María la Gorda · Cuba · Coral garden · Reef · Wall
Jardín de la Gorgonia
A small wall from 6 to 15 m packed with gorgonians
A shallow garden crammed with gorgonians, sponges and corals along a small wall running from 6 to 15 m. The dive centre calls it a very popular site for its accessibility, ease of diving and the abundance and variety of life on it, and rates it as suitable for all abilities — with the caveat that the current here is not always mild.
Also known as Gorgonian Garden, La Gorgonia.
Where it is and how deep
21.8121° N, 84.5109° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
Site maps published elsewhere
The dive
The structure is a small wall dropping from about 6 m to 15 m, and it is the covering rather than the shape that makes the dive. This stretch is crammed with gorgonians — enough to stand out even by Cuban standards — with sponges and hard corals filling the gaps between them. The shallow top of the wall is where most of the time goes, so the dive tends to run as a slow traverse rather than a descent.
Fish work the wall in numbers: yellowtail snappers over the top, green morays backed into the rock, balloonfish and boxfish among the fans, and Nassau groupers that get genuinely large here. The operator describes the site as an ideal spot for beginners and for divers of any level, which is a function of the depth — nothing on the route pushes past 15 m, and the shallow end is comfortable enough to finish a long dive on.
The one thing to plan around is water movement. Currents on this site can be quite strong and unpredictable at times, which is the one caution attached to a site the same page otherwise calls ideal for all abilities of diver. Check the surface before you go in, stay with the guide, and be ready to work the shallow end of the wall rather than the deep edge if it is running.
Marine life and season
- Groupers
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Good | Fair | Fair | Good | Prime | Prime |
Season follows María la Gorda: Nov–Apr is the dry season with the calmest, clearest water; Aug–Oct carries hurricane risk on this exposed western tip.
Know before you go
- Currents here can be strong and unpredictable — check conditions at the mooring and stay close to the guide rather than ranging along the wall.
Questions divers ask
How deep is Jardín de la Gorgonia?+
The small wall runs from about 6 m to 15 m, and 15 m is the published maximum for the site — shallow enough for a long dive.
Is Jardín de la Gorgonia good for beginners?+
Yes, the operator calls it an ideal site for all abilities and a good spot for beginners, but currents can be strong and unpredictable, so dive it with a guide.
Sources
- Gorgonian Garden — Villa Maria la Gorda
- Maria la Gorda Scuba Diving Cuba — netssa.com
- Dive Sites Map Location in María La Gorda — cubadiving.org
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