Photos from Negril Jamaica

[craracer]

I just got back from Negril a few weeks ago. The main purpose of my trip was to attain my rescue diver and master scuba diver certification. Needless to say, it was a grueling vacation and I'm ready for another one.

I didn't have any specialties prior to the trip so I had to do them while on this trip.

Due to the spring breakers I couldn't find a resort to stay at. Lucky for me, the owner of Sundivers hooked me up with a friend who owned a condo. Rose, the owner, charged me $120/day. It was pretty nice and at the resort that Sundivers works out of. Nothing like waking up, eating breakfast, and walking down to the dive shop.

I didn't bring my underwater camera because I knew I would be too busy with the certifications. However, I did take some top-side photos.

I've posted them up on Picasa

Picasa Web Albums - Ben - Jamaica March...

 

[DiverDebbie]

Great pictures. Thanks for sharing. It's nice to see some non-resort photos of Jamaica too. Oh, and that was my kinda pool!

 

[craracer]

I should post some photos of when I stayed at the RIU Negril. The resort was much, much nicer.

 

[Byte Me]

Glad to hear that about Riu negril. My wife and I are going down there for a long weekend in Nov (5 nights). Would love to see the pictures! Anything to watch out for; do; don't miss?

How was Sundivers? They are one of two places I'm considering diving with while there. Any "don't miss" dives?

Thanks for sharing!

BTW: I'm doing rescue the first weekend of May in prep for a trip to Playa. Was that the part that was most grueling for you? I desparately wanted to get underwater again before I go down there and being that WI weather has SUCKED lately I figured, why not do some training and get wet. I've got a bunch of new gear so that will also help me get used to it all before the cenotes and Coz!

 

[craracer]

I will have to post some photos. I've got some fishy photos as well.

I would take a jaunt over to the RUI Tropical Bay (right next door to RIU Negril). Just for comparisons. I think I liked Negril better. It's not as large and it's more quiet. Just FYI~It's quite a long walk by beach or by road.

As far as missing anything??? Yes, you've got to try jerked chicken from one of the roadside guys. They are scattered all over the place so, just step out the front gate and look to either your left or right.

There is a fantastic restaurant you must go to. It's called "Koyaba" (not sure about the spelling). It's not too far from the RIU. Have the front desk call Koyaba for you. Koyaba will pick you up and return you to your resort for free. Just about all of the resorts near Negril know about Koyaba.

Anyway, Koyaba has fantastic, up-scale food. I think it was something like $18 for a lobster dinner that will stuff you to the gills. Don't expect quick service and there might be a wait to get in (well worth it though).

As far as good dives, let me check my dive log tonight and I will give you the lowdown.

Sundivers are good people. So far I've done my AOW, Rescue diver, MSD and my specialties with Myron. He's a good teacher.

Yes, the rescue diver course was grueling. But, that's because Myron made it so. He's a tough instructor.

One day we went out in 3-4Ft waves to do some practice towing/rescue breathing/unconscious diver into boat......
Myron had me treading water (no BCD) and towing him around for 2 hours. No rest. No breaks. I was one tired puppy.

I would consider buying your rescue diver manual before the class. Read it from cover to cover and take the tests. It just takes some of the pressure off of you so you can focus on the physical part of the course.

Where are you staying in Playa? I've been to three of the RIU's in Playa.

 

[craracer]

OK, here's my list. I don't write the best of notes (if at all). I've included the depths according to my log. If I can make one suggestion to people who dive Negril: SLOW DOWN, LOOK AROUND, OBSERVE, LOOK CLOSELY. Life is smaller in Negril. When you do the things I've mentioned, you will see a lot more life.

