Scuba Diving in Wrecks of the Hispanic - Cuban and North American War of 1898. "ADMIRAL OQUENDO BATTLESHIP CRUISE".

• Duration: 2.00 hrs
• Departure time: 9:00 hrs
• Tour guide: Yes
• Children are allowed: No
• Languages spoken: Spanish and English
• Location: Marina Marlin Punta Gorda. 1ra., Santiago de Cuba, Cuba. Tel: (+53 22) 69 1446.

Diving in wrecks of the Spanish-Cuban and North American War of 1898. "ARMORED CRUISE ALMIRANTE OQUENDO".

"Archaeological Park of the Natural and Cultural Heritage Underwater Naval Battle of Santiago de Cuba". Declared a National Monument in 2015.

General description:

Seven archaeological sites (Siboney Beach, Las Cuatro Bocas, Mar Verde Beach, Rancho Cruz - Buey Cabón, Ensenada de Juan González, Sawmill and La Mula Beach).

The environmental and archaeological conditions are different from each other due to the location itself along the southeast coastal strip. It covers an extension of about 64,824 nautical miles, equivalent to about 120,051 km along the coast from Siboney beach, belonging to the Santiago de Cuba municipality; to the "La Mula" beach, referring to the Guamá municipality.

This area was the scene of one of the most important events in world history. This Naval Battle, which ended with the collapse of Vice Admiral Pascual Cervera y Topete's fleet, represented the end for Spanish colonial rule in America and gave way to the emergence of the empire of the United States of America.

The vestiges of that confrontation represent what is known today as the Underwater Archaeological Park "Naval Battle of Santiago de Cuba". This Park is made up of seven archaeological sites where the wrecks that participated in the naval conflict are found, as well as material evidence of the ships that are related to the events, for example: masts, mastheads, remains of rigging rigging, ironwork , parts of the artillery sites, medium and heavy caliber projectiles, fluseries, balusters and propulsion system mechanisms. On the other hand, due to more than a century of rest and biological activity, this ecosystem is special where sessile fauna and marine flora have merged with wrecks in a symbiotic entity that protects them mutually.

It is an enormous privilege to live history through these wrecks, witnesses of the Naval War of 1898, a treasure of the Underwater Cultural heritage not only of Cuba but of the world.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE: "ENSENADA DE JUAN GONZÁLEZ". Wreck: Armored Cruise “Almirante Oquendo”.

• Location: Juan González Beach, west of the city of Santiago de Cuba.
• Municipality: Guamá.
• The Armored Cruise “Almirante Oquendo” is located in the Juan González cove about 100 meters from the shore and at a depth between 4 and 13 meters. From the coast, part of the González Hontoria cannon turret is visible, emerging above the surface of the water.

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SHIP “Almirante Oquendo”

• Name of the wreck: "Almirante Oquendo".
• Class: "Infanta María Teresa".
• Type of boat: 1st class Armored Cruise.
• Flag: Spain.
• Date of commissioning: November 16, 1889.
• Shipyards: Sociedad Astilleros del Nervión, Sestao - Spain.
• Launch date: October 3, 1891.
• Commander: Captain of Ship, Juan Bautista Lazaga and Garay.
• Crew: 497 men.
• Length: 110.9 meters.
• Beam: 19.9 meters.
• Strut: 11.58 meters.
• Draft: 6.6 meters.
• Displacement: 6,890 tons.
• Max speed: 20.25 knots.
• Autonomy at low consumption: 9,700 miles (nautical).
• Type of bow: Launched from lower half-bulb.
• Covers: Steel and wood.
• Rudder: Aft, with a blade outside the stern mirror with a shaft running to the deck, powered by a servomotor.
• Armor: Armored belt 305-254 mm.
• Cover armor: Cover 76-52 mm.
• Barbets: 229 mm.
• Machinery type: Triple vertical expansion steam machine.
• Type of food: Mineral coal - 1050 tons.
• Power: 13,700 hp.
• Boilers: 3 units.
• Propulsion: 2 propellers.
• Masts: 2 masts.
• Heavy caliber artillery: 2 "Hontoria" 280 mm guns on barbel towers at bow and stern.
• Rapid fire artillery: 10 "Hontoria" 140 mm guns. After mantlets (fast firing) 8 Nordenfelt 57 mm guns (rapid firing).
• Medium caliber artillery: 2 "Hontoria" guns with simultaneous loading of 70 mm. 37 mm Hotchkis revolvers: 8 pieces.
• Machine guns "Maxims": 2 pieces.
• Torpedo tubes: Tubes 8 torpedo launch sites 365 mm.

Diving services included:

• Basic diving equipment,
• Compressed air tank.
• Belt with leads.
• Attendance of an instructor instructor with international certificate, who will make an informative briefing of the dive to be carried out.
• Boat that takes you from the dive center to the dive sites. (In principle, the dives leaving from the Punta Gorda marlin Marina will be done by diving boat).

Marina Marlin Punta Gorda Diving Center

• This Diving Center provides services to hotels in the city of Santiago de Cuba.
• Capacity per output: 10 Pax.
• Frequency: 2 daily departures.

Degree of difficulty: Medium.

Distance to cover in the excursion (round trip): 30 kms approximately.

Approximate duration of the excursion: 2 - 3 hours approximately.

Very important note: It is mandatory for clients to present their official certified diving qualification.

Very important note: Never, due to safety and protection measures for the underwater heritage, clients will be able to directly touch the remains of the sunken ships and must strictly comply with the instructions issued by the diving instructors.

TIPS: • Recommended: light clothing, swimsuit, towels, sunglasses, hat, sunscreen and photographic camera. • We recommend that the client can bring their own diving mask. • The client can bring his complete diving equipment if he wants to. • We recommend that the client can bring his/her personal dive computer. • We recommend that the client can bring one or more bottles of mineral water to stay hydrated as well as light foods rich in protein or fruit.