Montego Bay, Jamaica

Pipnaintez · 21st December 2007, 12:31

My wife and I are going on our 10yr anniversary vacation in two weeks. We are going to Sandals Resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Has anyone done any diving there? We will be diving OC. Any must see dive sites? I have read about a site named "Widowmakers Cavern". Does anyone know what that is like?

Any advice on the various dive sites or local must sees? We are planning to do some horse back riding and the "zip" line sight seeing aswell.

Thanks in advance!

Ribby · 21st December 2007, 16:38

How's it going,

I was there two years ago, to be honest the diving wasn't great with the resort, the snorkling was better. you have no say to what dive site you want to do and they have no set routine so it's basically up to the skipper of the boat on the day. the other thing is because your herded around like cattle by the dive leaders you won't be allowed to stop and have a look at things and expect to see alot of scary diving pratices. The resort is fantastic be prepared to come back a few stone heavier !!

Tienuts · 21st December 2007, 17:29

Don't get your hopes up too much - I stayed and dove there back in '05. While the staff was great, helpfull and friendly - the diving isn't the greatest. The Jamaicans over fish the hell out of the reef, including dynamite and cyanide fishing.

They do have a few plane fuselages and a wreck skeleton down there which is good for a dive or 2.

Pipnaintez · 21st December 2007, 18:23

definately not what I was hoping to hear.

c5vette13 · 21st December 2007, 21:40

I was there about 2 years ago also. I would recommend just snorkeling. They have a little boat that leaves right from the resort and the reef is just out from the beach so you can get in multiple trips. You won't see anything diving from sandals that you can't see snorkeling, besides you can spend more of your time getting your money's worth from the open bar. On a side note, the montego bay airport is right next to sandals, so occassionly commercials jets buzz the beach which is interesting. Have fun and enjoy your trip

Nick

PipsGirl · 21st December 2007, 22:19

cv, thanks for the response about the planes. i actually did see that on some other forums, but decided it couldn't be too bad

so, i wanted to ask if you guys didn't really like the diving because your levels of diving are higher than most of the people on the boat. since they do a 'resort certification' Pipn is telling me to expect lots of newbies.

hi and thanks!

t

c5vette13 · 21st December 2007, 22:37

The diving just seemed to be just too much of a hassle. We only had 3 full days, and talking to some other guests, the vote seemed to be that the snorkeling was just as fun. I have been to 2 sandals (montego bay and st. lucia) and they seem to cater mainly to new divers or people that don't dive very often, so there is alot of formalities. I would recommend diving there to any new divers or ones that don't get out often because the more time in the water the better, but for the experienced diver it wasn't the best (in st. lucia at least where I did dive.) The diving is a follow the leader style that I don't care for with limited bottom time and little time to explore.

Nick

colinj · 21st December 2007, 22:48

There is an ex-pat BSAC club out there and if you can tie in with them you will see a better aspect of diving than Sandals will give you, depends what you want. There was an old minesweeper out there called Texas which made a great dive but you won't find it advertised!

Col

Mixaddict · 22nd December 2007, 02:23

It's been several years since I dove in Jamaica, but I must say it is probably the worst diving I have done anywhere in the world. The reefs were almost completely dead, very few fish, the water very polluted , the dive operations were unbelievably restrictive, and the overall experience was very disappointing. I wish I could give you a better report, but I personally would not go back.

doug allen · 22nd December 2007, 06:38

and don't venture out of the compound!!!! That place should be off limits to all!!! A visitor's nightmare!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

