Cuba - no politics !

I am in the process of organising a club trip to Cuba Nov 2004.We are going
to stay at 'The Brisas ' Guardalavaca - all inclusive.
The trip will be a mix of; some diving , some site-seeing , but plenty of
liquid activities!
However , should I rely on the diving part of the all inclusive package OR
book some days diving with the local dive operator. We do want some decent
diving ie off shore , and not all walk in 60 mins at 10 metres , walk out.
I am not particulaly bothered that there may be better places in Cuba to dive , or the politics of the island. Simply some advice from people who have had
experience of all-inclusive holidays and the dive packages offered.
PS.
We are travelling from the UK

TIA.
--
Denis C Todd, aquatodd@btinternet.com

"Denis C Todd" <aquatodd@btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:ant2215470b0FMC%23@aquatodd.btinternet.com...

> I am not particulaly bothered that there may be better places in Cuba to
dive , or the politics of the island. Simply some advice from people who
have had
> experience of all-inclusive holidays and the dive packages offered.

From my experience, the all-inclusives in Cuba offer horrible food.
Prisoners in the U.S. are fed better.

> PS.
> We are travelling from the UK

Oh. In that case you might like the food.

<nospam@all.please.net> wrote in message
news:bs77gu$e89$2@cdm-66-76-63-26.nacd...
> In <3fe710bd$0$75801$6c56adcd@news.qnet.com> "Greg Mossman" wrote:
> > "Denis C Todd" <aquatodd@btinternet.com> wrote in message
> > news:ant2215470b0FMC%23@aquatodd.btinternet.com...
> >
> > > I am not particulaly bothered that there may be better places in Cuba
> to
> > dive , or the politics of the island. Simply some advice from people
> who
> > have had
> > > experience of all-inclusive holidays and the dive packages offered.
> >
> > From my experience, the all-inclusives in Cuba offer horrible food.
> > Prisoners in the U.S. are fed better.
> >
> > > PS.
> > > We are travelling from the UK
> >
> > Oh. In that case you might like the food.
>
> Isn't it illegal for US Citizens to spend money in Cuber?
> Have you found a loophole?

Yes, I believe that being a citizen of the UK, is a big enough loophole.

>

Denis C Todd (aquatodd@btinternet.com) writes:
> I am in the process of organising a club trip to Cuba Nov 2004.We are going
> to stay at 'The Brisas ' Guardalavaca - all inclusive.
> The trip will be a mix of; some diving , some site-seeing , but plenty of
> liquid activities!
> However , should I rely on the diving part of the all inclusive package OR
> book some days diving with the local dive operator. We do want some decent
> diving ie off shore , and not all walk in 60 mins at 10 metres , walk out.
> I am not particulaly bothered that there may be better places in Cuba to dive , or the politics of the island. Simply some advice from people who have had
> experience of all-inclusive holidays and the dive packages offered.
> PS.
> We are travelling from the UK
>
> TIA.
> --
> Denis C Todd, aquatodd@btinternet.com
>
>

I've been to Guardalavaca quite a few times - but haven't stayed at the
Brisas. My favourite divemaster works outa there though - say hi to David
from Sandy

I've never booked in advance - it's about $35 a dive - decreases
with volume

all dives boat dives - about 20 buoyes sites. On my last one, we had
fun feed 200 pound black grouper

bonus snorkeling about 100m of the beach - head west from
the Las Brisas beach towards the public beach

Baseball in Holguin is worth the party - BYOB - cold beer & rum
available outside the stadium - or bring it

for a day tour - take the road to Banes - very scenic

when your hotel dies, there's a 24 hour bar on the public beach,
usually a good crew - they don't have fancy drinks

enjoy

http://www.cubalinda.com/English/Act....asp?Center=21
--
Camaron que se duerme se lo lleva la corriente
Shrimp that fall asleep are carried away by the current

