Jamaica's Underwater Wonders

Over the years many songwriters have referred toand yellow tube sponges, you may find Spanish
the beauty of this green pearl in the string ofhogfish, smooth and bandtail puffers, and of course the
Caribbean islands, and today it is known throughout theeverpresent damselfish. Golden crinoids are tucked in
world for its lush vegetation, reggae music, rum andbetween star and brain coral, and in the surrounding
coffee. One of the most overlooked attractions is,sandy area sand tilefish hover near their burrows.
however, that part of the island that lies below theKingfish, the Jamaican name for ceros, can be seen
surface of the ocean that surrounds it.Divers typicallypassing by. These silvery fish are generally solitary and
do not think of Jamaica as a prime diving destination,are seen on reefs and drop-offs near deep
except for those who have explored its reefs andwater.RUNAWAY BAY Reggae Queen Depth: 50-60
have found it to be the best destination of all. Whereft (15-18 m) Class: Novice The "Reggae Queen", a
else can you do a breathtaking wall dive in the morning,100-ft tugboat with a wooden hull, was sunk here in
enjoy the sea life on a shallow reef at noon, and haveearly 1993. The wreck lies upright in the sand in
plenty of time left in the afternoon to go river rafting,between two reef reas. Hovering over the wreck is a
horseback riding, play golf, visit a great house or indulgelarge school of blue chromis, bogas and creole wrasse.
in any manner of activities.Jamaica as one of theSouthern stingrays have also been reported cruising
largest islands in the Caribbean has many excellentthe adjacent areas. In the reef you can see clusters of
diving and snorkeling sites: shallow and deep, reefs andyellow tube sponges and green rope sponges
walls, wrecks and caverns, home to all manner of seacovered with tiny zoanthids.Pocket's Reef Depth:
life: spectacular coral, exotic sponges, spiny lobsters,90-120 ft (27-36 m) Class: Advanced A wall at 80 ft
moray eels, sea turtles and multitudes of colorful fish,dropping down to over 200 ft adorned with clusters of
big and small. Below we have selected by regionbright azure vase sponges, elephant ear sponges and
some of the unique diving opportunities available to yoularge red sea fans. Large schools of fish go back and
based on your level of experience.All dives offered byforth, and ceros and bar jacks pass overhead.
commercial operators in Jamaica are guided dives.Rainbow jacks are seen regularly and sometimes you
The dive guides must have, according to regulations, atmay encounter an ocean triggerfish. A shallower reef
least a dive master certificate from an internationallyplateau at 50 ft is home to grunts, goatfish and
recognized association and be licensed by theblackbar soldierfish.OCHO RIOS Jacks Hall Depth:
Jamaica Tourist Board. Although this limits your30-50 ft (9-15 m) Class: Novice This medium-profile
freedom to dive wherever you like, this regulationreef has finger coral, brain coral, star coral, an
increases the safety and fun of diving in an unfamiliaroccasional elkhorn coral on the shallower end, and a
area.The dive classifications employed below werevariety of sponges. Drifting with the current you pass
assigned based on the following principles: Noviceover a section of reef, followed by a sand chute,
divers: Persons who are recently certified, or whoanother reef section and another sand gully and so on.
have done only a limited number of dives withNurse sharks frequent the area and can often be
considerable gaps in between; this could include diversfound napping in the sand.Top of the Mountain Depth:
with as many as 20 dives. Dives in this category will60-80 ft (18-24 m) Class: Intermediate Near Dunn's
tend to be less than 60 ft (18 m) or will not requireRiver Falls, a massive underwater mountain plateau
advanced diving skills. Intermediate divers: Personsrises up from the sandy ocean floor to 60 ft below the
who have been diving on a regular basis but lacksurface. The top of the reef is covered with many
further training beyond certification, also those withdifferent species of soft gorgonians and small coral
advanced training who have not been diving for theheads, consisting of sea rods, sea plumes, sea fans,
past several months. The environment of this categorybrain coral, star coral, and clusters of smooth flower
of dive necessitates greater experience. Advancedcoral. Look out for golden hamlets that frequent this
divers: Persons with training beyond the open waterarea and the rare yellowcheck wrasse. Hiding in the
diver certification that have been diving regularly in thecoral heads are glasseye snappers, graysbys, and
last several months. This requirement will apply to mostsquirrelfish.Snorkeling opportunities abound in Jamaica
sites deeper than 80 ft (24 m) because those divesfor guided tours to areas reachable only by boat or
require a mastery of buoyancy and a thoroughsolo, shore entry reef exploration. Be sure to employ
