| OFD
Invades Cuba
By Roger Lefebvre
 In
an unprecedented move, the OFD (Old Fart
Divers) based out of Sharky's Scuba Supply
in Ottawa, take to the skies at 7 p.m. on
Feb.24th for a surprise attack on Cuba.
Despite a gruelling four hour flight, the
midnight acquisition and sorting of vouchers,
the 1:00 am bus ride to a hotel in Havana,
the 2:00 a.m. bus ride to a hotel that actually
"has a room" in Havana, the 4:00
a.m. wake up call, another bus ride and
another flight, this elite team armed to
the teeth (and dentures) with expertise
and humour lands on Isla de la Juventud.
The pre-dawn raid catches staff and guests
of the El Colony hotel off guard. "Who
are you?" Tanya the public relations
person asks. As if being taped for a beer
commercial, we respond in unison: "We
are Canadian... We are the OFD...and We're
here to Dive". The interrogation continues
and we laugh! Within two hours we are breathing
at depth.
Isla de la Juventud (Isle of Youth) is
a small island off the southwest coast of
Cuba. Formerly known as Isle of Pines, its
main function from the 19th century to the
revolution in 1959 was as a prison. Both
Jose Marti and Fidel Castro served time
here. These days however, it's the island's
surrounding waters that are attracting attention.
Divers from around the world come here to
explore the deep canals, tunnels, and underwater
valleys. The 56 buoyed dive sites offer
varied diving suitable to all experience
levels. The El Colony hotel, a remote resort
built exclusively for divers, has an on
site recompression chamber and offers 77
large comfortable air conditioned rooms
with bath, shower, satellite tv and a fridge.
All rooms face the ocean to the west. It
only takes one sunset to orient yourself.
 It
is now 8:00 a.m. We check in, organise our
gear, find the restaurant, eat, evaluate
whether or not we're insane to dive after
just two hours sleep, confirm our insanity
and laugh! At 9:00 we gather in the hotel
lobby. Mini buses transport us to the marina
and dive centre.
Puerto Sol is a well stocked shop with
up-to-date gear and several large comfortable
boats. Our arrival hasn't gone unnoticed.
This is Cuba after all. There is a small
military presence and every person boarding
a boat (filled only with enough fuel to
get to the dive area and back) must be accounted
for. We find our boat, meet the captain,
crew and divemasters and we're off...
An hour later, engines quiet, and buoyed
up at our first dive site, we're divided
into groups, given a briefing and asked
to suit up. Although we are the newcomers
and the third group scheduled to enter the
water, it soon becomes evident we've done
this before. As others step over one another
looking for gear and setting up tanks, each
and every member of the OFD is seated, in
full gear, fins in hand waiting to go. For
the the next six days we would never have
to wait again.
I watch as our divemaster disappears into
a fissure in the rock bottom. One by one
we follow down a vertical chimney. At 42
meters we exit onto a wall which continues
to drop another 1000 meters. The contrasting
blues are spectacular. Visibility limitless.
In our combined l263 dives, not one of us
has ever experienced anything like it. One
dive and our trip is already a success.
Fish, beef, chicken, pasta, salad, vegetables,
fruit and more is served buffet style in
the makeshift restaurant at the end of the
pier on a deserted white sandy beach. A
perfect setting next to the dive sites to
enjoy lunch, off gas, and share experiences
with divers from other boats.
Our second dive (as would be the next 12
over five days) is no less spectacular.
By 4:30 we're back at the marina. We rinse
and store our gear and return to the hotel
just in time for "happy hour"
at the pool bar. It's a magical time of
day. We sip on cuba libres, chat with newfound
friends from Brazil, Spain and England,
some of us even try to master new dance
steps. But mostly we laugh. "You laugh
a lot" the Brazilians comment. As the
sun sets and camera click away I wish I
owned stock in Kodak.
Tonight dinner is served in the restaurant
but in days to come we dine by the pool
and even on the beach. There is nightly
entertainment ranging from Tropicana style
shows with scantily clad dancers to fully
clothed fools in the audience participation
events. ( We won't go there!!)
Although the impact of the OFD visit to
Cuba is still not fully known, it is believed
that Cubans, Brazilians and many others
have been infected with 'OFD HUMOUR'. When
Roger shrieks "I hope this isn't mad
cow Brazilian beef" at dinner... the
Brazilians laugh. When communism is temporarily
replaced by a monarchy as Sandra is crowned
queen for an evening... the Cubans laugh.
Jerome's accomplishments as Goodwill Ambassador
are undeniable. Lise, well, suffice to say
she reaches a new low, and Charlie...WELL..Charlie
sleeps.
This is a trip we will remember for a long
time..As our plane taxis down the runway
we plan for next year..2 weeks.. If you're
looking for a dive trip with a difference
join the "Old Fart Divers" next
spring on this Isle of Youth. After all...
SHARING THIS LOVE AND PASSION FOR DIVING
IS THE OFD WAY
On a personal note:
Lise: "Being the novice of the OFD's,
I want to express to my fellow OFD'ers that
this trip was one of the most exciting,
rewarding and self-fulfilling trips that
I've had the pleasure to experience in my
life! I thank you for your patience and
understanding over the past year in giving
me the confidence to continue with this
new found hobby that has become a passion
in my life."
Charlie: "This was the finest diving
I have ever experienced."
Jerome: " Thanks to all at the El
Colony Hotel...You are the best. We'll be
back.
Roger: " Although Cuba has been a
favorite haunt of mine for many years, I
only now discover its diving. In my travels
I have come to realize that no place is
better than another when it comes to diving,
just different. But what Isla de la Juventud
has to offer is special. (I did what on
stage ?) "
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