Hello all! I'll be going to Swept Away in January, and I'm a very nervous ocean swimmer. Can any of you who have been to Negril tell me about the conditions? Are there waves/undertow? Any jellyfish/stingrays or anything else that might sting or bite me? I've got to decide if I am merely going to enjoy looking at the ocean or if I shall actually enter it!

I've been to Negril in December and hardly ever used the pool since the ocean was perfect for swimming- I'm not a strong swimmer either- very calm and clean and the sand is beautiful. Not sure about jellyfish but didn't notice any.

Thanks for your insights sikomo! I am sooo looking forward to this vacation!

I have been to Swept Away twice and Coco Lapalm more recently. I have never found the beach in Negril to be anything less than perfect - never windy, never an undertow, perfect temperature, never stepped on anything questionable and have never seen a jellyfish there. It is more like a bathtub than the ocean - you can float forever out there and while you will move down the beach with the current, you don't have to worry about getting run over by one of those cursed jet skis because motorized sports are prohibited in front of the resort. When we were there, it was roped off on each end so if you are nervous about free floating on a raft, you can hold on to the rope to keep yourself in place. Beware though - it is so comfortable out there floating or swimming, that it is easy to lose track of time and burn to a crisp. While at Swept Away, we snorkeled twice a day each day and never encountered jellies. There are stingrays to be seen when you snorkle but they are shy and not at all aggressive. You would have to step right on one to be stung and you don't step on anything when you snorkle. It is a great place to try snorkelling because the water is so calm, it is less likely to lap over your snorkel. My teenager snorkeled there for the first time this year and she is hooked. You will love Swept Away and the beach will likely spoil you. We only used the pool there at night.

cartera45 - Wow, sounds like a dream! Five weeks until I can see it for myself! Did you snorkel on their boat trip or from the beach itself? Thanks for all of your input!

BlueDevil,

The beach was GORGEOUS when I was there, but a woman that I became friends with - on her last day there, she got stung pretty badly by a jellyfish on the face. Also, a guy on the snorkeling boat stepped out of the boat and right onto a stingray. I never saw any jellyfish while I was swimming, so stings can't be *too* common. Just be careful.

wow, Catera45 said it perfectly. Negril's 7 mile beach is more like a warm calm swimming pool than a beach. It has a very swallow slope so that you can walk out 40-50 yards. This beach is not only beautiful to look at but irressitably inviting to swim in. That is why I rate it the best beach in the Caribbean bar none.

We went out on the Swept Away boat twice a day. There is not much to see from shore but you could practice there if you have never snorkeled before. We went out everyday - not because we saw different things everyday - but because I just found it so relaxing to float and gaze around. We also got along well with the guy who took us out each day and he really made an effort to take us somewhere a little different everyday. He also accompanied us on the shopping trip into Negril and he helped me find exactly what I wanted. He was there the second year too and really took care of us. He got a big tip those two weeks- secretly of course. Always wear a tee snorkelling though - you can toast your back otherwise. I saw the post above about a jelly encounter - as I have said, I have never encountered them in Jamaica. I'm very surprised someone stepped out of the boat onto a stingray - I guess it was when they returned from the trip but I never saw stingray that close into shore. The water is so clear, I would think you would see where you were stepping When they take you out to the reef to snorkel, you are deep enough that you jump in and you don't touch bottom. They don't want you to stand up near the reef because you will destroy habitat.