Dive Site: El Salon

About El Salon

El Salon, often referred to as "the hall," is a captivating cave dive situated off the coast of Maria la Gorda, in Cuba's Pinar del Rio province. This site is distinguished by its stunning internal decorations, featuring an abundance of colorful sponges and coral formations that create a visual feast for divers. With multiple entry points, the cave offers an accessible yet immersive experience into a richly decorated subaquatic environment. The cave system begins at a depth of 65 feet, where divers can navigate through its spacious interior. The topography within is characterized by a high density of sponges and various coral types, providing shelter and feeding grounds for numerous marine species. While Maria la Gorda is renowned for healthy coral and sponge ecosystems, El Salon specifically showcases how these organisms thrive within a cave setting. Maria la Gorda's dive sites, including El Salon, are part of an area known for its pristine conditions, rarely visited by mass tourism. The warm, clear waters and mild currents generally ensure comfortable diving conditions, making it suitable for intermediate divers seeking unique underwater landscapes. Accessed by a short boat ride from the dive center, El Salon offers an opportunity to experience a different aspect of Cuba's rich marine biodiversity within a cavern environment. The vibrant marine life and intricate natural decorations make it a memorable part of a Cuban diving itinerary.

Dive site facts: El Salon

Depth

65 ft

Current

Mild

Visibility

80-110 ft

Water temperature

79-89 °F

Entry

Boat

Level

Intermediate

Dive type

Cave, coral, sponge, tropical fish

Region / port

Maria la Gorda / Pinar del Rio

Coordinates

21.8294° N, 84.5082° W

Conditions & Currents

Currents around Maria la Gorda's dive sites, including El Salon, are generally mild, contributing to stable and clear water conditions. This allows for relaxed exploration of the cave's intricate formations and marine life without significant physical exertion. Visibility at these sites is typically excellent, often exceeding 80-100 feet, which enhances the appreciation of the cave's vibrant interior. Entry and exit are usually managed from a dive boat, with the calm conditions facilitating smooth operations. While thermoclines are not specifically noted for El Salon, water temperatures are generally warm, around 87-89 degrees Fahrenheit in summer, suggesting comfortable diving. These favorable conditions make El Salon accessible and enjoyable for intermediate divers, minimizing concerns about gas consumption due to strong currents.

Marine life & sighting chances

Sponges

common

Coral formations

common

Blue chromis

common

Angelfish

common

Groupers

common

Snappers

common

Surgeonfish

common

Dive profile & how the dive runs

Diving at El Salon typically begins with a short boat ride, approximately 10 minutes from the dive center, leading to the entry point. Divers can choose from three available entrances to the cave, which lies at a depth of 65 feet. The dive profile involves exploring the interior of this marine cavern, characterized by its bright purple, pink, blue, and green decorations, formed by extensive coral and sponge growth. Divers will navigate through the spacious hall, observing the diverse tropical fish and invertebrate life that seek shelter within the formations. Given the cave environment, maintaining good buoyancy is essential to protect the delicate structures. The dive progresses within the cave system, allowing ample time for observation. The turnaround point is determined by air consumption and bottom time, after which divers ascend gradually. A safety stop is conducted at the standard 5-meter depth, typically near the exit of the cave or in the shallower waters above, before surfacing to the awaiting boat.

Underwater photography

El Salon offers unique opportunities for wide-angle photography, especially to capture the scale of its decorated interior and the vibrant color palette of its sponges and corals. A wide-angle lens with external strobes is highly recommended to illuminate the cave's details and bring out the true colors, as natural light diminishes quickly at depth within the cave. For macro enthusiasts, there are numerous invertebrates hidden within the crevices and coral formations, requiring a macro lens and careful use of focus lights. Buoyancy control is paramount to avoid stirring up silt from the cave floor and to protect the fragile coral and sponge structures. Divers should position themselves carefully to capture the intricate beauty without disturbing the ecosystem or impacting visibility for others.

Combine with nearby dive sites

• Ancla Del Pirata

  Ancla del Pirata, or "Pirate's Anchor," is a popular and accessible dive site located in the waters off María la Gorda, on Cuba's…

• Paraiso Perdido

  Paraiso Perdido is an advanced dive site located off Maria la Gorda on the remote Guanahacabibes Peninsula in western Cuba.

• El Almirante

  El Almirante is an advanced dive site located off the shores of Maria la Gorda, on Cuba's Guanahacabibes Peninsula.

• Pared de Coral Negro

  Pared de Coral Negro, or Black Coral Wall, is a renowned dive site located within the Guanahacabibes Peninsula National Park, a UNESCO…

Getting there & logistics

Access to El Salon is managed through dive centers located in Maria la Gorda, situated on the southern shore of Cuba's westernmost point in the Pinar del Rio province. Travelers often reach Maria la Gorda by vans or rental cars from Havana, a journey of about 170 miles, with the last 70 miles traversing uninhabited wilderness. International visitors frequently fly into Cancun, Mexico, then arrange travel to Cuba, often through Canadian or Mexican tour operators. The Villa Maria La Gorda typically serves as the base for divers, with dive boats departing from a nearby jetty. Dive trips are usually scheduled as two boat dives per day, allowing divers to return for lunch. Dive centers are well-equipped with compressors, tanks, and necessary gear, and boats carry medical kits, oxygen, and radios. A medical doctor is often available on-site to monitor diver health, including blood pressure checks before dives.

Safety & environment

Diving in Maria la Gorda, including at El Salon, benefits from good safety protocols, with dive operations generally well-run. A medical doctor is typically on staff at the dive center, performing blood pressure checks before dives and monitoring divers daily. Dive boats are equipped with essential safety gear including medical kits, oxygen, and radios, ensuring immediate response capabilities. However, due to the remote location in the province of Pinar del Rio, significant medical emergencies requiring specialized recompression chamber facilities would likely necessitate evacuation to a larger medical center, potentially in Havana. Divers should always hold adequate dive insurance that covers emergency medical treatment and evacuation. Within the cave, maintaining excellent buoyancy control is crucial to prevent damaging the fragile coral and sponge formations and to avoid stirring up sediment, which can quickly reduce visibility for all divers.

Who it suits — and who it doesn't

FAQ

El Salon FAQ

Liveaboards diving El Salon

These liveaboards may visit El Salon on selected itineraries — the exact dive sites depend on departure, weather and conditions.

Jardines Avalon Fleet

Cuba

20 guests35.05 m

$494/day