The Cathedral
María la Gorda · Cuba
A soaring underwater cavern whose entrance arch measures roughly 15 m wide and opens into a chamber flooded with refracted turquoise light — the effect that gave this site its name. The walls and ceiling are encrusted with ancient sponges, tube worms, and delicate wire coral that thrive in the protected, current-free interior. Outside the arch, a steep wall drops into the abyss and schooling horse-eye jacks circle the cavern mouth in silver spirals.
Conditions
Depth
8 to 35 m
Advanced depths
Current
Usually gentle
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
15 to 25 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
24 to 30°C
shorty
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 24 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 25 |
| Vis (m) | 25 | 25 | 25 | 20 | 20 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 20 | 25 | 25 |
| Current | Still | Still | Still | Still | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Still | Still | Still |
Your chances of seeing each animal
West Indian Fuzzy Chiton
Last confirmed Mar 18, 2025 · 7 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Loggerhead Kingbird
Last confirmed Mar 1, 2024 · 8 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Atlantic Sergeant Major
Last confirmed Mar 18, 2025 · 3 records
Sometimes
About 1 in 3 dives
Atlantic Blue Tang
Last confirmed Mar 10, 2025 · 1 records
Rare
Now and then
Horse-eye Jack
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Caribbean Spiny Lobster
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Orange Elephant Ear Sponge
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Caribbean Bluehead Wrasse
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Gear