In <hOFFb.780865$pl3.684447@pd7tw3no> "chilly" wrote:
>
> <nospam@all.please.net> wrote in message
> news:bs77gu$e89$2@cdm-66-76-63-26.nacd...
> > In <3fe710bd$0$75801$6c56adcd@news.qnet.com> "Greg Mossman" wrote:
> > > "Denis C Todd" <aquatodd@btinternet.com> wrote in message
> > > news:ant2215470b0FMC%23@aquatodd.btinternet.com...
> > >
> > > > I am not particulaly bothered that there may be better places in
Cuba
> > to
> > > dive , or the politics of the island. Simply some advice from
people
> > who
> > > have had
> > > > experience of all-inclusive holidays and the dive packages
offered.
> > >
> > > From my experience, the all-inclusives in Cuba offer horrible food.
> > > Prisoners in the U.S. are fed better.
> > >
> > > > PS.
> > > > We are travelling from the UK
> > >
> > > Oh. In that case you might like the food.
> >
> > Isn't it illegal for US Citizens to spend money in Cuber?
> > Have you found a loophole?
>
> Yes, I believe that being a citizen of the UK, is a big enough
loophole.

Greg is a Brit?

<nospam@all.please.net> wrote in message
news:bs8k76$q5k$1@cdm-66-76-63-26.nacd...
> In <hOFFb.780865$pl3.684447@pd7tw3no> "chilly" wrote:
> >
> > <nospam@all.please.net> wrote in message
> > news:bs77gu$e89$2@cdm-66-76-63-26.nacd...
> > > In <3fe710bd$0$75801$6c56adcd@news.qnet.com> "Greg Mossman" wrote:
> > > > "Denis C Todd" <aquatodd@btinternet.com> wrote in message
> > > > news:ant2215470b0FMC%23@aquatodd.btinternet.com...
> > > >
> > > > > I am not particulaly bothered that there may be better places in
> Cuba
> > > to
> > > > dive , or the politics of the island. Simply some advice from
> people
> > > who
> > > > have had
> > > > > experience of all-inclusive holidays and the dive packages
> offered.
> > > >
> > > > From my experience, the all-inclusives in Cuba offer horrible food.
> > > > Prisoners in the U.S. are fed better.
> > > >
> > > > > PS.
> > > > > We are travelling from the UK
> > > >
> > > > Oh. In that case you might like the food.
> > >
> > > Isn't it illegal for US Citizens to spend money in Cuber?
> > > Have you found a loophole?
> >
> > Yes, I believe that being a citizen of the UK, is a big enough
> loophole.
>
> Greg is a Brit?
>

No, but for greg, an american lawyer to go to cuba, he simply pays the
organisers in america, and leaves his wallet behind at the border.

Since he's paying someone in america not cuba, he's not doing anything
illegal, and IIRC most "All Inclusives" are orgaised by mexican or canadian
companies, so Uncle Sam is left to gnaw on his liver in peace, since greg is
still not as an american paying cubans, it's a non-american paying the
cubans to look after greg.

I think this is right. *puts on the flame proof armour*

rhys

"rnf2" wrote

> > Greg is a Brit?
>
> No, but for greg, an american lawyer to go to cuba, he simply pays the
> organisers in america, and leaves his wallet behind at the border.

Before you start giving advice on how to circumvent U.S. law, you'd best be
sure you understand the U.S. law. Greg can not spend money to travel to
Cuba without meeting one of the statutory or special exemptions. It has
nothing to do with who he pays the money to. What you recommend is just as
illegal as it is for him to spend his own money on the way and in Cuba. If,
on the other hand, you would like to fully sponsor him, he can go . . .
provided he does not reemburse you in any way.

> Since he's paying someone in america not cuba, he's not doing anything
> illegal . . .

Wrong.

> . . . and IIRC most "All Inclusives" are orgaised by mexican or canadian
> companies, so Uncle Sam is left to gnaw on his liver in peace, since greg
is
> still not as an american paying cubans, it's a non-american paying the
> cubans to look after greg. I think this is right. *puts on the flame
proof armour*

Glad you put on your armour. You are mistaken. Lucky for Greg, he's smart
enough to figure out how to make the trip legally if he wants or to
calculate the odds and consequences of being caught if he doesn't play by
the rules. Oh yes, I think he's also smart enough to understand that,
should he chose to violate the laws relative to Cuba, that announcing his
intent in public changes the odds and consequences.

