Cuba, Jardines De La Reina
Photo workshop at the "Gardens of the Queen", are a complex network of untouched marine ecosystems that have been regarded by many knowledgeable scientists and organizations as a reference of what is the original status of a coral reef as Christopher Columbus found it in the times of the discovery. The underwater paradise is all that comes into the mind when you first enter the water, the vertical walls covered with brightly hued sponges, the huge Pilar Corals (Montastraea Annularis), the black corals extending the branches in the contrasting blue water, many species of gorgonians, fragile laminar corals (Agaricia sp.)showing its beautiful shapes through crevices, canyons and caves built along thousands of years of invertebrates work, converting tons of calcium carbonate into architecture masterpieces, all this combined with one of the biggest fish diversity and biomass of the Caribbean makes each dive an unforgettable experience.
The amazingly healthy mangrove system provides nursery area for young fish populations, filtering the water that goes to the reef together with the seagrass beds (Thalassia Testudinum) and in return receiving from the reef protection against the open ocean wave energy, all interconnected in a very fragile network that here keeps its variety, richness and splendor intact.
Havana January 4-11, 2025
Staying in a beautiful house, not a hotel
Gardens of the Queen January 11-18, 2025
On the Aggressor II
$9,542 USD all inclusive except tips and airfare
7 days in Havana, 5 1/2 days underwater
Trip Insurance Recommended
Richard Salas will take you on an adventure you will never forget. Swimming with sharks and crocodiles are experiences that most people have only seen on TV, and I did it almost every day in Cuba. Each time I return home after a trip with Richard, I feel like a better version of myself, someone I am more proud of.
Everything that Richard presented in his introductory video to Cuba I experienced ...and then some! Not only is Richard Salas the best underwater photographer I know, he has a wealth of knowledge and an abundance of patience to help each person reach their goals and go on to the next level. And he really knows how to draw an eclectic and wonderful crowd.
As a professional photographer, I strive to always be better in my craft. Richard's approach of teaching through experience and one on one training has made me a stronger photographer. A trip of a lifetime is an understatement, it will touch your soul.
-Elizabeth Harper, Chicago
