SteveInMD
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Can anyone recommend a shop in Jamaica to do an OW checkout dive for some friends? They want to go near the end of August.
Checkout Dive in Jamaica?
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Where in Jamaica? It is a big island, with several resort areas offering diving.
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SteveInMD
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We're open to any suggestions on either a resort and or a dive shop. A good dive shop and and dive sites are first priority so I was staring with that. It's a short trip (4 days) so we can't venture too far from the airport. I think the west end is doable.
We've been to Negril five times, dove four of them. We have always stayed at Couples Negril, which has an on-site dive op. I think consensus is, that if you are going to dive Jamaica, Negril offers the better of the alternatives, in terms of reef health and visibility (however I must condition this with the fact that we have only dived in Negril, and I will defer to those who have dived in other locations, or several and can compare). Our experiences with the on-site at Couples (we dove a couple of times with an off-site op) have been very positive, and we are impressed with both the quality of the folks and their operation (notwithstanding the fact that dives are included in the AI).
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SteveInMD
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One diver is a teen, so I adult / couples only places are out. However, Negril sounds like a good way to go if we can find a place that allows children.
There are several resorts along Seven Mile Beach (Negril). Right next door to Couples is a Riu resort, which does allow kids. We checked out their on-site op (Scuba Caribe, I think), as they offer diving to non-guests, and they appeared to be reputable.
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SteveInMD
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We have a few non-divers that want to go to Beaches Negril. I guess we might go that route unless someone has had a bad experience with them. I'm thinking they will be fine for a checkout dive. There is definitely part of me that would rather go to a smaller place with more personal service. Can anyone office advice?
Samsara Cliffs is a laid back "resort" (low-to-mid scale). Has a PADI dive operation right on the "resort" (Amenities at Samsara Cliffs Hotel in Negril), and runs shuttles to the 7-mile beach if you need the sand/crowds (It is associated with Legends Resort on the 7-mile beach). If you want to do anything else, it is a grind of bus/taxi as it is just about the furthest place west you can go. When we were there, the conditions were abysmal, so diving was scrubbed. Got one splash on the house reef.
Diving in Negril is well worth it . Have a good time which ever resort you choose !
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