Jamaica - Negril - Sandals

[Ed Hatfield]

I am looking for some opinions from divers with first hand experience in diving with the Sandals resort at Negril. I have been diving a couple of years (AOW, Rescue, Nitrox, some TDI certs as well - 100 dives). Should I look off resort for my diving 'FIX'. I will be there for two weeks, Dec 30th to Jan 13th, and hope to 2-tank boat dive most days (depending on the hang-over New Years day).
I realize this topic may have been flogged to death in the past but I am having trouble finding current opinions. I would also invite recommendations for off-resort Dive Ops because 'It's all about the diving' and I want the 'Best diving the area has to offer'.

[Willar]

I have NOT dived with Sandals but I have been diving Negril for several years. The diving there is very easy, very calm, very good viz, but not big on fish life. I really enjoy it but I don't think it will make you say "WOW!" I do see plenty of turtles, bugs, squid, and rays.

I hear Sandals runs their dive op like most all-inclusive resorts that happen to offer diving: very safe, dive by tables, not by air consumption or computer deco limits, guided in small groups. Limit is 2 dives per day. The boats look nice, but you may get a little bored with their dive limits. It really is designed for the occassional diver, not the experienced diver.

If you want more diving, or more personalized diving, go see Myron and Emily at SunDivers just down the road at Point Village Resort. They are an independant dive op that will give you great service with a huge smile! Really nice people and very safe attitude. They cannot pick you up at Sandals (due to Sandals rules) but a cab ride is about $5 and they can return you to the resort. They will take you to better sites that Sandals won't and you'll get as much dive time as you can safely handle. SUNDIVERS NEGRIL JAMAICA (http://www.sundiversnegril.com)

Do a seach for Negril on this board and you will find more info. Any other questions, just give me a shout. Have fun blowing bubbles!

[ReefHugger]

The Sandals and Beaches (family orientated) brands are owned by the same concern. They use to be a program where you can switch to any of the hotels within the chain. Don't know about switching inter brand. Sandals has some 4 or 5 other locations. Maybe, this has some appeal for you - enquire. This way, you could also see more of the island.

The north coast of Jamaica is typically more wall diving.

[Belmont]

Hi Ed,

I'll be there dec 22 to 27.

Sheesh, missed opportunity to dive with a fellow Scubaboarder :(

I was there last may, the dive team is very friendly.
Make sure you show up at 8 am when they open the dive hut, you register and on the first day they will let you do only the second dive, the "shallow" one to evaluate your skills.

On the morning dives after that you stand a chance to go deeper than the posted 60 ft max rule.

You will be staying two weeks and be able to build a good relation with the team and don't be affraid to ask them for dives to some better less visited sites.

They also offer a night dive at an extra cost, they need a minimum of divers for that. I sold the idea to the other divers and promoted the dive to be sure we would meet the minimum.

This time I will be spending 5 days in Sandals Negril and 5 days in Sandals Royal Carribean in MoBay. The change of venue makes fo a break in the routine and offers a better variety of diving at no extra charge.

Good diving

[craracer]

I can't speak directly about that specific resort but I can give you a little info. I dove from Couples Resort back in Sept of 06. Really enjoyed it. I actually enjoyed it more than Cozumel and Playa Del Carmen.
The folks down there are extremely laid back so don't expect to be in a rush for anything. Looking at my dive log, the average dive was 40-50 minutes.

A few of the sites: Gallery (night dive), Treasure, Nick's reef, Shallow Plane (has a small Cesna plane sunk there, which in it self, is no big deal), Snapper Drop, Cosmo Reef.
I enjoyed all of the dives. There were plenty of critters on all of the dives and our dive master really went out of his way to make sure that we didn't miss any of the little stuff.

[Scuba One]

In regards to going to other Sandals Resorts to dive, it may be possible but not practical. All of the Sandals/Beaches resorts in the Negril area dive much the same sites, as do all the other dive operators in the area. If you were to go to Montego Bay to dive through one of their Montego Bay Resorts it would be a long bus ride back to the airport, and then you would need to either wait for the next Sandals bus going to a Montego Bay Sandals resort, or pay for a cab. In either case you would need to be to the resort by approximatley 8:30 AM.

I can understand outside dive operators claiming to take guests to better sites, but in reality Sandals has some of the best and fastest dive boats in Negril. They have little reason to take you to the "bad" dive sites and the dive guides don't pay the gas bill.

