Crocodile Mangroves
Jardines de la Reina · Cuba
Shallow seagrass and mangrove flats on the inner side of the reserve where dive guides have built a decades long rapport with resident American crocodiles. Snorkelers slip into chest deep water alongside habituated animals — most famously a big male the guides call Niño — that glide between the prop roots and over turtlegrass. The crocodile's eye level approach is the shot that has filled Caribbean dive magazines and photo contests.
Conditions
Depth
1 to 4 m
Good for beginners
Current
Usually still
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
6 to 12 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
25 to 31°C
Shorty wetsuit
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 26 | 25 |
| Vis (m) | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Current | Still | Still | Still | Still | Still | Still | Still | Still | Gentle | Gentle | Still | Still |
Your chances of seeing each animal
American crocodile
Last confirmed May 15, 2026 · 130 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Caribbean Reef Shark
Last confirmed Feb 18, 2026 · 23 records
Very likely
Most dives
Nassau Grouper
Last confirmed Feb 19, 2026 · 20 records
Very likely
Most dives
Atlantic Blue Tang
Last confirmed Feb 15, 2026 · 19 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Schoolmaster snapper
Last confirmed Feb 19, 2026 · 14 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Hogfish
Last confirmed Feb 17, 2026 · 14 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Atlantic Tarpon
Last confirmed Feb 16, 2026 · 14 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Upside-down jellyfish
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Gear