Caribbean
Cuba
Matanzas Province
Varadero
Things to Do in Varadero
Coral Beach UNDERWATERCUBA
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Coral Beach UNDERWATERCUBA

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Coral Beach UNDERWATERCUBA
4.5
1,134 reviews
#3 of 25 things to do in Varadero
Beaches
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8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
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About
Are you Traveling to Cuba? The best option we recommend you is Snorkeling or Scuba diving. We have service at Playa Coral(Varadero), Havana and Bay if Pigs(Playa Giron). Our instructor are highly professionals, every year we serve more than 2000 clients who had never done the activity. We hope that you visit us on your vacation, you will not regret it I assure you. Visit our website underwatercuba.club for more info. Greetings Team Coral Beach and UNDERWATERCUBA .
Suggested duration
More than 3 hours
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The area
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
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7 within 6 miles
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,134 reviews
Excellent
622
Very good
333
Average
129
Poor
37
Terrible
13
Sanda Allen
Petawawa, Canada44 contributions
Go to the awesome free area with no services but healthy marine life!
Aug 2022
We took a taxi out to the public beach area of Coral Beach / Playa Corales. There is no lifeguard and no beach really, however, the coral reef is healthy on the PUBLIC side of the area. Elk Horn Coral in massive groves and lots of schools of fish. Lots of variety of marine life. If you need to rent gear go to the tour side: you will have to pay. The public side is free!!!! If you see a run down building you are in the right place. Tell your taxi driver you want to go to the FREE side of the area. Reef starts right at the shore. Bring your own gear!
Written August 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Paul
Zurich, Switzerland18 contributions
Professional staff, best memories
Jan 2022
Jorge is very easy to communicate with, on time and a true professionalist when it comes to organization and snorkeling. We were picked up in an old American car and brought to Playa Coral & Cueva Saturno, just the two of us. Really recommendable, best option for snorkeling near Varadero! Muchas gracias Jorge y Bueno!
Written January 31, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Great Joe
3 contributions
Diving
Aug 2022 • Family
What a great diving experience at Coral Beach. The entire team was very helpful. Alcide took high care of my 13 years old son under water, a great professional and a wonderful man.
Ideal diving spot for Open Water divers . Excellent spot for snorkeling as well. Please go !
Written August 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
training911
Fredericton, Canada20 contributions
SCUBA Dove here
Mar 2020
The Coral is great, the beach is sandy but volcanic rock by the water. The coral is amazing! There was a free diver feeding the fish and taking pictures when we went. He had a huge school of fish around him!
Written March 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Jewels H
5 contributions
Life altering experience
Feb 2020
If you've never swam in the ocean, this is the tour for you. The sea can be a little rough but the tour guides do a great job assisting you if you are nervous. Note: you have to be a strong swimmer to do the complete tour. I cant swim but my friend was able to experience and had a fantastic time .
Written February 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Eva196
Faro District, Portugal74 contributions
snorkling from the beach Playa el Coral
Feb 2013 • Family
We started in Matanzas city where we stayed i casa Vila Sonada and drove 8 km in direction Veradero, this is long before you reach Veradero entrance. Keep your eyes on the blue signs on the left side. Suddenly there is a sign Playa el Coral, turn left. Then turn right and follow the long straight road to to lighthouse and the road turns right. There are two beaches within 50 meter. The first is for free ( except parking 2 CUC) and if you have your own gear you dont need to go further ( even people without snorkling gear came and rented what they needed ). Dont pay any attention to people on bicicles who ask you for money. We were approached by a guy who wanted to show us the area, but this is not needed. There is also a bar and it felt very relaxed. As soon as you put your head under water you see fish, maybe not a lot, but enough for beginners like us. The coral is just under your feet, so we did not go out far, but maybe if you do there will be more fish. Wear shoes or fins although the corals are not very sharp. You can rent a sunlounge for 2 CUC. It was quite windy. If you proceed a further 50 meter on the road there is a big parking with more cars and busses. This will cost you each 10 CUC to come in and whether you have the gear or not the price is the same. There are also souviner stands and a lot of people on organized trips sailing out in boats etc. But basicly the outlay is the same and we did not feel we needed any coaching. The water was clear and we had a nice day. Other snorkling from the beach I can recommend Punta Perdiz near Playa Giron, stay at Casa Hostal Luis, and playa Covarrubia near Puerto Pedre Las Tunas. You can book a room via Hotelopia for one day with all incl.
Written March 4, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
GuillermoGloria
Ontario, Canada118 contributions
EASY TO GET TO BY SCOOTER
Jun 2013 • Family
From Varadero, it is around 30 kms - go over the bridge from the tourist side of town, and keep to the right to head towards the airport. around 2/3 o the way there, you'll see a bike path sign that veers off to the right, where the main highway veers to the left. Go along the bike path, past the little tow, and then you'll see Playa Corale on your right. You can bring your own snorkeling gear, and go snorkelling for free. Access is easy to the coral, as it is right at the shore, as soon as you enter the water. There'll be a guy to watch your scooter while you enjoy your time here - be sure to tip him on the way out. Also, if you have any shirts or articles from home that you want to give a way, the locals here are very appreciative. There is a restaurant and bar here, where you can relaz, and chairs, sun shades are also available. During high season, it may get more crowded and formal with the snorkeling, but for us it was lad-back, and we were left alone to enjoy the water at our own pace without a guide. If you go farther along the highway, there are other nice little coves with beaches to swim at with sandy shores. Everyone is very friendly, and will point you in the right direction if you get lost. If you decide to go to Cueva de Saturno on the way back, turn right at the second road when you get back to the little town, and it will take you right to the intersection where the airport turn-off is. got straight across, heading to the airport, and the caves are just up the hill on your left.
Written July 1, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Budman67
Midland, Ontario, Canada91 contributions
Great snorkeling - a little harder to get to now(post hurricane)
Oct 2017
I love to snorkel. I knew going to Varadero that (real) snorkeling at the resort wasn't going to be an option. So for a do it yourself excursion we hoped on the beach bus headed into Varadero and took a cab to Coral beach.

