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Scuba Diving Jamaica -
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Jamaica has alot going for it - culture, reggae music, beaches, waterfalls, coffee, etc. It is a popular island destination and with good reason. We've had great times on Jamaica and fell in love with the island.
(Check out our interactive maps of Jamaica.)
I am sorry to say, however, that scuba diving Jamaica is another story. The waters around the island have been overfished and many of the sites close to shore are pretty much barren.
Reefs have also taken a heavy hit from both humans and weather. Jamaica is thus not near the top of the list for the best scuba diving destinations.
All is not lost, however. While experienced divers might get bored pretty quickly while scuba diving Jamaica, it is regarded as a pretty good place for beginner divers. And while I wouldn't recommend going to Jamaica solely for scuba diving, if you are going to Jamaica on vacation you might want to it a shot anyway.
Let's face it - it is always good to get underwater. Enjoy the island and the beaches and maybe do a dive or two. Use it as a refresher or a break from all those Red Stripes! As long as you know what to expect, scuba diving Jamaica may be no problem mon. And, as you'll read below, the island is making efforts to restore and protect the reefs and marine life. You might be pleasantly surprised.
Lay of the Land
Jamaica is one of the largest of the Caribbean islands at 4,442 square miles. It ranks in size only behind Cuba and Hispaniola. It measures about 150 mile long by 50 miles wide (at its widest point). Unlike some of the other Caribbean Islands (such as Aruba, Curacao, and the Turks and Caicos), Jamaica is mountainous with over half of the island higher than 1,000 feet. The island's highest point is Blue Mountain Peak at 7,402 feet.
Over 120 rivers run from the central mountain region to the coasts. Rivers on the north side are shorter and run faster than those on the south side. With all these rivers, the island has experienced problems with runoff which can affect water quality on the coasts and your scuba diving Jamaica experience.
The main tourist areas (Ocho Rios, Montego Bay and Negril) and popular beaches are located on the north and west sides of the island. Jamaica has some beautiful beaches and they make for a good vacation spot.
Location
Jamaica is located 90 miles south of Cuba and 600 miles south of Miami. From Miami it is an easy 1 1/2 - 2 hour plane ride to Jamaica. This is a popular destination with tourists and there are lots of direct flights to choose from.
Weather
The average temperature is in the high 70's/low 80's F during the winter months and closer to 90 F during the summertime. Temperatures generally fall about 10 degrees in the nighttime. The mountains, however, can get much cooler with 40 degrees not unheard of. So plan accordingly depending on your itinerary.
Jamaica receives about 80 inches of rainfall per year. It varies considerably over the island, however, with mountainous areas receiving close to 300 inches each year while sections on the western side may get less than 30 inches. The rainiest months are generally May/June and October-December.
Jamaica is in the hurricane belt with hurricane season being June through November. The most active months are typically August and September.
Water Temperatures
The water temperature in Jamaica averages about 78-80 F during the winter and 81-83 in the summer. With these temperatures, a skin should be sufficient for scuba diving Jamaica in the summer. A 3mm shorty should be fine for scuba diving Jamaica during the winter months. If you tend to get cold, you might want to wear a full wetsuit.
Visibility usually averages around 70-100 feet, although days over 100 ft. are not all that uncommon when you are scuba diving Jamaica.
Reefs and Rides
The reef is located close to shore with shallow reefs circling the island. The Cayman Trench is off of the island's north coast so there are lots of wall dives. Diving is mostly done on the north and west coasts, which also happen to be the popular tourist areas.
Negril, on the west coast, is more protected from the wind and currents than Montego Bay and Ocho Rios (both on the north coast). Negril is widely regarded as having better diving than Montego Bay or Ocho Rios. The reefs are in better condition and there is more marine life. Jamaica also has some wreck dives which get good marks.
While many of the dive sites are located close to shore, you are required to go with a guide. Most sites are a short boat ride away.
There tend to be lots of inexperienced and/or "one dive every year or two" divers in Jamaica. If you are more experienced you might want to check with the dive shop ahead of time and get an experienced group together. That way they can take you the more "challenging" sites that may not be suitable for most of the tourists diving in Jamaica.
Jamaica is making efforts to restore the health of its reefs and marine life. The Montego Bay Marine Park was established in 1990 and the Negril Marine Park was officially declared in 1998.
The Montego Bay park encompasses the entire Montego Bay and covers just over 15 sq. km. It extends from the high-tide mark to the 100 metre sea depth. The Negril Marine park covers 160 sq. km. and runs from the high water mark to approximately two miles (3.2 km) out to sea.
Among other regulations, you are no longer allowed to harvest coral and you may not wear gloves in the parks. There are also some fish replenishment zones in the park area. Buoys have been put in place and sea turtles are now protected by law. Scuba diving Jamaica can only benefit from these efforts. Some people say it appears to be working. We'll keep our finger crossed.
Topside
Jamaica has so much going for it topside, I will definitely be going back. There are endless beaches, great music, delicious food, beautiful waterfalls, lush mountains and wonderful people. It definitely makes up for the lackluster diving.
Besides the beaches, which are THE top attracation, Jamaica also has the hugely popular Dunns River Falls. You are allowed to climb up these falls with or without a guide (you know you are not in the US - can't imagine what that insurance would cost). We climbed up without a guide - and that was my downfall. 
The rocks can be slippery with moss and I lost my footing going up one rock. And what happens when you combine moss with a nylon bathing suit? You become a rocket. I went careening down the rocks like a bat out of hell. I saw a tree coming up so I tried to aim toward that. Because the next stop was over a waterfall. There was nothing to grab onto stop my flight so I hoped for the best. Luckily, a friend of mine was coming up behind me and stood in my path. I took him out but he stopped my slide. And neither one of us was hurt. Shaken - but OK. I am forever in his debt. Maybe I should go with a guide the next time?
Other than that, it was beautiful and unique experience!
Here's to a great Jamaican vacation!
Photo credits: bchboy6, Katebeat, Luis Isidoro, beachbum and Laura Dunn-Mark. Thanks
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