knowledge of the dive tables. These dives may alsoguides licensed by the Jamaica Tourist Board or if you
be accessible to the less experienced diver after ahave the experience to venture out on your own be
couple of refresher dives.MONTEGO BAY Rose Hallsure to seek local advice on the currents and other
Reef Depth: 20-45 ft (7-14 m) Class: Novice Namedpotential hazards.Excerpted with permission from the
for the famous great house that overlooks the seabook "Diving and Snorkeling Guide to Jamaica" by
just a couple of miles east of Montego Bay, thisHannie and Theo Smit. This book is out of print but
shallow reef is teaming with marine life. At this locationcopies are available for purchase at the Montego Bay
you'll discover "Fairy Castle", a massive colony of pillarMarine Park visitor centre at Pier 1.Montego Bay
coral, and "Fairy Bridge", a coral formation thatMarine Park Covering an area from the airport to the
connects two sections of reef over a sandy "river".Great River west of Montego Bay, officially opened in
The reef forms an intricate system of tunnels that are1992, mooring buoys and boundary markers are
home to squirrelfish, goatfish, porcupinefish, bar jacksmaintained, rangers patrol the area and spear fishing is
and grunts.The Spanish Anchor Depth: 50-90 ft (15-28banned from the park. Training programs exist to
m) Class: Intermediate Located on the west side ofassist displaced fisherman in learning new skills and
the marine park, the shallow reef drops to a sandyfinding alternative employment. A zoning plan
bottom at 50 ft. The site derives its name from theaddresses the impact of various user groups on the
large anchor, undated but of Spanish origin, that restspark. Also, an extensive public education program
on the sandy bottom. Within the reef wall one canseeks to make Montego Bay citizens more aware of
explore tunnels and caverns with abundant spongethe importance of preserving the marine environment.
colonies. Sightings of eagle rays are quite commonThe effect of destructive environmental practices on
here, and in the deeper water large mutton snappers-land, which influences to a great extent the health of
and sometimes a docile nurse sharkmay passthe reefs, is emphasized. For more information, call
by.Widowmaker's Cave Depth: 40-80 ft (12-24 m)(876) 952-5619 or visit the head office and visitor
Class: Advanced A deep dive along a wall with acentre, located at Pier 1. of the Sea Determined to halt
vertical, narrow crack which forms the entrance tothe destruction of the marine environment in the areas
Widowmaker's Cave. Inside the tunnel leading to theof Discovery Bay, Runaway Bay and Ocho Rios this
cave, there is wire coral with, in the beam of your divegroup of concerned citizens seeks to increase public
light, red polyps, and the walls are covered withawareness of this problem through education,
multicolored sponges. On this dive you'll likely encounterwater-quality monitoring and various conservation
schools of silvery blue bogas, glassy sweepers,initiatives. For more information about their activities,
schoolmaster snappers, balloonfish, trumpetfish,you can write to: Friends of the Sea, P.O. Box 327, St.
hamlets, wrasses and parrotfish.NEGRIL The ThroneAnne's Bay.Negril Environmental Protection Area
Room Depth: 40-70 ft (12-21 m) Class: Novice TheCovering over 80 square miles and including the Negril
entrance to the Throne Room, a fairly wide but lowMarine Park and the Great Morass, as well as rain and
cavern, is a crack in the reef about 25 feet long and 8limestone forests, cliffs, caves and blue holes. The
feet wide. The walls on the inside are covered withmarine park includes demarcation of recreational,
colorful sponges and on the bottom near to the exitfishing and replenishment zones with over 150 marker
you can see a large orange elephant ear sponge forand reef mooring buoys, and the program incorporates
which the site is named. Ceros, cruising along over theeducational projects and mariculture projects as well
sandy bottom, are a common sight, as are smallas an alternative to destructive fishing and farming
groups of yellow tail snapper.The Caves Depth: 40-70practices, and a unique reef restoration program using
ft (12-21 m) Class: Intermediate This site is named formineral accretion to create artificial reefs. These
the two caverns, one small and one slightly larger, withefforts are financed by user fees, ecotourism activities,
a narrow tunnel connecting the two. You can find asouvenir sales, donations and environmental levies. For
variety of sponges here along with soft gorgonians. Onmore information, call (809) 957-4472.**for more
the sand flat you will see the usual occupants: furryinformation visit Jamaica's visitor website, the complete
sea cucumbers, stingrays, jacks and some lanesource for travel and tourism information featuring
snappers.Kingfish Point Depth: 80-90 ft (24-27 m)hand-picked deals on vacation packages, hotels, villas,
Class: Advanced Among the elephant ear spongesflights and car rentals**Jam-boree.