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Scuba diving in Runaway Bay
Runaway Bay as part of Jamaica's north shore is characterized
by its diversity of diving opportunities. Runaway
dive sites vary from shallow to deep sites making it suitable
for divers of all levels of expertise. There are walls with overhangs,
ledges and drop offs, which are covered, in a large variety of hard
and soft corals.
The marine
life in Runaway Bay is diverse with plenty of barracuda, spotted
eagle rays, lobsters and elephant-ear just to name a few.
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.
Average annual temperature: Between 27°C and 30°C. (80°F
and 86°F)
Visibility often averaging: visibility is 66
to 82 feet (20 to 25 meters) or more
Possible to dive all
year round.
Runaway Bay
dive centers are well equipped and offer a wide array of dive
instruction. Courses from beginner to advanced levels are available.
There are about a dozen dive sites in Runaway Bay and they are conveniently
placed pretty close to the shore requiring a mere 10-20 minutes
boat ride to reach. There is abundant marine life and encounters
with barracuda, spotted eagle rays and southern stingrays as well
as turtles and many other forms of fish life can be expected. Many
kinds of sponges exist here and dolphins have reportedly been spotted
here occasionally.
Some of Runaway Bay dive sites are:
Pear Tree River
is a special site where fresh water is mixed with salt water. It
starts at 50 feet (17 meters) and goes down to 80 feet (27 meters).
It's home to nurse sharks and eagle rays and is recommended for
advanced divers.
Old Pier is best for beginners.
This dive site starts at 40 feet (13 meters) then drops to 150 feet
(50 meters) where you can find beautiful sand eels and sharp tailed
eels.
Grouper's Drop is a site for advanced and
intermediate divers. This dive begins at 70 feet (23 meters) on
a wall and drops to 120 feet (37 meters). It is home to schools
of creole wrasse, barracudas, eagle rays and large turtles.
Pocket's Reef is a dive that starts at 80 feet (26 meters)
then drops to 15 feet (50 meters). It is home to schools of Creole
wrasse, rainbow runners, gorgonian and black coral. It is preferred
to be done with the Reggae Queen dive site.
The Reggae
Queen is a dive for advanced divers. This site is between two
coral beds, which promote the growth of marine life, especially
spotted moray eels, barracudas, flying gumards and dolphins the
summer months.
Rudy's Island is a wall dive site
starts from a large coral island thought the deepest part of the
wall. It is a 10 to 110 feet dive (3 to 36 meters). You can see
large turtles and a rare fish species called Quillfin Blenny.
Sam's Place is a beautiful site with very many overhangs.
It is a wall its depth is between 70 to 150 feet (21 to 50 meters).
King crab and lobsters can be seen there.
Caverns
is beautiful site recommend if you are interesting in seeing home
of nursing sharks s. It is 40 feet under the water where you can
see also large coral heads.
Nursery is a 20-30 feet
(6 to 9 meters) site where you can see large coral heads.
Ganja Planes dive site has the wreckage of two planes that
were used to transport marijuana. They were sunk in this area and
since it has become on of the most popular dive sites. A variety
of under water creatures including barracudas ands large turtles
can be spotted here. The depth of this site ranges from 75 to 150
feet (25 to 50 meters).
Judy's Paradise dive site
is famous for rays, turtles and nurse Sharks.
Ricky's
Reef is at 90 feet (27 meters) deep. It is a great place to
watch gorgonians and lettuce coral.
Spanish Anchor and
Shipwreck Reef and Canyon are sites best for observing sponges,
sea whips and different corals
Silver Spray is a
site for both beginners and advanced divers. It is a beautiful site
favorable for divers, for its variety in sea life. It is at 30 feet
(9 meters) where you can enjoy seeing grunts, blue tangs, soldiers
and squirrelfish.
Three Stone is a site for advanced
divers only. This dive begins at 60 feet (20 meters) and drops to
1500 feet (500 meters) deep.
The Canyon is made
up of two vertical walls that eventually become less than 20 feet
(6 meters) apart. This dive begins at 35 feet (11 meters) and drops
to 130 feet (40 meters) deep.
Johnny’s it
starts at 60 feet (20 meters) and drops off to 120 feet (37 meters)
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