Diving in Cuba

[Nettie-NZ]

I am currently planning a trip at the end of March. I don't plan on using a "canned" trip as I speak Spanish and am used to traveling on the local economy in other places such as the DR, Costa Rica, Panama, Venezuela, and Mexico. Is this possible?

My plan was to stay in BNB's and trying to hook up with a dive outfit for the diving. Can anyone outline (or point me to) the requirements for US citizens under the People to People exemption?

I dived in Cuba about 5 or 6 years ago at Maria la Gorda. Not sure how much has changed but the thing is that so much of the economy is run by the state that it's difficult to do things independently - private companies just don't exist in the way you are use to in other parts of Latin America.
Even the Casas Particulares (BNB's) have to pay a huge amount to the government to be able operate as Casas like this. Public transport... ....not impossible to use, but nothing like you will have seen in other parts of Latin America.
Have a read on the Thorn Tree forum on Lonely Planet - it'll give you a good taste of what more independent travel in Cuba is like - it's definitely very different and more expensive than other places in Latin America. Don't get me wrong - it's a great place and you'll really enjoy Cuba but it's very different too!

Buena Suerte!


Oops - that was a faux pas! Didn't read that Buz posted in Jan! Doh!