Diving & Snorkeling in Jamaica

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Diving & Snorkeling

Jamaica isn't a major dive destination, but you can find a few rich underwater regions, especially off the north coast. MoBay, known for its wall dives, has Airport Reef at its southwestern edge. The site is known for its coral caves, tunnels, and canyons. The first marine park in Jamaica, the Montego Bay Marine Park, was established to protect the natural resources of the bay; a quick look at the area and it's easy to see the treasures that lie beneath the surface. The north coast is on the edge of the Cayman Trench, so it boasts a wide array of marine life.

With its murkier waters, the southern side of the island isn't as popular for diving, especially near Kingston. Port Royal, which is near the airport, is filled with sunken ships that are home to many different varieties of tropical fish.

Prices on the island range from $45 to $80 for a one-tank dive. All the large resorts have dive shops, and the all-inclusive places sometimes include scuba diving in their rates. To dive, you need to show a certification card, though it's possible to get a small taste of scuba diving and do a shallow dive -- usually from shore -- after taking a one-day resort diving course, which almost every resort with a dive shop offers. A couple of places stand out.

Jamaqua Dive Centre (Club Ambiance, Runaway Bay. 876/973-4845. www.jamaqua.com) is a five-star PADI facility specializing in small dive groups. Along with dives, Jamaqua Dive Centre has a large menu of instructional courses ranging from snorkeling to rescue dive courses. You can also find underwater cameras for rent here. Scuba Jamaica (Half Moon, N. Coast Hwy., Montego Bay. 876/381-1113. www.scuba-jamaica.com) offers serious scuba facilities for dedicated divers. This operator is a PADI and NAUI operation and also offers Nitrox diving and instruction as well as instruction in underwater photography, night diving, and open-water diving. There's a pickup service for the Montego Bay, Runaway Bay, Discovery Bay, and Ocho Rios areas.