Jamaica diving, shore diving, safety

[GO_MNWild@hotmail.com]

Staying in Negril soon and wanted some input from the always good and knowledgeable people here at Scubaboard. It's understood already that Jamaica is not well known for diving, but since I have to be there for a wedding I'm damn sure going to get some diving done.

1. Is it true you can't dive without a DM? even from shore?
2. Anyone know of good shore diving?
3. Lots of warnings about crime and the safety of wandering around, especially at night. Any thoughts/advice from Jamaica visitors?

Thanks ScubaBoard members, you're the best!

 

[ibj40]

Okay, lots of questions:

1. Where are you staying?

After you answer that one, the rest should be a lot easier.

We have stayed at the Couples Negril twice (once in 2003 for our wedding, again in 2008 for our fifth anniversary). Next time we are planning to stay at the Cliffs, but still dive with Sun Divers.

Never really investigated shore diving, but didn't appear that it was really an option.

First time, we dove with the on-site, and while it was okay, it was, well, okay.

Second time, we dove with Sun Divers, and did some of the same dives, but five years made all the difference in the world.

Don't go there with the impression that Jamaican diving is bad by definition. The reefs improved so much between 2003 and 2008 that we can't wait until 2013 (when we will probably dive with Sun Divers again).

With regard to crime and wandering around, if you are in the Negril area, you are either on your resort, or at Rick's, or coming back from your on-island trip, such as YS Falls. We went into downtown Negril on our first trip, and other than a wonderful craft market, it's not really that great. There may be some beach bars along the Seven Mile Beach, I can't remember anywhere that would encourage me to be walking around after dark.

Hope this helps some!

 

[GO_MNWild@hotmail.com]

We're staying at Home Sweet Home Resort in Negril. Thanks for the input so far Texas.

 

[SeaSoulSelf]

Ditto what ibj40 said.

There isn't really any shore diving and you are required to go with a guide. The diving is pretty easy, but we have run in to some current here & there. I have pics in my link if you want to check out the sea life.

As far as crime, most of the resorts have some sort of security.. For more info specifically on HSH, you might also want to check out Negril.com message board. They usually also have the latest on entertainment, concerts, etc...lots of great live reggae in Negril.

I agree that I would not walk around at night. And use only red tagged taxi's.

Oh, and if you are on the beach and vendors approach to sell their wares or services, a pleasant "no thank you" works well (instead of "tomorrow, or "maybe later"). As one of my JA friends says, "Everyone's just trying to make a living".

Have fun!

 

[bkotheimer]

I am going in a month to Montego Bay at the Round Hill Resort. They are telling me that I cannot just grab a tank and shore dive by myself off the dock (on the house reef). I guess that means they are going to force me to dive with their guide, even when shore diving??

They're also telling me the cost is the same for a tank on the dock as it is on the boat. That's seems ridiculous.

 

[Scubadives]

In 2003 I dove in Negril at the couples resort, and tried to at Ochos Rios couples. The brochure stated daily inclusive dive trips so I brought my gear and figured great, and did not research any other paid charters thinking I would be good. First off you have to BEG the staff to take you out, even when its a perfect day, they kept saying not today. I can understand not wanting to take just 1 person out, but there was 5 of us trying to get this done, and we did not go far maybe a mile out. Out of 2 weeks I only got the staff to take us ONE DAY!! Even then I found an old rum bottle, and the guide took it from me and told me it was bad luck and threw it back?

 

[ibj40]

I am going in a month to Montego Bay at the Round Hill Resort. They are telling me that I cannot just grab a tank and shore dive by myself off the dock (on the house reef). I guess that means they are going to force me to dive with their guide, even when shore diving??

They're also telling me the cost is the same for a tank on the dock as it is on the boat. That's seems ridiculous.

One thing that occurs to me is that most of these resorts are not "dive-oriented" resorts, they are more likely catering to the "pool bar", lay in the sun and read a book to cure my hangover from the free booze the night before crowd.

Plus, not shore diving was a pretty easy decision for us, as at Couples Negril, there is no dock.

You wade out to the boat over a very shallow beach shelf, which doesn't get "over-your-head" deep until you are literally tens of yards offshore. Even though there appeared to be close in structure when we dove with Sun Divers, since it wasn't close to our resort, I really never investigated the shore diving opportunities. They might have been there, I just never asked.

 

[Teamcasa]

---

---

A ScubaBoard Staff Message...

Moved here to Greater Antilles..

---

 

[dj10022]

Been to jamaica. stayed at the Breezes Runnaway Bay resort. dove with the resort dive operation, great dives. no issues no beach dives though. Most locals are friendly but you have to be alert and if you want to tour do it in groups, although there isn't much to see in the towns.

 

[GO_MNWild@hotmail.com]

Thanks for the info all- disappointing to hear that we can't go diving on our own though.