| Over the years many songwriters have referred | | | | find Spanish hogfish, smooth and bandtail |
| to the beauty of this green pearl in the | | | | puffers, and of course the everpresent |
| string of Caribbean islands, and today it is | | | | damselfish. Golden crinoids are tucked in |
| known throughout the world for its lush | | | | between star and brain coral, and in the |
| vegetation, reggae music, rum and coffee. One | | | | surrounding sandy area sand tilefish hover |
| of the most overlooked attractions is, | | | | near their burrows. Kingfish, the Jamaican |
| however, that part of the island that lies | | | | name for ceros, can be seen passing by. These |
| below the surface of the ocean that surrounds | | | | silvery fish are generally solitary and are |
| it.Divers typically do not think of Jamaica | | | | seen on reefs and drop-offs near deep |
| as a prime diving destination, except for | | | | water.RUNAWAY BAY Reggae Queen Depth: 50-60 |
| those who have explored its reefs and have | | | | ft (15-18 m) Class: Novice The "Reggae |
| found it to be the best destination of all. | | | | Queen", a 100-ft tugboat with a wooden hull, |
| Where else can you do a breathtaking wall | | | | was sunk here in early 1993. The wreck lies |
| dive in the morning, enjoy the sea life on a | | | | upright in the sand in between two reef reas. |
| shallow reef at noon, and have plenty of time | | | | Hovering over the wreck is a large school of |
| left in the afternoon to go river rafting, | | | | blue chromis, bogas and creole wrasse. |
| horseback riding, play golf, visit a great | | | | Southern stingrays have also been reported |
| house or indulge in any manner of | | | | cruising the adjacent areas. In the reef you |
| activities.Jamaica as one of the largest | | | | can see clusters of yellow tube sponges and |
| islands in the Caribbean has many excellent | | | | green rope sponges covered with tiny |
| diving and snorkeling sites: shallow and | | | | zoanthids.Pocket's Reef Depth: 90-120 ft |
| deep, reefs and walls, wrecks and caverns, | | | | (27-36 m) Class: Advanced A wall at 80 ft |
| home to all manner of sea life: spectacular | | | | dropping down to over 200 ft adorned with |
| coral, exotic sponges, spiny lobsters, moray | | | | clusters of bright azure vase sponges, |
| eels, sea turtles and multitudes of colorful | | | | elephant ear sponges and large red sea fans. |
| fish, big and small. Below we have selected | | | | Large schools of fish go back and forth, and |
| by region some of the unique diving | | | | ceros and bar jacks pass overhead. Rainbow |
| opportunities available to you based on your | | | | jacks are seen regularly and sometimes you |
| level of experience.All dives offered by | | | | may encounter an ocean triggerfish. A |
| commercial operators in Jamaica are guided | | | | shallower reef plateau at 50 ft is home to |
| dives. The dive guides must have, according | | | | grunts, goatfish and blackbar |
| to regulations, at least a dive master | | | | soldierfish.OCHO RIOS Jacks Hall Depth: 30-50 |
| certificate from an internationally | | | | ft (9-15 m) Class: Novice This medium-profile |
| recognized association and be licensed by the | | | | reef has finger coral, brain coral, star |
| Jamaica Tourist Board. Although this limits | | | | coral, an occasional elkhorn coral on the |
| your freedom to dive wherever you like, this | | | | shallower end, and a variety of sponges. |
| regulation increases the safety and fun of | | | | Drifting with the current you pass over a |
| diving in an unfamiliar area.The dive | | | | section of reef, followed by a sand chute, |
| classifications employed below were assigned | | | | another reef section and another sand gully |
| based on the following principles: Novice | | | | and so on. Nurse sharks frequent the area and |
| divers: Persons who are recently certified, | | | | can often be found napping in the sand.Top of |
| or who have done only a limited number of | | | | the Mountain Depth: 60-80 ft (18-24 m) Class: |
| dives with considerable gaps in between; this | | | | Intermediate Near Dunn's River Falls, a |
| could include divers with as many as 20 | | | | massive underwater mountain plateau rises up |
| dives. Dives in this category will tend to be | | | | from the sandy ocean floor to 60 ft below the |
| less than 60 ft (18 m) or will not require | | | | surface. The top of the reef is covered with |
| advanced diving skills. Intermediate divers: | | | | many different species of soft gorgonians and |
| Persons who have been diving on a regular | | | | small coral heads, consisting of sea rods, |
| basis but lack further training beyond | | | | sea plumes, sea fans, brain coral, star |
| certification, also those with advanced | | | | coral, and clusters of smooth flower coral. |
| training who have not been diving for the | | | | Look out for golden hamlets that frequent |
| past several months. The environment of this | | | | this area and the rare yellowcheck wrasse. |
| category of dive necessitates greater | | | | Hiding in the coral heads are glasseye |
| experience. Advanced divers: Persons with | | | | snappers, graysbys, and |
| training beyond the open water diver | | | | squirrelfish.Snorkeling opportunities abound |
| certification that have been diving regularly | | | | in Jamaica for guided tours to areas |
| in the last several months. This requirement | | | | reachable only by boat or solo, shore entry |
| will apply to most sites deeper than 80 ft | | | | reef exploration. Be sure to employ guides |
| (24 m) because those dives require a mastery | | | | licensed by the Jamaica Tourist Board or if |
| of buoyancy and a thorough knowledge of the | | | | you have the experience to venture out on |