I worked in Jamaica at a number of all-inclusive resorts and guests would ask to be taken to the best sites. I had no reason to take them elsewhere. Why would I take them to a bad site? A lot of where you dive depends on the weather that day and if other boats have already moored to popular moorings.

I just returned from Jamaica on Sunday. Photos I have taken in Negril can be found at Caribbean All Inclusive Resorts Caribbean Resort Vacation Packages Caribbean All Inclusive Vacations – Scuba One Travel (http://www.divebeaches.com), www.divehedo.com, and www.divelido.com.

[Willar]

I didn't intend to suggest the all-inclusives take divers to bad sites. Quite naturally and safely, divemasters and boat captains do decide on dive sites based on the apparent skills of divers for each trip. Divers are limited to specified, conservative dive times rather than computer non-deco allowance or air consumption. In other words, a very safe, limited dive profile that is good for the less experienced diver. The dive sites are good to very good and are great fun.

If more experienced divers want a deeper and/or more challenging sites, or want to maximize their bottom time, they may want to consider a more personal experience by using a local dive shop to go out on an exclusive excursion. There are certain sites that the all-inclusives just don't go to unless they have a very well known group of divers.

I have always been very happy diving from Hedonism II. The dive staff, except for one man that needs to be removed for an unsafe attitude, have all been outstanding divers with a great attitude and very accomodating to guests. The dive sites used have always been great fun and I love to return each year and see how the reefs have faired. Most look better today than 5 years ago.

[Ed Hatfield]

Belmont - Please give me a quick report when you get back. I leave on the 30th December. Thanks in advance - Ed.

[Ed Hatfield]

Belmont - Let me know if they have nitrox.

[Belmont]

I would have been happy to report on my trip but will be spending five days in Negril from dec 22 to dec 27 and then move to Royal Carribean in Montego Bay for another 5 days, returning home on january first.

I can say for sure that when I was there in may 07 they did not have nitrox.

The comments Willar made are very good. You might try a local dive shop. As a matter of fact we often see them diving the same sites, they possibly spend longer times out but I don't know. I wonder if it would be worth the trouble and the added expense. Sandals has a very big and comfortable boat.

I can say that the second dive of the day with the fresh batch of new divers can be rather limited but if there are a few experienced divers they will be taken on a separate group with a DM.

I hope you will enjoy your trip, all I can say is that I can't wait to leave, even more so after the two storms that we had, there is now about a meter of snow on the ground.

[Belmont]

Speaking of snow, here is something for you "down south" people to appreciate.:D

[Scuba One]

Sandals/Beaches and Superclubs (Grand Lido/Hedonism/Breezes Runaway Bay), now charge for the "resort course", which had been a part of the package for all guests a few years ago.

It seems now that they charge, there are way fewer "resort course" participants so they are less likely to put them on the shallow dive with the certified divers, making the second dive (shallow dive) more certified diver friendly.

[Belmont]

Back from Sandals Negril and Sandals Royal Carribean in MoBay, spent 5 days at each location.

In Negril I saw a family of dolfins, three mothers and their babys with two other adults who came to check us out, two sharks, three turtles a few barracudas one green eel and tons of blue school fishes and coral reef inhabitants and on a night dive a huge orange crab and an octopus.

In MoBay did three wall dives, the Widowmaker, saw a giant spotted eagle ray feeding on conch. Did two dives in an area where we coursed trough collumns of coral, under arches and overhangs, like diving a cave but without the overhead, a real buoyancy and trim challenge. Seventeen dives in all, max depth 90 feet, total time nearly 10 hours under water.

Not too bad for a place some describe as second rate. :shakehead:

Let's see what comes of Ed's trip.

[tc_rain]

Who did you dive with?

[Belmont]

Who did you dive with?

Both places with the Sandals dive team.

[duoderf]

I went to mobay and royal caribean this year. The Dm's there go way far out of their way to ensure that the certified divers have a good time and get to see alot. At royal caribean a real good DM named Shaq, One day in particular I was on the 2nd shallow dive, I think I was the only certified diver there, in a group of 10. Anyway before we went down he talked to the other DMs then told me that we were gonna go in our own direction. He took me down this wierd overhanging coral, and under the overhand there were the brightest fish you would ever see in your life.

Just my experience sandals really takes care of it's guests

[bumknee]

Just got back from Jamaica. West of Mo Bay - Round Hill - you do not need to stay at the resort to dive with them - great dive crew. DM - Monster or Scott will show you some nice locations.

