Scuba diving holidays in Montego Bay

Mo Bay for the locals, Montego Bay is located on Jamaica's western tip. It is the second largest city on the island, and the main gateway for tourists. One of the main attractions here is the excellent diving facilities, and, of course, Montego Bay Marine Park, Jamaica's first marine park. Scuba divers can experience a variety of exciting underwater experiences here, including, wrecks, walls, reefs and caverns, and there is a rich variety of marine life to observe. So whether you are a complete novice or an experienced diver, you will find a good range of sites suitable for your level.

There is a good range of exciting reef dives in Montego Bay. One of the best is Basket Reef, named so because of the large number of basket sponges found here. This site starts at around 50 feet (15m) and drops steeply to a depth of 150 feet (45m), and you can expect to see all sorts of fish species such as parrotfish, trumpet fish, black durgeons, glassy sweepers, rock beauties and schools of Creole wrasse.

Other reef dives in the area include Chub Reef, which, as its name suggests, is full of Bermuda chubbs; Rose Hall Reef, where you will find an interesting system of tunnels and caves to explore, and Doctor's Reef Cave, a shallow reef decorated with brain coral, star coral and elkhorn coral. With depths averaging around 25 feet, this is a perfect site for beginners. This is just a handful of reefs you can explore in the area.

One of the most popular diving sites in Montego Bay is the famous Widowmakers Cave. You can enter the cave from the top at around 30 feet below sea level, or at the bottom around 80 feet, and then exit through the chimney and along the shallow reefs. The tunnel leading to the cave is full of marine life, and the walls are covered with soft corals. All sorts of underwater flora and fauna can be found lurking amongst the reef's crevices and cavities, so it's worth bringing a torch to see them clearly.

Other interesting dive sites worth visiting in Montego Bay include Black Coral Reef, the Point and The Arena, where you find an old Spanish anchor. Dive centres in Montego Bay will be able to recommend the best sites for your level of experience, but training and courses are available through certified instructors if you want to explore sites beyond your level. This is one of the best ways to make the most of your diving holiday in Montego Bay.