21st December 2007, 12:31	#1 (permalink)
Pipnaintez New Member Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Houston Texas Posts: 52	Montego Bay, Jamaica My wife and I are going on our 10yr anniversary vacation in two weeks. We are going to Sandals Resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Has anyone done any diving there? We will be diving OC. Any must see dive sites? I have read about a site named "Widowmakers Cavern". Does anyone know what that is like? Any advice on the various dive sites or local must sees? We are planning to do some horse back riding and the "zip" line sight seeing aswell. Thanks in advance!
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21st December 2007, 16:38	#2 (permalink)
Ribby New Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 3	Re: Montego Bay, Jamaica How's it going, I was there two years ago, to be honest the diving wasn't great with the resort, the snorkling was better. you have no say to what dive site you want to do and they have no set routine so it's basically up to the skipper of the boat on the day. the other thing is because your herded around like cattle by the dive leaders you won't be allowed to stop and have a look at things and expect to see alot of scary diving pratices. The resort is fantastic be prepared to come back a few stone heavier !!
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21st December 2007, 17:29	#3 (permalink)
Tienuts The man from Nantucket Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Fort Lauderdale Posts: 137	Re: Montego Bay, Jamaica Don't get your hopes up too much - I stayed and dove there back in '05. While the staff was great, helpfull and friendly - the diving isn't the greatest. The Jamaicans over fish the hell out of the reef, including dynamite and cyanide fishing. They do have a few plane fuselages and a wreck skeleton down there which is good for a dive or 2.
(Offline)

21st December 2007, 18:23	#4 (permalink)
Pipnaintez New Member Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Houston Texas Posts: 52	Re: Montego Bay, Jamaica definately not what I was hoping to hear.
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21st December 2007, 21:40	#5 (permalink)
c5vette13 New Member Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Weeki Wachee, Fl. Posts: 24	Re: Montego Bay, Jamaica I was there about 2 years ago also. I would recommend just snorkeling. They have a little boat that leaves right from the resort and the reef is just out from the beach so you can get in multiple trips. You won't see anything diving from sandals that you can't see snorkeling, besides you can spend more of your time getting your money's worth from the open bar. On a side note, the montego bay airport is right next to sandals, so occassionly commercials jets buzz the beach which is interesting. Have fun and enjoy your trip Nick
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21st December 2007, 22:19	#6 (permalink)
PipsGirl New Member Current Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Houston Area, Tx Posts: 7	Re: Montego Bay, Jamaica cv, thanks for the response about the planes. i actually did see that on some other forums, but decided it couldn't be too bad so, i wanted to ask if you guys didn't really like the diving because your levels of diving are higher than most of the people on the boat. since they do a 'resort certification' Pipn is telling me to expect lots of newbies. hi and thanks! t
(Offline)

21st December 2007, 22:37	#7 (permalink)
c5vette13 New Member Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Weeki Wachee, Fl. Posts: 24	Re: Montego Bay, Jamaica The diving just seemed to be just too much of a hassle. We only had 3 full days, and talking to some other guests, the vote seemed to be that the snorkeling was just as fun. I have been to 2 sandals (montego bay and st. lucia) and they seem to cater mainly to new divers or people that don't dive very often, so there is alot of formalities. I would recommend diving there to any new divers or ones that don't get out often because the more time in the water the better, but for the experienced diver it wasn't the best (in st. lucia at least where I did dive.) The diving is a follow the leader style that I don't care for with limited bottom time and little time to explore. Nick
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21st December 2007, 22:48	#8 (permalink)
colinj New Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Uttoxeter Posts: 67	Re: Montego Bay, Jamaica There is an ex-pat BSAC club out there and if you can tie in with them you will see a better aspect of diving than Sandals will give you, depends what you want. There was an old minesweeper out there called Texas which made a great dive but you won't find it advertised! Col
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22nd December 2007, 02:23	#9 (permalink)
Mixaddict Always Learning! Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Evolution Other CCR Dolphin Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other CCR Dolphin Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Draper, Utah USA Posts: 415	Re: Montego Bay, Jamaica It's been several years since I dove in Jamaica, but I must say it is probably the worst diving I have done anywhere in the world. The reefs were almost completely dead, very few fish, the water very polluted , the dive operations were unbelievably restrictive, and the overall experience was very disappointing. I wish I could give you a better report, but I personally would not go back. __________________ Randy Thornton (MixAddict) Inspiration, Evolution,Hammerhead & Sentinel CCR Instructor
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22nd December 2007, 06:38	#10 (permalink)
doug allen New Member Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other Rebreather/s: Optima Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Asheboro, NC Posts: 24	Re: Montego Bay, Jamaica and don't venture out of the compound!!!! That place should be off limits to all!!! A visitor's nightmare!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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