Jamaica has greater than 100 dive websites. The finest ones will rely in your diving expertise and pursuits. Beneath is an inventory of the perfect dive websites in Jamaica for divers of various talent ranges and what you possibly can count on to see on a dive.
Not an authorized diver but? Right here’s why Jamaica is among the finest locations to be taught to scuba dive within the Caribbean.
Does Jamaica Have Good Scuba Diving?
Jamaica has calm, heat water and good visibility year-round. Its underwater points of interest embody: wrecks, caverns, uncommon coral formations and loads of tropical fish.
You will have heard the diving in Jamaica isn’t excellent. However earlier than you strike it out of your listing, ask the particular person with a detrimental opinion of Jamaica once they final visited.
For the reason that early Nineties, Jamaica has been working onerous to revive its underwater surroundings. Montego Bay was Jamaica’s first marine park, established in 1992. At present, Jamaica has greater than 30 Marine Protected Areas, Fish Sanctuaries and different conservation websites. In accordance with Scuba Diving journal, “Jamaica is now thought of an up-and-coming dive vacation spot. Earlier than the worldwide dive group absolutely catches on, those that dive right here can [enjoy] Jamaica’s underwater magnificence with fewer crowds.”
One other article value studying is: Is Diving in Jamaica Price It?, written by PADI Divemaster and world traveller Alexandra Baackes.
Lastly, by selecting to scuba dive in Jamaica, you’re casting a vote for the continued preservation of its underwater surroundings. Divers actually do get to see essentially the most genuine a part of Jamaica.
The Greatest Dive Websites in Jamaica
With out additional ado, let’s dive into a few of the most-loved dive websites in Jamaica.
The Throne Room
Really helpful for: Newbie Divers and Above
Many think about The Throne Room to be Jamaica’s finest dive web site general. It’s accessible for novices, but it surely additionally has a cavern for superior divers to discover. The cavern entrance is at 12 meters/40 ft, and the exit is at 21 meters/70 ft.
The Throne Room will get its identify from a throne-shaped sponge, one among many attention-grabbing coral formations at this regal dive web site. Count on to see an abundance of marine life, together with stingrays, barracuda, snappers, eels and octopuses. Nurse sharks and dolphins have been recognized to make an look, too.
SS Kathryn Wreck (The Catherine/Kathryn Caverns)
Really helpful for: Superior Open Water Divers and Above
The SS Kathryn and close by Kathryn Caverns provide you with two kinds of diving at one dive web site, making it probably the greatest dives in Ocho Rios — for skilled divers. The SS Kathryn is a 37 meter/120 foot WWII minesweeper purpose-sun within the Nineteen Fifties to create a synthetic reef. Skilled divers can enterprise contained in the wheelhouse, or just discover the outside. Search for stingrays within the sand or poke round within the caverns. On this dive web site, you’re prone to see stingrays, lobsters, eels and nurse sharks.
The Arches and The Caves
Really helpful for: Superior Divers
One other two-in-one dive web site is The Arches and The Caves. The Arches has a number of rock formations to swim below and wonderful visibility for picture ops. Divers with good buoyancy can discover The Caves (really caverns). Search for nurse sharks, stingrays, black coral and faculties of colourful fish.
The Wreck and Airplane Deep
The Wreck: Okay for Newbie Divers
Airplane Deep: Superior Divers Solely
There are two aircraft wrecks in Jamaica. The shallower wreck is at 18 meters/60 ft in Montego Bay at a dive web site referred to as “The Wreck.” Newbie divers can view The Wreck, however Airplane Deep is for skilled divers solely.
The Sunken Metropolis of Port Royal
Really helpful for: Superior Divers
Within the seventeenth century, Port Royal was one of many largest cities within the Caribbean, however an earthquake in 1692 sunk two-thirds of the town. At present, divers with particular permission can discover the surprisingly well-preserved ruins. In case you join with an authorised dive operator, all it’s important to do is e-book the dive, they’ll deal with the permits. There are additionally a number of shallow shipwrecks close by.
Shock Reef
Really helpful for: Newbie Divers and Above
Shock Reef is among the finest dive websites in Jamaica to see turtles. Its shallow depth (max 15 meters/49 ft) and crystal-clear waters make it a great spot for brand spanking new divers, with loads for skilled divers, too. Divers with good buoyancy can discover swim-throughs and crevices – the place lobsters and nurse sharks can typically be discovered.
Alligator Reef
Really helpful for: Newbie Divers and Above
Alligator Reef is definitely 5 distinct dive websites, every providing a novel expertise. From shallow and simple to deeper and more difficult, there’s one thing for each diver. This intensive reef system is famend for its vibrant coral and ample marine life, making it a favourite spot for underwater exploration.
Widowmaker’s Cave
Really helpful for: Skilled Divers With Glorious Buoyancy
Regardless of its ominous identify, Widowmaker’s Cave is extra of a cavern and the identify comes from a James Bond novel (writer Ian Fleming had a home in Jamaica). Divers can entry the cavern from the highest (10.5 meters/35 ft) or from the underside (24 meters/80 ft). Glorious underwater buoyancy is a should. New or inexperienced divers ought to keep away from this dive web site because of the depth and slender passages.
Center Shoal Reef
Really helpful for: Newbie Divers and Above
Clear visibility and the number of areas to discover make Center Shoal Reef an amazing selection for divers of all ranges. Shallow coral gardens (with a max depth of 10 meters/30 ft) are house to lobsters, starfish, stingrays and plenty of colourful reef fish. Superior divers can enterprise right down to 27 meters/90 ft and discover a deeper reef the place there’s additionally a aircraft wreck.
Maize Reef
Really helpful for: Newbie Divers and Above
Maize Reef is a beginner-friendly dive web site and enjoyable for skilled divers as effectively. As you might have guessed from the identify, the reef construction is a “maze” of sand channels. The max depth is about 10 meters/35 ft, so you possibly can take your time exploring in and across the reef. However don’t neglect to maintain an eye fixed out for eagle rays cruising by overhead and stingrays within the sand.
English Reef
Really helpful for: Superior Divers
This beautiful dive web site is visited much less typically — you may not even discover it on a map of dive websites in Jamaica. Due to its depth, English Reef is really useful for divers with an Superior Open Water Diver certification or Deep Diver certification.
The reef begins at about 20 meters/65 ft and extends right down to 30 meters/100 ft. Count on to see quite a lot of fish you received’t spot elsewhere, wholesome coral and larger marine life, comparable to barracuda and turtles.
Satan’s Reef
Really helpful for: Superior Divers
Much like English Reef above, Satan’s Reef is really useful for divers with deep diving expertise and certifications. The reef slopes gently down to twenty meters/65 ft. Then there’s a steep drop-off to a sandy backside at 40 meters/130 ft. Count on to see faculties of colourful fish, sea slugs, moray eels, and presumably turtles and nurse sharks.
Easy methods to Discover the Greatest Dive Websites in Jamaica
Jamaica is the third-largest island within the Caribbean. In case you favor quick boat rides, think about staying in Negril, Ocho Rios or Montego Bay (aka MoBay). These are three of Jamaica’s oldest marine protected areas with lots of the finest dive websites.
Contact a PADI Dive Store in Jamaica to search out out what dive websites they suggest. You may also ask about evening diving alternatives, scuba diving for teenagers and extra.
Go Deeper