| dive tables. These dives may also be | | | | your own be sure to seek local advice on the |
| accessible to the less experienced diver | | | | currents and other potential |
| after a couple of refresher dives.MONTEGO BAY | | | | hazards.Excerpted with permission from the |
| Rose Hall Reef Depth: 20-45 ft (7-14 m) | | | | book "Diving and Snorkeling Guide to Jamaica" |
| Class: Novice Named for the famous great | | | | by Hannie and Theo Smit. This book is out of |
| house that overlooks the sea just a couple of | | | | print but copies are available for purchase |
| miles east of Montego Bay, this shallow reef | | | | at the Montego Bay Marine Park visitor centre |
| is teaming with marine life. At this location | | | | at Pier 1.Montego Bay Marine Park Covering an |
| you'll discover "Fairy Castle", a massive | | | | area from the airport to the Great River west |
| colony of pillar coral, and "Fairy Bridge", a | | | | of Montego Bay, officially opened in 1992, |
| coral formation that connects two sections of | | | | mooring buoys and boundary markers are |
| reef over a sandy "river". The reef forms an | | | | maintained, rangers patrol the area and spear |
| intricate system of tunnels that are home to | | | | fishing is banned from the park. Training |
| squirrelfish, goatfish, porcupinefish, bar | | | | programs exist to assist displaced fisherman |
| jacks and grunts.The Spanish Anchor Depth: | | | | in learning new skills and finding |
| 50-90 ft (15-28 m) Class: Intermediate | | | | alternative employment. A zoning plan |
| Located on the west side of the marine park, | | | | addresses the impact of various user groups |
| the shallow reef drops to a sandy bottom at | | | | on the park. Also, an extensive public |
| 50 ft. The site derives its name from the | | | | education program seeks to make Montego Bay |
| large anchor, undated but of Spanish origin, | | | | citizens more aware of the importance of |
| that rests on the sandy bottom. Within the | | | | preserving the marine environment. The effect |
| reef wall one can explore tunnels and caverns | | | | of destructive environmental practices on |
| with abundant sponge colonies. Sightings of | | | | land, which influences to a great extent the |
| eagle rays are quite common here, and in the | | | | health of the reefs, is emphasized. For more |
| deeper water large mutton snappers- and | | | | information, call (876) 952-5619 or visit the |
| sometimes a docile nurse sharkmay pass | | | | head office and visitor centre, located at |
| by.Widowmaker's Cave Depth: 40-80 ft (12-24 | | | | Pier 1. of the Sea Determined to halt the |
| m) Class: Advanced A deep dive along a wall | | | | destruction of the marine environment in the |
| with a vertical, narrow crack which forms the | | | | areas of Discovery Bay, Runaway Bay and Ocho |
| entrance to Widowmaker's Cave. Inside the | | | | Rios this group of concerned citizens seeks |
| tunnel leading to the cave, there is wire | | | | to increase public awareness of this problem |
| coral with, in the beam of your dive light, | | | | through education, water-quality monitoring |
| red polyps, and the walls are covered with | | | | and various conservation initiatives. For |
| multicolored sponges. On this dive you'll | | | | more information about their activities, you |
| likely encounter schools of silvery blue | | | | can write to: Friends of the Sea, P.O. Box |
| bogas, glassy sweepers, schoolmaster | | | | 327, St. Anne's Bay.Negril Environmental |
| snappers, balloonfish, trumpetfish, hamlets, | | | | Protection Area Covering over 80 square miles |
| wrasses and parrotfish.NEGRIL The Throne Room | | | | and including the Negril Marine Park and the |
| Depth: 40-70 ft (12-21 m) Class: Novice The | | | | Great Morass, as well as rain and limestone |
| entrance to the Throne Room, a fairly wide | | | | forests, cliffs, caves and blue holes. The |
| but low cavern, is a crack in the reef about | | | | marine park includes demarcation of |
| 25 feet long and 8 feet wide. The walls on | | | | recreational, fishing and replenishment zones |
| the inside are covered with colorful sponges | | | | with over 150 marker and reef mooring buoys, |
| and on the bottom near to the exit you can | | | | and the program incorporates educational |
| see a large orange elephant ear sponge for | | | | projects and mariculture projects as well as |
| which the site is named. Ceros, cruising | | | | an alternative to destructive fishing and |
| along over the sandy bottom, are a common | | | | farming practices, and a unique reef |
| sight, as are small groups of yellow tail | | | | restoration program using mineral accretion |
| snapper.The Caves Depth: 40-70 ft (12-21 m) | | | | to create artificial reefs. These efforts are |
| Class: Intermediate This site is named for | | | | financed by user fees, ecotourism activities, |
| the two caverns, one small and one slightly | | | | souvenir sales, donations and environmental |
| larger, with a narrow tunnel connecting the | | | | levies. For more information, call (809) |
| two. You can find a variety of sponges here | | | | 957-4472.**for more information visit |
| along with soft gorgonians. On the sand flat | | | | Jamaica's visitor website, the complete |
| you will see the usual occupants: furry sea | | | | source for travel and tourism information |
| cucumbers, stingrays, jacks and some lane | | | | featuring hand-picked deals on vacation |
| snappers.Kingfish Point Depth: 80-90 ft | | | | packages, hotels, villas, flights and car |
| (24-27 m) Class: Advanced Among the elephant | | | | rentals**Jam-boree. |
| ear sponges and yellow tube sponges, you may | | | | |