PADI Undersea Journal....

JAMAICA:  WE BE DIVIN’MON
THE PADI PROFESSIONAL'S GUIDE TO DIVING JAMAICA

Everything you need to know to book travel or to
lead a group to this spectacular dive destination.

JAMAICA AT A GLANCE

The thing divers--and many dive groups--love about Jamaica is that the Caribbean island combines great diving with unique topside activities that have drawn visitors to Jamaica for decades. It’s an ideal combination for a dive vacation!

Many dive destinations in the Caribbean have developed their tourism efforts specifically around divers. However, Jamaican tourism has blossomed based on great resorts and incredible culture.

Conveniently located just two hours south of the United States and right on the edge of the Cayman Trench, Jamaica is an island for explorers who keep coming back for more below and above the surface. Whether it's a post-dive day on the beach, an incredible hike in the beautiful Blue Mountains, or mingling with the friendly locals over some lip-burning and mouth-watering jerk pork, cold Red Stripe beer, and reggae music, Jamaica is well worth deep exploration.

Originally inhabited by the Arawak Indians and later “discovered” by Christopher Columbus in 1494, Jamaica was ruled by the Spanish and then the British, before gaining independence in 1962.

Roughly the size of Connecticut, Jamaica is the Caribbean’s third largest island. It is very mountainous and almost half the island is 300 metres/1,000 feet or more above sea level. At 2221 metres/7,402 feet, Blue Mountain Peak (of coffee fame) is the highest point. The mountains run down to a narrow coastal plain, with more than 150 rivers, lots of waterfalls, and a dramatic coastline the result.

The island has six main resort areas: Kingston, Jamaica’s cosmopolitan capital; Montego Bay (home to Great Houses, beaches, watersports, river rafting, and more); Negril, where no building is allowed to be taller than the tallest palm tree; Ocho Rios, breath-taking waterfalls and stunning gardens; Port Antonio, an historic hideaway once again gaining prominence; and the South Coast, for more adventurous travelers.

Jamaica has about 2.5 million residents, with about one million of those residing in or around Kingston. English and the pretty Jamaican “patois” are the main languages. Most major airlines now serve Jamaica with a wide range of numerous direct flights.

Along with the friendly people, Jamaica’s culture and food are also major attractions. “Jerk” seasoning for pork, chicken, and fish are extremely popular with both locals and visitors. On the cultural front, Jamaica’s pop music--reggae--is now known and loved around the world. But diving is becoming as important to some visitors as jerk and reggae!

The diving in Jamaica is better than ever. Over the years, the ravages of hurricanes and occasionally poor reef management have taken their toll on Jamaica. The island is still recovering, but many steps--like buoys for anchoring and lots of care and training--are being taken to improve the conditions. Another example includes the ban on the sale of all black coral extended to include white coral. Sea turtles are also protected by law.

One of the most active organizations in reef and diving improvement is the Jamaica Association of Dive Operators. Along with governmental agencies, they have adopted many rules to protect the reefs and make diving more enjoyable.

OVERVIEW OF JAMAICA DIVING

Most of the diving occurs along the northern shore, just off the gorgeous white sand beaches and some great resorts. Many of the sites are close-by and still relatively unexplored. Plus, most dive sites are uncrowded (and generally only visited by small dive boats).

Conditions can be quite good (though not always). Warm air and water temperatures make for pleasant diving year-round. Along with most of the diving being close to shore, many of the dives are relatively shallow.

Furthest west, Negril offers some of the calmest (and clearest) diving anywhere, with many caverns and caves. Fish are abundant within Negril’s Marine Park (as are moorings), with large sponges and gorgonians the norm. Nurse sharks can often be seen resting under the numerous overhangs. Like much of the north coast, conservation efforts are paying off big-time in Negril--fish populations are way up (and colorful).

The Throne Room should be on every diver's wish list, with a 12 metre/40-foot-wide cavern at 20 metres/65 feet, filled with giant yellow sponges reaching all the way to the floor of the cavern. There are also several wrecks, including Cessna planes and a tugboat called the Pete Wreck that sits upright at about 27 metres/90 feet. Other popular sites include Sands Club, Treasure Reef, Rock Cliff Reef with Millie the moray; Sharks Reef (as in nurse sharks); and The Arch, with lots of well-photographed red sponges. As with much of the north coast, excellent resorts and outstanding PADI dive facilities make this underwater part of Jamaican exploration easy.

The Montego Bay area (just call it MoBay) is probably the busiest part of the island for divers. MoBay's diving attractions include a pilot program of the Protected Areas Resource Conservation Project (PARC) and the island’s first Marine Park.

The Montego Bay Marine Park was established in May 1990 to preserve and manage Montego Bay's marine resources for the benefit and enjoyment of all its visitors. The park encompasses an area stretching from the Donald Sangster International Airport to the Great River, including all of the major reef tracts in Montego Bay.

The most famous of MoBay's dive outings is Widowmaker's Cave. Divers enter the cave at about 24 metres/80 feet and enjoy a pretty rise through the cave to a chimney 3 metres/10 feet wide and an exit about 11 metres/35 feet below the surface. It's worth several return trips, if possible. Many other great MoBay sites, like Airport Reef, feature lots of caves, coral, and fish. As with much of the north coast, snorkeling in the MoBay area can also be quite good!

