Diving in jamaica

[Rhys Edwards]

[ray carlisle]

I notice that you have forgotten to put your text on this one. However I have just arranged a holiday to Jamaica with the intention of diving and I would be very interested if you are privy to any of the dive sites or schools etc.
There does not appear to be that much info that I can find regarding wrecks only reefs and as much as I like reefs... well you probably know the rest.

[tony dwyer]

:=I notice that you have forgotten to put your text on this one. However I have just arranged a holiday to Jamaica with the intention of diving and I would be very interested if you are privy to any of the dive sites or schools etc.
There does not appear to be that much info that I can find regarding wrecks only reefs and as much as I like reefs... well you probably know the rest.

I was in Negril two years ago. Did some shore dives at Drumville Cove which were quite nice. Not a lot of fish but did see a Turtle and some Squid. My buddy acquired her own Remora for the duration of one of the dives.

Also did a few boat dives out on the reef off Negril beach. 20 mtrs ish. NO adult fish at all, just juveniles. I suspect that the locals have eaten most of them. I did find some fish traps on the reef. Lots of large barrel sponges about. Found a crashed light plane. Allegedly it had been used for drug running. I have a few pics. Not great as the viz was pretty poor for a coral reef.

I have the name and address of the dive centre somewhere. I'll attempt to find it and post it up for you. They're based at Drumville Cove east of Negril town.

[Alison Boler]

Ray,
You don't say where you are going to be staying and Jamaica is a very big island - it can take a long time to travel from end to end. Anyway, you can dive out of most of the tourist places. Negril is mainly tourist diving, reefs although there are some purposely sunk small wrecks. A cessna plane and a small boat. I've dived around Montego Bay and Discovery Bay and don't remember wrecks there, although the reefs and caves were good - better, I believe, than the diving at Negril, but maybe the marine parks have improved that.
The best diving I remember and that seems to be borne out by what I read was around Port Royal which is at the opposite end of Jamaica from Negril. This was the port once known as the "wickedest place on earth" and there are various wrecks, both historic and more modern off it. There is the Texas which went down in 1944, an American warship, and also two other wrecks of this era. There are also historical wrecks and the remains of old Port Royal which is submerged and the subject of a long archaeological research project.
Coming back towards Ochos Rios there is the Kathryn which is a 140 foot WW2 Canadian minesweeper in 50 feet water.

There are 2 very active BSAC branches on Jamaica - the Jamaica Sub Aqua Club - is one of the oldest branches of the BSAC. Well worth giving them a shout. We went diving with JSAC when we were there some years ago and found them very welcoming and hospitable. They can probably also point you in the direction of some recommended local operators. If you can't find a contact for them in the branch finder - ask at HQ or post a request here on the site for contact. I know they read the forum from time to time.

Hope you enjoy your time there.

Best wishes

Alison

[ray carlisle]

Ray,
You don't say where you are going to be staying and Jamaica is a very big island - it can take a long time to travel from end to end. Anyway, you can dive out of most of the tourist places. Negril is mainly tourist diving, reefs although there are some purposely sunk small wrecks. A cessna plane and a small boat. I've dived around Montego Bay and Discovery Bay and don't remember wrecks there, although the reefs and caves were good - better, I believe, than the diving at Negril, but maybe the marine parks have improved that.
The best diving I remember and that seems to be borne out by what I read was around Port Royal which is at the opposite end of Jamaica from Negril. This was the port once known as the "wickedest place on earth" and there are various wrecks, both historic and more modern off it. There is the Texas which went down in 1944, an American warship, and also two other wrecks of this era. There are also historical wrecks and the remains of old Port Royal which is submerged and the subject of a long archaeological research project.
Coming back towards Ochos Rios there is the Kathryn which is a 140 foot WW2 Canadian minesweeper in 50 feet water.

There are 2 very active BSAC branches on Jamaica - the Jamaica Sub Aqua Club - is one of the oldest branches of the BSAC. Well worth giving them a shout. We went diving with JSAC when we were there some years ago and found them very welcoming and hospitable. They can probably also point you in the direction of some recommended local operators. If you can't find a contact for them in the branch finder - ask at HQ or post a request here on the site for contact. I know they read the forum from time to time.

Hope you enjoy your time there.

Best wishes

Alison

Many thanks for that. I have to admit to forgetting that I had posted this one but it seems to be the best info I have had yet.

Ray Carlisle