Anyone been to Jamaica recently?

[Duca]

I'll be staying in the Dunn's River area at the end of Nov, wondering if anyone can give me the heads up. It'll be my first trip down there. The trip will not be centered on Diving, though we want to spend at least a day or two in the water.

[FloridaDiver]

I was in Montego Bay last November for a family vacation (not a serious dive trip), but couldn't resist the urge. I went down to Jack Tarr Village with a friend a went out on a very spartan dive boat with the worst ladder I've ever seen. The wall is close to shore (fortunately!) and should have been beautiful - it had a sheer vertical face. The problem was there was nothing to see. It was sad, having seen the fantastic walls of Cayman and Turks and Caicos.

I went back the next day, but the conditions were rough and the "boat" wasn't going out which was probably a good thing.

By the way, if you like Dunn's, there is a fantastic waterfall across the island called Ys Falls that is fabulous. We took a rental car to see it and the nearby Appleton Rum Factory. The drive was the scariest thing I ever did! Be very careful driving there.

One other great spot is a bird sanctuary on a hill near Montego Bay. You hand feed hummingbirds in this beautiful garden setting. It's a lot cooler than it sounds.

Of course, this was out of Montego Bay which is a moderate distance from Dunn's.

[Duca]

Thanks for the info... and welcome to the board (although I'm realatively new myself....).

I've heard over and over again that the diving there is less than spectacular. Like yours, my trip was not planned around diving.

[mlove]

I do not want to ruin your trip, but it is worth mentioning. Someone my wife works with, went to Jamaica for marriage celebration. His wife took sick, passed out and died before a doctor could get to their room. To make a long story short, some one slipped her a poison. As it turns out this is not uncommon . The FBI has interviewed my wives friend and does not feel he was involved.
I am sure you will have a fun and safe trip. But take care.
mike

[syruss32]

I was in Jamaica a couple of years ago on a cruise and I was less than impressed with the snorkeling. And Montego Bay is where we docked, the town is a total DUMP. Most of what you see in the town is a cross between the local sanitation dump and a ghetto.

I would not want to dive those waters for fear of contaminants running in. And the water there is very unsafe to drink. I would make sure to pack a good supply of bottled water.

Of course this was 2 years ago and maybe the money made from tourists and the cruise lines has helped to improve it.

Let us know how it was when you get back!

[simonk999]

Is it all bad in Jamaica? Or are some spots less despoiled than others? Anyone dived Discovery Bay?

-Simon

[syruss32]

Originally posted by simonk999
Is it all bad in Jamaica? Or are some spots less despoiled than others? Anyone dived Discovery Bay?

-Simon

No I have heard from people who have visited other areas and it is really nice. Like Negril is one of the top 10 beaches in the world. If it had been in the area I was no one would have wanted to see it.

So Jamaica is a lot like Puerto Rico. It has it's good and it's bad!

[Normunds]

Jsut checked whats new in here. Was really surprised to see basically negative responses on diving in Jamaica.
For the future visitors of this thread i will leave my advice:
We were in Jamaica last year Feb.. First diving we did around Ochos Rios, Resort - Club Ambiance - my recomendations - nice staff, diving arrangements, reasonably atractive dive sites, though not much fish there - overfishing.
I sincerely do not recomend to dive from resort "Couples" in Negril. That was really the worst diving I ever had - arrogant staff, rotten equipment...no comment.
Normunds

[katgregory]

I'm so sorry that Normunds had such a horrible time while scuba diving at Couples Negril in Jamaica. My husband and I were there for our honeymoon last September and it was wonderful!!!! the equipment was great and the staff was very friendly. Sugar, the divemaster, was great!

[annabelle]

I was in Jamica about 4 years ago and took the Sandel's dive course and loved it. We stayed at Dunns River and we were waited on hand and foot. I don't know if you are staying at a Sandels, but if you are you are going to have a great trip. Don't venture out on your own. Take only group trips off the property. The markets are scarey:eek: they love to pull girl into the tents, just tell them you are out of money. Snorkeling was great, also climb Dunns Falls. You can get great jewelry deals if you look for them.

Have a great trip. Wish I was going back.:jester:

[caymaniac]

My sister went to Jamaica, and was disgusted at their treatment by the locals. My brother went there and was robbed. One of my employees went there and she was constantly approached for drugs. This is what you want to do with your vacation dollars? So the falls are nice, and the scenery great, but is it worth the gamble? There are much safer places to visit, even if you had to spend more isnt it worth not being robbed mugged or treated badly? My wife used to work at a furniture manufacturer and there were two guysfrom the factory who went to Jamaica and stayed in a condo away from the crowd, they were robbed and cut up with machetes, but they did live fortunately. Such a good deal to get a vacation for so little money, is too big of a gamble. The diving from what I've heard is not good. My sugestion is don't go! :boom:

Dive Safe,
Caymaniac

[gentlegiant]

You might want to check the trip reports section for more Jamaica info. My wife and I filed a complaint with PADI about the operator out of Jack Tarr village in Montego Bay. PADI has never told us the outcome of this. Here are a couple of tips that we learned the hard way:
1. Take your own gear. The rental stuff is not maintained well at all.
2. Check your tank before you leave the dock. I got bad air on 1 dive and we had numerous O-ring leaks. Also turn the tank on it's side with the valve lower than the base of the tank and turn on the air to check for contamination. Many of the tanks do not have dip tubes so it is easy for junk to get into the valve.
3. In Montego Bay pay the $$ and only dive with Sandle's. Buy a 1 day pass and it inculdes 1 or 2 dives.
4. I have heard from others that Negril has some decent operators, again check the trip reports section.
5. Get dive and travel insurance, just in case.

