Cuba’s First Nitrox Dive Course for Scuba Trainers

The first nitrox technical dive course for tourist trainers in Cuba let participants steal a good long peek at the development of scuba diving on the island nation. Rolando Baños, head of the Levisa Key Diving Center, admitted this is the first time ever such a course is taught on Cuban soil, this time up for fourteen trainers from Cubanacan S.A. and Horizontes Hotels, two state-run companies.

Levisa Key is a tourist resort off the northern coast of Pinar del Rio –Cuba’s westernmost province- and operated by Horizontes Hotels. It features 40 cabanas and a multitude of recreational offers.

Nitrox, a chemical used in air tanks, allows scuba divers to remain underwater for longer periods of time and prevents oxygen leaks during transportation by plane.

Mr. Baños noted the course was certified by Andrew Mathews, president of the International Association of Nitrox Technical Dive (IANTD), an organization headquartered in Mexico City.

Now, Levisa Key is Cuba’s first diving center using this particular substance that poses no threat whatsoever to tourists.

Pretty soon –he said- other top four diving centers in Cuba will start using nitrox: Maria La Gorda (also in Pinar del Rio); Varadero, the island nation’s premier recreational destination; Playa Giron, and Santa Lucia in Camaguey.

Scuba diving is a recreational option that’s been increasingly catching on in Cuba. Since last year, an international event on this matter (EXPOBUCEO) is now held in Varadero with professionals from the field giving it two enthusiastic thumbs up.