Cuba spear fishing

[sherif]

Hi,

I'm planing a trip to Cuba during the end of December, and I would like to get more infos on how does it works there. Are we allowed to bring our spearguns and knifes ? Do we need to get permits? Is there types of fishes that we are not allowed to hunt? Where are the best places to dive and also with low chances of shark encounter ? Do you have any tips or connects for guides over there ? And how was your experience diving in Cuba?

Much thanks

 

[Stephan Whelan]

Moved to Caribbean Forum

 

[Markusfugit]

Hi,

I'm planing a trip to Cuba during the end of December, and I would like to get more infos on how does it works there. Are we allowed to bring our spearguns and knifes ? Do we need to get permits? Is there types of fishes that we are not allowed to hunt? Where are the best places to dive and also with low chances of shark encounter ? Do you have any tips or connects for guides over there ? And how was your experience diving in Cuba?

Much thanks

I've been off this for a bit and just saw this post. I just got back from Cuba and had a bit of an issue in the airport with my spearguns. Let me explain:

When you enter the country, on the airplane, you have to sign a form that asks if you are bringing into Cuba anything sharp, or that is a weapon. I may have glossed over that in the past, thinking that a speargun was not a "weapon" but this time I said YES. A good move? probably, because if they had discovered it and decided that I was untruthful and a potential threat.....I'm not sure what would have happened otherwise, but I think the alternative would have been worse.

Basically, I had my gear gone through with a fine toothed comb, and had to sign documents that guaranteed that I would be exiting Cuba with them rather than leaving them there. It delayed our bus departure to the resort, which made a lot of people unhappy with me, but I was allowed in the country with my spearguns, and there was a bit of a process on leaving, which made me the last person on board the plane on the way home. I have copies of the forms, which may help if you have them filled out in advance? I don't know, as this was a first for me. I think I'll produce the forms on my own and have them prepared in advance for the next time, to avoid the hassle. My wife swears she will never allow me to travel with a speargun to Cuba again, but I think she'll get over it.

 

[sherif]

Hi, thanks for the advice, how ever I just when this Christmas and did not declare my equipements , got passed like a charm, no issues. On the way back however they did delay me because of the led I use as weight but when I showed them that it was for diving they let me go right away. Also because I did not sign a form, I was able to give one of my mini spear guns to a cuban friend over there.

 

[Markusfugit]

Hi, thanks for the advice, how ever I just when this Christmas and did not declare my equipements , got passed like a charm, no issues. On the way back however they did delay me because of the led I use as weight but when I showed them that it was for diving they let me go right away. Also because I did not sign a form, I was able to give one of my mini spear guns to a cuban friend over there.

I totally understand. I took two guns in order to do the same thing; I would just rather be compliant with the law as a guest in a country where my security is "at the pleasure" of what is essentially a totalitarian regime. When things don't go wrong, it's wonderful. When they do, the horror stories are very, very real. I think I'll have the form completed in advance to ease the process. The customs officials were slow and officious, but very polite and professional.