I hope you have a better trip than my wife and I did.

[annabelle]

Sorry about all the bad experiences in Jamica. It is a must to spend the extra $'s and stay in a nice place to enjoy Jamica, but I loved it. Did'nt know about the missing travel agent til we came back. Just be safe where ever you go.


Do you know anything about Blackbeard Cruises? I will be going July 27 - Aug. 2. Any information would be gladly appreciated.

[Ebro]

I stayed at Couples about 6 weeks ago (mid May 2002). Thankfully, I did not have the same experience as Normunds.

My wife and I went down there for our honeymoon. Diving wasn't our main purpose for going, but since we were there we thought we'd get some in. Some diving is better than no diving :) My wife completed her OW referral down there (I'm already certified).

The resort:
This was my first experience with all-inclusive so my comments may not carry much weight, but we really enjoyed ourselves. We most certanly would go back.

The Diving:
After hearing and reading nothing but bad about Jamaica diving I was relieved that it really wasn't that bad. Sure, there aren't the large fish you see in czm but I saw a lot more extras in Jamaica (eels, rays, lobster, crabs, shrimp).

Anyway, hope this helps.

E.

[tropical_tom]

Hi,

I lived on Jamaica for about a year, have been many times, may never go again. Jamaica is a beautiful island that is grossly overpopulated and ripe with poverty. It is de facto apartied. The national character fails to rise above the socio-economic problems that plague the island. While there life there is full of hard work and heroism, it also full of deceit and crime.

Jamaica is only just above Haiti on the possible destination list.

As far as diving there, why bother? Use your vacation insurance, cancel the trip, and go to Cozumel or Caymans or Bahamas or any real dive destination.

[DocVikingo]

Hi Tom,

.... your recommendations.

However, Duca made this inquiry on 10-04-2001 10:41PM, and indicated a trip in the end of Nov.

Guess this input is a little late for that trip, but could be useful to future inquiries.

Best regards.

DocVikingo

[tropical_tom]

or I just don't register dates correctly, nonetheless, I wonder if they had a good time?

[DocVikingo]

Hi Tom,

Here http://www.scubaboard.com/member.php?s=&action=getinfo&userid=1708

Best regards.

DocVikingo

[clive francis]

I went April with a friend to Negril, check my site to see some photo's and the links page has a link to the people we used.

Jamaica:

We enjoyed the diving, although there wasn't much fish.

when we were not diving we spent the whole time declining offers for every imaginable drug you could get, when that didn't work, we were offered women.

when that failed, they looked right at us and demanded money!

when that failed, they looked at us again and demanded a drink!

we met 2 young American girls (very nice if you know what i mean ;)) and spent the whole week escorting them around as the locals did everything they could to get into their underware.

it did us a favour, as we got the "oh you are such gentleman", to which we replied "why of course we are, we are British".

Anyway by the end of the week i couldn't wait to get home and stop getting hassled every minute of the day for something drug, money or woman related, and it spoiled an excellent diving holiday.

thats my 10p worth!!

[scubaleg]

Okay, I have to chime in on this one as well, having been to Jamaica twice, the most recent trip just completed in July 2002.

1. Expect to be offered drugs (usually pot or cocaine, but nothing is out of the question). Politely decline and keep moving -- you are not obligated to have a conversation with this person. Unless, of course, it is a uniformed, armed, airport security guard offering you the "smoke, mon" (happened on our first trip there!)
2. Stay in a nice resort. Stay AT the nice resort. Security is good, and the people who get robbed typically are being too "adventurous" (meaning by themselves without a guide, usually in the mountains or less populated parts of towns). By the way, one of my co-workers was jumped last night by 4 guys, in Scottsdale, AZ (supposed to be a nice city with low unemployment, no apartied, etc) and is recovering in the hospital. No country has a monopoly on crime or bad people!
3. Bring your own gear. Even the nicer resorts don't tend to maintain the gear very well. Remember that, because they are typically all-inclusive, including the diving, they cater more to first-timers than to certified divers.
4. There is some nice diving, BUT...
The waters there are severely overfished, and the coral continues to suffer lots of damage. The first is a result of the current economic conditions there, the latter seems to be a combination of some disregard by the local lobsterers and too many "resort divers" running into them.

In summary, I would go back to Jamaica -- as a family vacation destination with lots to do for a very reasonable price. I have met far more good, decent people there than bad people, and have always received good service. The diving is not the best in the world, but the water is warm, viz is usually excellent, and you will see rays, turtles, eels, dolphins, etc. Just like anywhere (including the good ole US of A), there IS crime. Be smart, use common sense, and you will significantly lower your risk of becoming a victim.
Thanks for letting me ramble on...
Scuba Legs