|
|
Scuba diving in Montego Bay
Montego Bay also called "Mobay" is one of
the major diving places in Jamaica.
Montego bay diving is composed of a large variety of dive sites
with shallow reefs for beginners to explore coral reef and more
challenging places like the Cayman-Trench Wall and Chubb Reef for
the more experienced diver.
Always dive according to your level of training.
Never enter the water without checking with the local dive center
for safety,
additional information,
level required for each dive site and without being accompanied
by a professional.
All the information provided is purely informative for our readers
and shouldn't be used as is to plan your immersion.
Visibility often averaging: During the summer between 150
feet (45 meters); in the winter, visibility is 40 to 50 feet(12
to 15 meters) or more.
Possible to dive all year round
Montego Bay is Jamaica’s
first marine park promoting underwater life, and is one of the
best places for diving. The Marine Park is famous for it’s
variety of dive sites from shallow spur and grove reefs to vertical
drop-off’s and a few cavern as well. There is abundant marine
life including all colors of sponges and corals. Black coral grows
in Mobay on two sites, Black Coral Alley and Basket Reef which has
it’s name from basket sponges growing there. Following the
growth of tourism in this area the Marine Park and it's dive
sites were expanded to include more dive facilities. Also there
maybe more growth in the next years.
Montego
Bay diving centers offers shallow and deep diving. The shallow
dive range from a depth of 15 to 30 feet (4 to 9 meters), deep dives
from 60 to 100 feet (18 to 30 meters). It is famous for its shallow
reef next to the sharp vertical wall and finger reef sites. Here
you can follow the wall to see various colors of sponges growing
in the area and what makes this place favorable is big gorgonians
and basket sponges surrounded by the beautiful colors of water.
There are also several crevices that you can see in the area which
are filled with various sponges.
Montego Bay is
considered the capital of tourism in Jamaica. It's ideally located
between Negril and Ocho Rios which makes it very easily accessible.
MoBay now offers well established dive shops and well equipped diving
facilities.
The Marine Park is the best place for
diving. It covers a great area of Montego Bay from the airport to
Great River, and offers shallow and deep diving.
Some of Montego Bay dive sites
are:
The Widow Maker is part of Montego Bay marine
park, it is among the most famous dive site in Montego Bay . It
was named after the caves in James Jones novel. This site is a vertical
funnel starting at 60 feet to 90 feet (18 to 27 meters) with a horizontal
tunnel under the Reef descending to 40 feet (12 meters). Home for
many kinds of marine life like blue angel fish and large rock and
its walls are covered with soft corals. This dive is for experienced
divers only. You can start it from the deep part rising to the shallow
part or from the opposite direction.
Airport Reef
is good start for beginners divers for it is shallow finger reef.
In the east of the reef there is an airplane in 50 feet (15 meters)
under the water was sunk for divers.
The Doctor's
Cave Reef is part of Montego Bay marine park it is shallow diving
site appropriate for beginners. It was established to protect the
variety of marine life on the coral reef.
The Point
Reef is a deep site in which you can see many large fish and
enjoy wall diving. It starts at 60 feet (18 meters) ,best for intermediate
and expert divers.
The Arena/Spanish is a shallow
reef dropping down to a sandy bottom and is 50 to 90 feet (15 to
27 meters) deep on the west side of the Marine Park. You can do
this dive as a deep dive or as multilevel dive with pick up in the
next mooring. Both ways you will enjoy the caverns and tunnels.
This site is best for experienced divers.
At a depth of 40 feet (12 meters) there is the Spanish anchor
on the north side of the reef which doesn’t have much growth
on it yet because after it was discovered on the south coast and
then brought to the present location.
To the east at 70 feet (21 meters) deep there is a sand patch on
a shape like an ancient arena, with coral walls on all sides. It
‘s home for furry sea cucumber, upside-down jellyfish and
tobacco fish.
Basket Reef got it’s name from
the giant basket sponges found there. This site starts at 50 feet
to 150 feet (15 to 46 meters) deep. You can find parrotfish, rock
beauties and sometimes turtles and dolphins.
Cayman
Trench Wall is one of the greatest places for diving. The Wall
depth exceeds 1500 feet (457 meters). The site is best for experienced
divers who would like to enjoy soft and hard corals with its wonderful
colors and variety of sizes.
Chubb Reef ,at 40 feet
(12 meters) deep, is where you can explore underwater world and
see Schools of Bermuda Chubbs, Grunt, Snapper and Parrot Fish. |
|
|
Contact us