of people went to Cuba to dive the untouched coral, oddly enough they were forced to fly through Canada by the trip coordinator, on the way back (again through Canada) one very upset member of the group stared mouthing off and mentioned that he was returning from a bad trip to Cuba, the problem was that he was complaining to a customs agent and Oh Boy what happened next......everyone on the trip was rounded up and detained, for many many hours, searched, luggage tossed, given desk appearance tickets to appear in Federal Court (and thats the same as being arrested), in the end the customers were fined 3 or 5 thousand each and the organizers were hit much harder, refusal to pay would guarantee jail time of I think a year, not to mention legal fee's that were 10K per person on the low end.

Getting to Cuba legally isnt that hard but you do need to jump through a few hoops, the scientific research reason is popular and works quite well but anyone that goes on one of these trips needs be sure that real permission exists and that should be done through the state department directly, dont take anyones word for anything.

Cuba is amazing.

[TracyN]

Don't you have to fly out of Mexico or some other country if you are a US citizen wanting to go to Cuba?

[jj1987]

Don't you have to fly out of Mexico or some other country if you are a US citizen wanting to go to Cuba?

No, its just as illegal leaving from mx as the us. Several airlines fly direct charter service from the us to Cuba (my employer does) but you need a research or religious reason to legally visit from the us or any other departure port. Furthermore if youre a us citizen in cuba youre going to pay crazy prices from what I've been told. Airline saff can't even leave the airplane and go in the terminal...some people get there illegally via private plane or private boat-- yes you can get away with it, but if you get caught, you'll have to pay.
http://travel.usatoday.com/destinati...-trip/812249/1

[Jont]

Don't you have to fly out of Mexico or some other country if you are a US citizen wanting to go to Cuba?

No it is still a felony for any US citizen to travel to Cuba without permission, there are direct flight from the US but they are expensive and again you need permission, the airlines that fly there won't take your money without proper documentation.

If you were inclined to go anyway, the best way to get there would be to fly through the Bahamas, Jamaica, Mexico, also you must ask the customs agent not to stamp your passport, they always agree knowing you are an American and breaking the law.

I would strongly suggest you go to dive and visit, the place is magnificent and really cool, old american cars are everywhere and some are is great shape.

The population welcomes Americans with open arms the crime is low.

[a64pilot]

Some have been known to go there via the Cayman islands, I've overflown Cuba several times exporting aircraft, just you can't file from the US and have Cuba as the destination, but flight plans filed from other places, like the Cayman's aren't transmitted to the US so that's how you don't get caught.
I think CBP doesn't really care as long as you don't do something stupid like bringing it to their attention.

[kwinter]

Hey Jon - I did not know that about the Pan Aqua trip. And I don't remember anything being posted. Got a link or anything for more info?

[JTB]

So how about some info for the rest of the world that dont have travel restrictions. Is there any actual information regarding the cave systems there, being Canadian there are no issues travelling there and i am actually interested in doing so as it is relatively cheap. If there is anyone that can share what little info they may have regarding the caves in cuba it would be greatly appreciated.

[T. Bix]

Wayne at Amigo's is collecting gear and as far as I can tell has or had contact with a group in Cuba.