Falmouth is less popular, but has some great diving. Top sites like Chub Castle are known for coral, gorgonians, sponges, and the namesake Bermuda chub.

Further east is the Discovery Bay Marine Laboratory of the West Indies, which is one of the largest reef ecology labs in the world. One of two of the island’s recompression chambers is located here (the other is down in Port Royal). It's a great north coast outing for any interested diver.

West of Ocho Rios (just call it Ochi), Runaway Bay offers some of the island's best diving. Most of it is wonderfully close to shore. Try Shipwreck Reef (the sponges are great for photographers); Canyon (a pair of parallel walls of large tube sponges, sea whips, and plate coral); and Ricky's Reef at 27 metres/90 feet, with lots of gorgonians and large lettuce coral. Silver Spray is one of the most popular shallow night dives. Divers will find lots of fish, as well as possibilities of sharks, turtles, green morays and much more.

Jamaica’s wall comes very near the island between Runaway Bay and Ochi, making for many excellent drop-offs, an interesting wreck dive, and much more. In this area, the wall drops from 18 metres/60 feet to more than 3,000 feet up close to the coastline.

One of Ochi's great dive sites is the Kathryn, a 42 metre/140 foot former Canadian minesweeper sunk as an artificial reef by Fantasy Divers. The Kathryn lies just off the coast of St. Mary, about a kilometre/mile east of the mouth of the White River and has developed into a nice marine garden. The dive site was created to preserve and build coral reefs, build a habitat for fish breeding, and protect the beautiful beach. The ship was acquired many years ago and used as a cargo vessel and "mother" fishing boat. It was acquired by Fantasy Divers when it fell into disrepair. The project was undertaken with the cooperation of the Natural Resources Conservation Division, the Fisheries Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Port Authority.

Along the history-steeped south coast, adventurers will find Port Royal's sunken city, devastated after the earthquake of 1692 (just outside Jamaica's capital, Kingston). For now, Trident Wall, Kingston Cay, and Texas Wreck all offer south coast diving options (which are continuing to develop in quality and quantity). Snorkeling can also be quite good off southern Jamaica.

Jamaica is a great destination for pursuing many specialty dives, as well as an array of specialty courses for individuals and dive groups, such as PADI's Advanced Open Water diver course and specialty courses like Night Diver, Wreck Diver, and more. If you're planning a trip to Jamaica, contact your friendly, knowledgeable PADI colleagues on the island to help you choose the most appropriate dives for your group from the wide array of specialty options!

ON LAND

Recent resort developments on the island--including an incredible selection of all-inclusive properties and the availability of many affordable villas--have made exploration even easier. The staff at almost any resort can help arrange an interesting topside outing.

The reports concerning crime and the hassles of Jamaican travel are basically a thing of the past. There are still occasional problems, but it's hardly different from most other Caribbean islands or American cities. Just like in diving, common sense and caution should prevail when traveling.

Some of the best ideas include heading into the heart of the Blue Mountains and enjoying some of the world’s best coffee while you're there, finding some real reggae, eating jerk at a small stand with locals and washing down with Red Stripe, playing a round of golf, climbing famed Dunn’s River Falls, rafting the Rio Grande, or just hiring a local guide (it's best done through the resort) for a full day to drive you to some of his or her favorite spots. In addition, those who take the time to explore Kingston and the rest of the south coast are almost always glad they did--it’s a completely different side of Jamaica far removed from the north coast resorts.

The natural scene on land is as interesting as in the water, with lots of native and migratory birds and a variety of other flora and fauna, plus activities like hiking, mountain biking, and more. Visiting divers should try to spot the “doctor" bird, whose long-tailed profile is the logo of the national airline, Air Jamaica. Of course, a variety of watersports provides more topside fun.

Jamaica’s people are made up of a spectrum of races that bespeak the island’s heritage. The vast majority of residents are Christian, but there are communities of Jews, Hindus, and Moslems. Rastafarianism commands a large following.

Jamaicans of every description are friendly, funny, opinionated, talented, and always impossible to forget. National pride is specific: beating the English at cricket; winning gold medals in the Olympics; successful family members; a new house; thriving businesses; and the ability to survive!

On both land and sea, the Jamaica sense of humor is legendary. It is definitely dry and understated, simultaneously subtle and direct. From dive staff to a local taxi driver, visiting divers are sure to enjoy a few fun jokes during their stay.

Jamaicans speak English, but with their own musical lilt and unique sentence patterns. To visiting divers, this patois may seem almost incomprehensible at first--but the rhythms are soon easy to follow, enjoy, and sometimes copy, mon!

A great way to explore the island more intimately is with Jamaica's excellent "Meet the People" program. Through an arrangement with the Jamaica Tourist Board, visitors are put in touch with like-minded locals who want to show off their country in a personal way. Possibilities include a round of golf, joining a family for church and a meal, enjoying a local cultural event, or maybe even a dive.

The options are almost endless and it's just a matter of asking about the program at the front desk of any hotel or contacting the Jamaica Tourist Board before departure. It's a uniquely Jamaican cultural experience.

The lyrics to one of reggae-great Bob Marley's songs ask, "I wanna' know now. Is it love, is it love, that I'm feeling?" It's definitely love visiting divers will feel when they come to Jamaica!