[Alex777]

Hey, Randy! How are you? When are you returning to Grand Cayman?

Alex

[Ed Hatfield]

I would like thank everyone for their input. I returned on January 13th from the Sandals at Negril. To be honest I didn't have high expectations but was pleasantly surprised. The dive boat and Captain MasIntosh were 1st class. The Divemasters were also helpful, friendly, funny, and (most important) professional in every respect.
I lost two days due to weather and another two to day trips. I managed to sqeeze in 18 dives including 2 night dives. The average number of divers on the 0930 run was 4 to 6, with the 1130 dive slightly more. The most we had on any single dive was 10 and usually there would be students that were dropped off and picked up later. When we did the 'deep plane' there were only two of us and the Divemaster.
The shallow reefs were well worn and showing signs of heavy traffic. The outer reefs such as 'Chinese Reef' the reef at the 'Deep Plane' were very good in colour and composition.
I saw a good variety of the typical tropical sea life including rays, nurse sharks (8 footer), turtles, jacks, angels, squirrel fish, flounder, lobster, wrasse, spotted drum ect... Even an octopus in broad daylight changing colour .
A lot of the reef damage is caused by fishermen dropping traps on the coral. These traps are wire mesh bound to sticks and can be as large as 6X4X3 feet. The traps are marked on the surface with plastic bottles. During the two day storm some of the traps lost the markers and were abandoned. When we found them the fish inside were dead or dying. Whenever we found one on the reef we moved it off to the sand.
The highlight of my trip was being 'nudged' by a dolphin. There were 6 of us at 35 feet with me in the rear. I felt a bump on my side and the dolphin swam passed me and through our group. It turned and swam back through us and headed odd to the surface. The whole sequence lasted no more than 30 seconds but it was the ultimate thrill for me. It was my first underwater dolphin encounter.
As I said, I was pleased with my trip and may return someday, once I have crossed off the rest of the entries on my 'To Do' list.

[beckyricha]

This is a little off the original Negril topic, but it looks like a few people who know all the area Sandals resorts have posted. I'll be at the Sandals Inn in Montego Bay in April, but will have to go to another of the local Sandals for Diving. Anyone know if either of the others (Royal Caribbean vs. Sandals Montego Bay) should be preferred for diving? Are they completely separate dive ops or do they combine trips anyway? Do both offer the same basic dive schedule, boats, etc?

I am a moderately experienced, frequent diver and have read enough posts to lower my expectations a little, but want to get wet with the better dive op if there's a difference. I'll use it as an opportunity to hang out and enjoy the other resort amenities while there as well. I want to just pick one or the other and develop a relationship for a few days of diving. If all else is equal the Royal Caribbean looks like the better for other amenities.

I also hope to make a day trip over to Negril and enjoy the resort there. Is the diving different enough there to plan on including a dive that afternoon?

Thanks!

[JodiBB]

I've done Couples Negril diving (we prefer Couples to Sandals) this last summer. Loved the turtles, lots of rays, different species of fish from what we see in the CA waters. Love diving the 84 degree water (at 70 feet down) with 100'+ vis. The only thing that was discouraging about the all-inclusive resort dives is you don't get to dive your own table. Everyone goes down together, stays together and as soon as one person hits 1000psi, everyone comes up together. Fortunately, most of the dives I went on had DM+ skill level (I was usually the newbie of the group), but I was usually still surfacing with 1600+ psi on an AL80.

But I got 10 dives in, so that was nice....really spoiled me for cold water diving again.

From what I understand, Negril has nicer diving than Mo' Bay and Ocho Rios due to the differences in tourism...Negril isn't as touristy as the other two cities, so there's more to see as less has been damaged.

Hope this helps!

[Scuba One]

If you are thinking of diving with Sandals Negril while staying at a Sandals in Montego Bay, I suggest having the resort call them a day ahead to make sure they are going out the next afternoon and cover the "signing up a day in advance" requirement of many of the all-inclusive resorts in Jamaica that include scuba.

[Belmont]

[quote=beckyricha;3334463]This is a little off the original Negril topic, but it looks like a few people who know all the area Sandals resorts have posted. I'll be at the Sandals Inn in Montego Bay in April, but will have to go to another of the local Sandals for Diving. Anyone know if either of the others (Royal Caribbean vs. Sandals Montego Bay) should be preferred for diving? Are they completely separate dive ops or do they combine trips anyway? Do both offer the same basic dive schedule, boats, etc?