Deep plane: (130ft or so dive. Small airplane sunk here).
Arches: Spotted Drum. 58ft
Mid-shoal: Lobster, blue shrimp, huge starfish. 33ft
Shark Reef: Excellent place for small fish. I did my fish I.D. here. 37ft

Turtle Drop: Another great place for small fish. 75ft
The Hunt: No comments. 55ft
Throne Room: Great swim-throughs. Swam with 3 dolphins. 64ft
Gallery: Start this dive from the middle of the reef, not from the buoy. This is one of my favorite dives (if started from the middle of reef). Excellent topography, huge barrel sponges, lots of fish/groups of fish. 68ft

Spade Fish Reef: No comments. 86ft
Fish Pond: No comments. 30ft
Sandals Reef: Saw several gold spotted eels in various places. 28ft
Bloody Bay Deep: No comments. 131ft

Kingfish: No comments. 86ft
Shallow Plane: Small Cesna plane sunk. Fairly decent dive. Several varieties of file fish and lots of Azule vases.58ft

 

[Byte Me]

Thanks craracer! We're staying at Riu Palace Riviera Maya in May. We were there in December last year and loved it.

I understand the Riu Tropical Bay is undergoing renovation right now and they're making it in to a Palace. Should be open December 2008. We'll just miss it!

Thanks for the food tips too - even though it's AI we still like to get out once and a while.

I've heard good things about some of those dives, Deep Plane, Arches, Throne Room are on the list for sure. I'll have to add Gallery as well!

Sundivers is the place I'm sure I'll be going with - they're they only ones to respond to my inquires and people here have said great things about them.

Can't wait to see some more pics! Again, thanks for the input! My wife loved the topside pics!!

 

[craracer]

I'm a little confused?? The RIU Palace Rivieria Maya is in Playa del Carmen Mexico??

The two RUI's in Negril are the ClubHotel (which I've stayed at) and RIU Tropical Bay.

I stayed at the Palace (Mexico)(next door to the Riviera Maya) a few years ago. It was, by far, the best place I've ever stayed at. I also stayed at Tequila. Not as nice as the Palace but, nice none the less.

I dropped into the RIU Tropical Bay back in January of this year and it didn't appear that there was any construction going on. (doesn't mean that they aren't working on it now though)

 

[craracer]

Hey: I was looking at Sundivers web site and see that they have descriptions of some of the diving spots. Check it out for more info:

SUNDIVERS NEGRIL JAMAICA

 

[Byte Me]

I'm a little confused?? The RIU Palace Rivieria Maya is in Playa del Carmen Mexico??

The two RUI's in Negril are the ClubHotel (which I've stayed at) and RIU Tropical Bay.

I stayed at the Palace (Mexico)(next door to the Riviera Maya) a few years ago. It was, by far, the best place I've ever stayed at. I also stayed at Tequila. Not as nice as the Palace but, nice none the less.

I dropped into the RIU Tropical Bay back in January of this year and it didn't appear that there was any construction going on. (doesn't mean that they aren't working on it now though)

Oops! Apologies for the confusion - we're going to Playa in May (3 short weeks until my toes are in the sand!!) staying at Riu Palace.

In November my wife and I are heading down to Negril staying at Clubhotel Riu Negril. They aren't taking reservations for Tropical Bay at all because they're converting it to a Palace so that made our choice easy.

We stayed at the Riu Palace RM last December as well. When we checked in they said it was full and we'd have to head down the road to the other Riu Palace location for a night, gave us a free 3 night stay at any Caribbean Riu and upgraded us to ocean view once back at the Palace RM. So we're using that certificate, adding two more nights and heading down to Negril. Using Northwest FF miles as well so the cost of this trip will be quite minimal, that's how we're getting away with two trips this year! We never got over to the Riu Tequila or any of the 3 other Riu properties, no need with the best of them all being where we were staying!

I agree about the Palace RM - great place! We're going with two other couples in May and I've got dives planned with Jason (fantaseadive.com) for Dos Ojos, Coz and some "new" site he's going to. Can't wait!

I did notice that about Sundivers, the trouble with reading about the dives is it really gets me riled up to get underwater again!