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Jamaica Scuba Diving As distinctive as the island’s people and topography is its underwater world… if you’re dismissing Jamaica as a dive destination, you’re missing the boat in more ways than one. The fact is, the Caribbean’s premier vacation spot is also a great place for divers, especially those who appreciate a little action and great scenery topside, too. Divers will enjoy balmy year round weather and warm clear waters averaging 78 to 85 degrees all year. Visibility is usually excellent, averaging 100 feet. Close at hand dive sites and several professional operators contribute to the island’s advantage as a preferred dive destination. And, with the establishment of marine parks in Montego Bay, Port Antonio and Negril, fish populations are flourishing. All are governed by strict international water-sport licensing laws that prescribe equipment and safety standards. Prices include tanks, weights, boat ride and guide, along with the number of dives requested. On average, these prices may range from US$30 to US$60 for single dives, to US$95 to US$400 depending on the dive package chosen. Diving Negril Negril sets the standard for calm, protected warm waters, stretching for seven uninterrupted miles of white beach…making it the perfect place to get started if you’re just beginning or want to become certified. Underwater terrain has excellent patches of spur-and-groove corals including caves and overhangs, as well as "coral cottages" in depths of 60-plus feet. There are several close-to-shore wrecks to explore including two coral-encrusted Cessna planes and a 50-foot tugboat known as the Pete Wreck. Other popular Negril dive sites include: the Throne Room – where, through a crack in the reef you can see coral, sponge, nurse shark and cubera snapper; the Sands Club – where, at 40-80-feet, divers can have close encounters with fish of the very colorful kind, and; Treasure Reef – a great place to see eel, basslets and large star coral heads. Diving Montego Bay Montego Bay is famous for its wall dives. The Airport Reef located at the southwestern edge of the airport is considered by many to be the best site on the island, known for its mass of coral caves, tunnels and canyons. The island’s first Marine Park is located here in "MoBay" to the delight of snorkelers and divers alike. The Bay’s principal attraction is a profusion of sponges in a veritable rainbow of colors. Several dive sites are located within the Park itself. Diving Kingston Kingston is one of the Caribbean's best-kept scuba dive secrets. Port Royal, which abuts the Kingston airport, is rich with history of pirates and sunken ships that now provide haven for a dense array of tropical fish. Some of the best reef development is found in this area, with small cays separated by clear blue water no deeper than 50 feet, surrounded by an outer reef with an 80 feet drop off. Special attractions include the wreck of the lumber ship "Kim & Trader" – plus an actual sunken wall from the pirate city of Port Royal. Diving Ocho Rios to Runaway Bay East of Ocho Rios, Devil’s Reef, a pinnacle, drops from 60 feet to over 200 feet, with a sand shelf at 130 feet. Caverns, a shallow reef about a quarter mile long, has endless small tunnels, with silversides and nurse sharks often in residence. At Runaway Bay the reef is alive with brightly colored schools of tropical fish, grouper, snapper and stingrays. Large green morays, barracuda, sharks and turtles also hang out. An outstanding site here is the Canyon, where two walls start parallel, 20 feet apart in 40 feet of water, and maintains a 30 foot depth, while the bottom slopes down to beyond 130 feet. Between Runaway Bay and Ocho Rios, the wall comes close to shore and drops from 60 feet to more than 3,000 feet as the Cayman Trench nears the shoreline. A popular dive here is the wreck of the Kathryn, a 140-foot-long WWII Canadian minesweeper that is now home to a magnificent array of fish that are fed by hand. Diving Falmouth Starting in 30 to 40 feet of water, the wall off Falmouth runs within a half-mile of shore. Chubb Castle, a Falmouth favorite, starts shallow, its top decorated with soft corals and basket sponges and its wall strung with rope sponges and black corals. A chimney, dropping from 35 to 90 feet, leads to even more tunnels and caves. Diving Port Antonio Walls encrusted with hard and soft coral welcome divers to the pristine waters of Port Antonio, Jamaica’s legendary playground for the rich and famous, a real experience of what they call the ultimate Jamaica holiday. At Alligator Head, advanced divers encounter an array of sponges, corals, tropicals and hawksbill turtles. Trident Wall is another popular site, with a reef not far from shore and an ideal snorkeling location. |
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