I am a moderately experienced, frequent diver and have read enough posts to lower my expectations a little, but want to get wet with the better dive op if there's a difference. I'll use it as an opportunity to hang out and enjoy the other resort amenities while there as well. I want to just pick one or the other and develop a relationship for a few days of diving. If all else is equal the Royal Caribbean looks like the better for other amenities.

I also hope to make a day trip over to Negril and enjoy the resort there. Is the diving different enough there to plan on including a dive that afternoon?

Thanks![/quote


I just came back from a 10 day trip to Jamaica. We split our stay between Sandals Negril and Sandals Royal Carribean, to simply vary the surroundings and the dive sites.

Last year, in march, I stayed at Royal Carribean and the dive boat was shared between Sandals Montego Bay and our resort. It made for a longer boat ride. I noticed that the group from the other resort was composed of younger divers who were more "on the party" I think it was during spring break. It made for a more crowded and noisy outing.

Now the resorts use different boats. The dive sites are the same and I can say that I have been satified with what I saw. The DMs will take the group according to it's composition. If it's formed of experienced people you will be taken to very interesting wall dives, a boat wreck "The tug boat", a swimtrough called the Widowmaker, the Throne Room and very impressive coral formations consisting of massive columns.

I would not bother with the 3 hour return bus ride (that you will have to pay for) to go to Negril to dive, the resort itself is very nice and the sunset is very romantic. The first dive is at 9 AM and the second about 11:30. Diving there is also very good but if you build a good contact with the dive team in Mobay you will have plenty there to enjoy


If you go to Royal Carribean say hello to David, Raymond and Shaq, real cool guys. Each resort has it's "flavor", I think it's more cosy there. Also...if it's possible consider changing your reservation to either Mobay or Royal, Sandals Inn is more like a regular motel, you have to cross the street to reach the public beach.

I hope you have a good stay there and feel free to PM me if you need more info.:D

[beckyricha]

Thanks! We decided on Sandals Inn because it has a lot of good reviews & the small resort is appealing, but mostly because it was less than half the price! :) Figured we cold enjoy the amenities of he others & save our cash. I appreciate the insights on the other resorts. I think I will stick with my instinct and use Royal Caribbean based on that. The Negril side trip was just for what you mentioned, the romantic different beach and famous sunsets. We'll probably just spend that day not diving.

You helped a lot.
Becky

[Belmont]

Happy to have been of some help, I wish you the best of vacation

[dane]

Wife and I are going to Sandals Negril on March 8, and I really appreciate everyone giving an honest opinion. Your contributions will help us decide on where to dive and whether to dive with the resort.

Dane

[DiverDebbie]

Thanks! We decided on Sandals Inn because it has a lot of good reviews & the small resort is appealing, but mostly because it was less than half the price! :) Figured we cold enjoy the amenities of he others & save our cash. I appreciate the insights on the other resorts. I think I will stick with my instinct and use Royal Caribbean based on that. The Negril side trip was just for what you mentioned, the romantic different beach and famous sunsets. We'll probably just spend that day not diving.

You helped a lot.
Becky


We stayed at the Royal Decameron Montego Bay just over a year ago. The Sandals Inn was right beside/behind it. Sorry, not to discourage you, but it kinda looks like a little motel. It's a very tiny older resort and not directly on the beach. It is across the street from a public beach that gets absolutely jam-packed with local families. So unless you want to spend days around the small pool, you're best off planning to be off to another Sandals every day. I would go to Negril if I were you. We loved MoBay too, and the Decameron was a very decent option at an excellent price (all rooms have stunning views, private beach, etc.) But now that I've been to both MoBay and Negril, I must say that hands-down the beach, the sunsets and the diving are way better in Negril... and going to a Couples resort makes it hard to consider ever going anywhere else! Best resort we've ever been to. Anyway... you're already booked to stay at the Sandals Inn, so I'm just saying take advantage of being able to use the other Sandals and check them all out.

[craracer]

Hey Debbie: I've been to Couples Swept Away and enjoyed it a lot. Might I also suggest the RIU resorts? Last March I stayed at the RIU Tropical Bay and liked it more than CSA. There was more to do and see at the RIU. Food was fair (not as good as some of the other RIU's I've been at). Diving isn't included at the RIU's but, in Jamaica I went with a different outfitter (sundivers).

[Passion4Diving]

Nitrox is not yet available in Negril as of this writing. Breezes in RunAway Bay region offers nitrox.

Chuck