Lee

Hi,

I have about 25 dives in Guardalavaca ( Eagle Ray dive center) and about 20
in Guardalavaca/Costa Verde/Playa Pesquero (Blue World). In general diving
is above average with few realy good sites like Corona I-III.
All diving is "follow the leader" from small boats, they let you dive your
computer based on experience.
Few US$$$$ will do magic, they may do some custom diving including 155' La
Cadena.

"Greg Mossman" wrote

> > > Since he's paying someone in america not cuba, he's not doing anything
> > > illegal . . .
> >
> > Wrong.
>
> OFAC has issued a bulletin on this sort of situation. OFAC bulletins are
> merely interpretations of the regulations and are only advisory, not
> binding, on a federal court should the matter ever be pushed that far.

OFAC is tasked with writing the regulations and with enforcing them. Their
bulletins are for information purposes and are not the regulations
themselves. Their fines are binding unless taken to a federal court and,
once there, are most likely to be upheld.

> Should the matter ever be pushed that far, it's possible that the ban on
Americans
> spending money in Cuba would be found unconstitutional . . .

The Cuban sanctions were enacted under the Trading With the Enemy Act. I
very seriously doubt that they would be found unconstitutional both because
of the nature of the Act and because if they were going to be found
unconstitutional, they would have been long ago.

> None of the above is legal advice, just tidbits of information pulled
together by
> someone who once looked into the possibility of traveling to Cuba under
the
> existing regulations.

Good disclaimer. It's not all that hard to travel to Cuba legally. It's
just not widely advertised. Right now, however, is probably not a good time
to go. With the elevated risk level, I can't even guess what new and
innovative roadblocks the TSA might impose on those going to or returning
from Cuba.

> Greg understands that once Bush is re-elected, that
> he will have no more use for the pesky Florida Cubans, so he will
capitulate
> to the corporate interests that want to sell American products to Cuba and
> re-open the border.

One can only hope. I have my doubts.

> If Bush is not re-elected, the incoming Democrat will
> punish the Florida Cubans for putting Bush in office the first time and
the
> end result will be the same.

A better all around solution if you ask me. Mark my words. Before the
sanctions can be dropped something will happen to prevent the change. We
were close to change and I was hopeful it would finally come when the
Brothers to the Rescue flew over Cuban airspace, dropped their leaflets and
got shot down over international waters. I am not at all sure that was
entirely coincidence.

Lee

"Lee Bell" <leebell@ix.remove.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:ga8Gb.7035$IM3.5376@newsread3.news.atl.earthl ink.net...

> Good disclaimer. It's not all that hard to travel to Cuba legally. It's
> just not widely advertised. Right now, however, is probably not a good
time
> to go. With the elevated risk level, I can't even guess what new and
> innovative roadblocks the TSA might impose on those going to or returning
> from Cuba.

I do have very good knowledge that travelers who declare they visited Cuba
in their customs declaration forms will be sent off to secondary inspection.

> One can only hope. I have my doubts.

We'll be diving in Libya soon. How can Cuba be too far behind? Castro is a
much nicer guy than Qaddafi.

> A better all around solution if you ask me. Mark my words. Before the
> sanctions can be dropped something will happen to prevent the change. We
> were close to change and I was hopeful it would finally come when the
> Brothers to the Rescue flew over Cuban airspace, dropped their leaflets
and
> got shot down over international waters. I am not at all sure that was
> entirely coincidence.

I know a crafty fed like yourself could figure a way to travel there under
the current regulations. It's gotta be a lot easier than manipulating the
budget to pay for an extra box of paperclips. Can't you make up an evil
villain and claim you need to follow him to Havana? Call him Gregorio and
you can send me there in advance to provide further cover. As your deputy,
I'll be immunized from any OFAC action for my traveling there. All I need
is a plane ticket and cigar money and I'm there.