Scuba diving holidays in Cayo Largo, Cuba

Approximately 35 minutes by aeroplane from Havana lies the desert island of Cayo Largo. This small island resort is c. 18 miles in circumference, and is surrounded by the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean Sea. A small selection of 4* all-inclusive hotels are offered here, and a super little "dive lodge" that is the perfect home for groups of up to 30 people.

The focus of a holiday to Cayo Largo is relaxation – the whole island is edged with beautiful white sand beaches that stretch for miles – literally! Palm trees flank the beaches, providing shade and cool, and the hotels are all right on the edge of the beaches too. This really is a desert island experience just waiting for you!

Beach life and waters sports are the primary attractions here – wind-surfing, kayaks, catamaran sailing, pedaloes, kite surfing and the like, together with jet-skis and water-skiing are all available along the beach. And scuba diving of course!

But Cayo Largo is not missing any of the facilities that a discerning holiday maker needs – a proper bank, chemist and doctors surgery are all on hand, and there is also a small selection of shops providing the little bits and pieces that all of a sudden become essential!

For nature lovers, Cayo Largo is very special too. Mangroves fringe the inlets, and these are home to an array of wildlife – birds of many species and large iguanas are seen here, and there is nothing that is quite as much fun as zipping through the channels in a speed-boat – very James Bond!

Cayo Largo is also one of the few natural places in the world where turtles of several species come ashore to lay their eggs. In April to June, thousands of green, leatherback and hawksbill turtles come ashore at night to lay their eggs in the sand, and the local Turtle Sanctuary gather the eggs and relocate them to a protected nesting enclosure to protect the diminishing populations. In September to late November/early December, the turtles hatch by the hundreds, and there is nothing quite as emotional as watching them make their first steps into the sea.

Cayo Largo is a truly beautiful escape, but is close enough to the mainland to be a perfect base for a twin-centre holiday. Why not split your time between here and Havana, or indeed another beach resort?

Varadero – a vibrant and cosmopolitan resort – has it all, and getting here is easy too. Direct flights from London to Havana also make it a perfect resort to "twin" with a few days in the capital. If you are here just for scuba diving holidays, read on!