Dive Site: El Hueco (the Hole)
Location: Punta Frances, Isla de la Juventud, Cuba
Description: Wall and tunnel
Depth: 40 metres + (130 feet)
Visibility: 25 metres (80 feet)
Drop down to the sandy area at about 12 metres and in front of the wall, there was a large stingray resting by the reef . As you swam over to take a closer look a jewfish cruised by in the distance. Because of the depth of the dive you have to head off to the hole in the wall that gives this site its name. The hole starts at 12m and drops quickly down to 40m. It is a gash through the rock that is wide enough to fit a diver through and is decorated with corals and sponges for its length. It seemed to get to 40 metres very rapidly, so I can only deduce that the slope of the hole must have been near vertical. After leaving the hole at 40m headed along the wall, slowly making your way up. Avoid getting into any decompression. The wall drops away to thousands of metres below which leaves you breathless. The jewfish was still around, but keeping its distance and there was all the usual reef fish plus an incredibly large sea cucumber.
Scubster 