The cab was 45 cuc there and back. We probably could have gotten it for less but there was 5 of us.

The cabbie did try to drop us off at the pay snorkeling that is about 500 m before the public beach area. Some of us had our own gear and were experienced so we walked down to the public beach. There is a sketchy little structure where i'm pretty sure the same older Cuban gentleman have been working for decades. It was perfect. The pina coladas were amongst the best I have had and the beer was cold.

The reef is very close to shore and the depth is about a metre to a metre and a half for about 25 m. then the bottom drops to about 3 to 5 m. The reef is in pretty good shape and the variety of fish was quite good. It was wavy that day so getting to the deeper parts was a challenge. I didn't relish the idea of being raked across the reef. Following the sandy channels we made it out and from there we were able to float easily ( no life jacket) and enjoy the reef and the fish.

If you aren't a great swimmer of familiar then maybe the organized snorkeling for 15 cuc would be the best option but if you are up for a little adventure head down the road a bit have a pina colada and enjoy a great day of snorkeling.

Just a couple of notes. The road along the beach has been partially wiped out. On the way there we wound our way through a little village and eventually found the beach. (our cabbie wasn't quite sure of the way ) The way back the cabbie went a round the barrier and we took the quick route along the shore. Only half the road was gone so this all worked out.
Written October 24, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
rdv
Marlow, UK865 contributions
Forget the Organised Tour
Mar 2017 • Couples
If you are into snorkelling and have your own gear just carry on past the tourist centre for 500 mtrs. I dont like snorkelling with a big group but just past the the jeep safari/organised centre is a nice beach with sunshades and beds at 2cuc. Also proper pina caladas at 3cuc. The fish are fantastic, big shoals of Blue Tangs & yellow snappers. The snappers are quite big and seem to be used to being fed. Once out into deeper water they follow you very close, I got a couple of nips and was not carrying food. Spent 3 hours there, brilliant.
Written March 20, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Mr G
Vancouver, Canada16 contributions
Good for beginners.
Mar 2014 • Couples
We took a scooter out here so we could have all the time we wanted without a tour. You can either hit the Laguna de Maya snorkel company and pay 10 cuc to go with the guides, or drive another 500m and do the same thing independently. My girlfriend decided her swimming ability wasn't strong enough to go alone so we paid.

With the company, life jackets are mandatory and you basically follow the guide out to the Coral without much stopping time, then turn back.

There isn't a large variety of fish but the guides do draw a feeding frenzy with some food, which was pretty cool.

We got there as another tour of about 15 people were setting out so in the end, we basically were taking a tour instead of the independent swim I had originally sought out. You end up bumping into others often. I think they said it was an hour swim. We had set out for more, but really there wasn't enough to see to make a day of it.

If you scooter to their lot, a security guy will tell you that the lot is safe and watched, but they don't tell you if there is a cost (I don't think they get many visitors outside of the Jeep/bus tours). When we left, the guard stood there in silence until I gave him 1.50 cuc (I only had enough cash for the highway toll back) and he seemed satisfied with that.

If you are a competent swimmer/snorkeler, pass by Laguna de Maya and swim alone for free. Otherwise, it is safer to go with the guides, and not a terrible value for the price as a novice.

Written March 19, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Coral Beach UNDERWATERCUBA (Varadero) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Frequently Asked Questions about Coral Beach UNDERWATERCUBA
Coral Beach UNDERWATERCUBA is open:
  • Sun - Sat 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM