resort diving

This is the one hundred and third in a series of reviews of the best dive resort locations around the world.  In this post, the focus is on Cyprus. In addition to this series on dive resort locations, the best worldwide liveaboard diving locations and services are reviewed in their own series.  To check them out, or others in this series, click on Liveaboards/Resorts on the menu at the top and choose a title from the list.

Have you ever been diving in Cyprus before?  If so, I’d love to know about your experience.  What dive shop or liveaboard did you use?  Which dive spots are the best and what are the conditions there regarding the visibility, current, water temperature, sealife attractions, etc.?  Please post your response in the comments section at the bottom and we’ll all learn something we can use.

Scuba Diving Cyprus  

Background – Located south of Turkey and west of Syria and Lebanon, Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean, behind only Sicily and Sardinia in area.  With a population of around 1.2 million, the Republic of Cyprus is recognized by the United Nations as a single nation.  In fact, though, the northern 35% of the country is controlled by Turkey and calls itself the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.  There is a UN-controlled Green Zone as a buffer between the Turkish and Greek areas as well as two UK controlled bases.  The airport in Nicosia, the largest city, previously the major airport in the country, is in the UN buffer zone and out of use since 1974.  There are some protocols about entry and exit points into the country, but today it is fairly easy to make the necessary arrangements.  While there is a certain historic animus between the two groups, they share many cultural values and practices.  Greek Cypriots make up 77% of the population and Turkish Cypriots 18%.  There are two mountain ranges with a central plain separating them.  Mount Olympus is the tallest peak at 1,952 meters (6,404 feet).  The 2012 Eurozone banking crisis had a major economic effect resulting in substantial foreign aid to assist recovery.  The economy is based on offshore businesses, financial services, shipping, and tourism, and recently natural gas exploration has come into the picture.

Undersea World – Diving in Cyprus is renowned for its crystal clear water, gentle sea conditions, attractive reefs and marine life, and a number of wrecks.  Some of the sites can be accessed right off a sandy beach or rocky coastline and others require a boat to reach the varied undersea terrain that includes caves and ancient archaeological features and artifacts.  There are grassy areas and richly encrusted rocky outcrops with a nice array of Mediterranean life like flounder, cornet fish, wrasses, cuttlefish, octopus, nudibranchs, snails, bream, triggerfish, grouper, barracuda, and turtles.  Some of the wrecks found the sea floor through scuttling to create artificial reefs and others occurred through more natural circumstances with the highlight the Zenobia wreck near Larnaca.  The Amphorae Caves off Paphos are another highlight with ancient pottery within.  Dive locations and facilities are situated around the island in Larnaca, Limassol, Paphos, Polis, Kyrenia, Famagusta, and Paralimni/Protaras.

Seasons and Conditions – The best time for diving in Cyprus is from March through November.

• Air temperature is moderate to warm all year with daily averages from 11°C (52°F) in January to 27°C (80°F) in July and August.
• Water temperature consistently stays from 17 to 27°C (63-80°F) during the March through November dive season.  Divers should be prepared to wear 7 mm wetsuits or drysuits with hood and gloves when the water is at its coolest.
• The dry season pretty much corresponds with the diving season.  Surface conditions are smooth until the winter storms whip up the sea and disturb visibility.
• Visibility is normally in a range of 20-35 meters (68-120 feet) during the dry season and a few meters less during the rains.
• Currents are generally not a factor.
• There are sites suitable for all level of diver. At least 50 dive shops are in operation around the island located near the popular dive sites.  They offer a full range of diving coursework, equipment rental, guiding, and boat cruises.

For information about cold water gear, please check out my review:

• Best Cold Water Scuba Diving Equipment

There are no major liveaboard yachts cruising Cyprus but there are some others to European sites:

Sadri Usta – Montenegro Liveaboard Adventure Cruise – Check the Price

MV Futura – Croatia Liveaboard Adventure Cruise – Check the Price

Norseman, Tuscan Archipelago Scuba Diving Liveaboard – Check the Price

For my reviews of other Mediterranean and Adriatic diving, please check out these posts:

• Montenegro Scuba Diving
• Scuba Diving Croatia
• Best Scuba Diving Malta
• Best Scuba Diving on Crete
• Best Mediterranean Vacations Tuscan Archipelago Liveaboard

Selected Cyprus Dive Sites

Zenobia Wreck, Larnaca: 17-43 meters (68-141 feet), 178-meter (584-foot) Swedish ferry sunk on her maiden voyage off Larnaca in 1980, largely intact, propellers in place, lying on her port side on a rocky and sandy seabed, easy penetration of the ship’s cafeteria and huge holds, 100 trucks still on board chained to the hold and suspended from the walls, schooling barracuda and tuna, big grouper, experienced and technical level

Amphorae Caves, Paphos: 5-12 meters (16-40 feet), many gullies and caves with encrusted ancient clay storage jars (amphorae), some stuck in the ceilings of caves, all levels

The Canyon, Cape Greko National Park, Ayia Napa near Paralimni/Prostaras: 22 meters (73 feet), accessible from shore, beneath the cliffside, rocky formations, rich marine life, stingrays, experienced level

Jubilee Shoals, Avdimou, Limassol: 60 meters (200 feet) maximum depth, a wall with caves, a tunnel, and accompanying pinnacles, drop-off from 20-60 meters (68-200 feet), macro life including octopus and moray eels, jacks and tuna along the wall, experienced and technical levels

Manidjin Island, Paphos: 6-25 meters (20-83 feet), small island 10 minutes from Coral Bay Harbor, a wall with a cave and swim-through, the cave encrusted with calciferous algae, often there are schools of yellowfin barracuda, experienced level

Devil’s Head, Akamas Peninsula, Polis: 11 meters (38 feet), caves and interconnecting tunnels, lots of marine life, including green and leatherback turtles during the summer, all levels

Green Bay, Protaras: 10 meters (35 feet), statues and columns, a feeding station with lots of marine life, good training area, all levels

Costandis Wreck, Limassol: 24 meters (80 feet), Soviet trawler built in 1989 and scuttled in 2014 to create an artificial reef, marine life is still developing, conveniently just offshore from the Imperial Crowne Plaza Hotel, big open area swim throughs, all levels

Lady Thetis Wreck, Limassol: 18 meters (60 feet), Cypriot passenger ship scuttled to become an artificial reef in 2014, many easy swim throughs, marine life is still developing, currently a habitat for damselfish, bream, and grouper, all levels

The Chapel, Ayia Napa near Paralimni/Prostaras: 30 meters (100 feet), shore access, a wall with sponges, octopus, scorpion fish, old amphorae are also there, experienced level

Cyprus Things to Do (aside from scuba diving)

Cyprus is bathed in history with many historic sites along with the scenic beauty and cultural aspects to enjoy.  Here is a list of considerations:  Adonis Baths, Church of St. Lazarus, Stavro Vouni Monastery, Paphos Mosaics, Cape Greco, Millomeris Waterfalls, Avakas Gorge, Hala Sultan Tekke, Kykkos Monastery, Amathus, The Archaeological Museum of Limassol, Limassol Castle, Kolossi Castle, Limassol Zoo, Cyprus Museum, Choirokoitia, Pafos Zoo, Pierides Museum, Protaran Ocean Aquarium, Thalassa Petra tou Romiou, Kato Paphos Archaeological Park, Medieval Castle of Paphos, Tombs of the Kings, Leventis Gallery, and don’t forget food, drink, and nightlife.

This video shows some intriguing spots and gives a nice overview of options for a visitor.

Cyprus Hotels, Resorts, Transportation, and Diving Services

• Air – Larnaca International Airport is the entry point for flights from around Eastern and Western Europe and many Middle East Capitals.  There are no flights from the south to the north within Cyprus.  There is a public bus from the airport to central Lanarca.  There is also a domestic airport in Paphos.  Shuttles run from both airports directly to Nicosia and Limassol.
• Boat – A few ferries run between the ports in the south to Greece and Crete.  There is a ferry to Turkey running from Kyrenia.
• Buses – Cyprus has a comprehensive bus system all around the country.
• Shared Taxis run from 6 or 7 am and stop service at 5 or 6 pm.  They will take you from point to point anywhere within city limits.
• Cars are available for rent.  Beware of incompetent and careless drivers and poorly marked roads.  Driving is on the left.
• Bicycling is popular on motorways and on mountain routes.  Routes marked with the letter “A” indicate bicycling is prohibited.

For more complete details of tourist information, please go here:  Cyprus – Wikitravel

• Hotels and Diving – There are hundreds of hotel and lodging options of all levels in Cyprus starting at around $15 per night.  At last count, there were 50 dive shops around the island.  A number of them are located in or affiliated with resorts and offer a range of services including equipment rental, diving certification classes, dive guides, and boat tours.  The website linked below has the details and can arrange the booking.  You can easily find the location on the map provided on this site.  Their rates are guaranteed to be the lowest and it is free to cancel or change dates.
• Cyprus Hotels, Resorts

Cyprus Photos

With the beautiful reefs, a variety of fish, wrecks, and macro critters, and scenic shoreside targets, as well, there are many excellent photo opportunities.  For information and reviews of dive cameras, click here:

• Best Underwater Cameras Compared and Reviewed

Scuba Diving Trip Insurance

A cushion for emergencies provides peace of mind when on vacation.  I recommend this diving insurance as they have worldwide coverage and provide scuba divers a quality insurance and medical assistance service.

Feedback and Comments

I hope you found this post on Cyprus scuba diving interesting and useful. If you have any questions or ideas, please feel free to share them in the comments section.  I’d love to know of any experience you have diving in Cyprus.  If there is no comments section directly below, click here:  >>comments<<

This is the one hundred and second in a series of reviews of the best dive resort locations around the world.  In this post, the focus is on Coron, Philippines. In addition to this series on dive resort locations, the best worldwide liveaboard diving locations and services are reviewed in their own series.  To check them out, or others in this series, click on Liveaboards/Resorts on the menu at the top and choose a title from the list.

Have you ever been diving in Coron before?  If so, I’d love to know about your experience.  What dive shop or liveaboard did you use?  Which dive spots are the best and what are the conditions there regarding the visibility, current, water temperature, sealife attractions, etc.?  Please post your response in the comments section at the bottom and we’ll all learn something we can use.

Scuba Diving Coron Philippines

Background – The municipality of Coron is situated at the northern end of Palawan Province in the Philippines.  It occupies half of Busuanga Island and all of Coron Island.  The population of 52,000 has doubled since 1980 behind an economy of dwindling traditional fishing and increasing tourism based on beaches, scuba diving, and natural tourist spots.

Undersea World – Set on an idyllic tropical bay Coron is thought of by many as sort of a poor man’s Truk Lagoon.  Considering the reputation Truk has for wreck diving, that has to stand as a pretty nice compliment.  On September 24, 1944, the Japanese must have been feeling pretty safe with their fleet anchored in this remote and sheltered area.  When Task Force 38 from the USS Lexington caught them by surprise the result was 24 of the ships sunk in a 15-minute raid.  12 of the wrecks have been located mostly around the smaller islands to the west of Coron near Tangat (Sangat) Island 1-2 hours from Coron town.  The majority are shallow enough for recreational divers with the deepest the Irako at 43 meters (143 feet) in depth.  Accessibility at 30 meters (100 feet) or less makes practically all of them great candidates for an extended bottom time through the use of Nitrox.  There are a lot of great penetration opportunities and the artificial reef is a pretty rich one with a thick coat of encrusting invertebrates and macro critters like shrimp, crabs, anemones, tunicates, nudibranchs, scorpionfish, lionfish, and crocodilefish, along with big grouper, schooling barracuda, sharks, turtles, and many others.  In addition to the wrecks, there are a number of other intriguing locations including Barracuda Lake in a mountain crater, and several nice reef dives for a change of pace.

Seasons and Conditions – Diving around Coron is possible year-round.

• Air temperature is always nice and warm with daily highs ranging from 31 to 34°C (88 to 93°F).
• Water temperature consistently stays from 25 to 31°C (77 to 88°F).  A 3 mm wetsuit is probably the most thermal protection needed for most.
• The rainy season is from June through September which sometimes interferes with diving.  The liveaboards schedule around the wet weather.
• Currents run from mild to strong depending on the location and tidal conditions.
• Visibility is normally in a range of 5-15 meters (16-50 feet) with the best coming in the dry season from November through June.
• There are sites suitable for all level of diver. Around 20 dive shops are in operation in Coron town and a dozen or so more not too far away at resorts that can offer a full range of diving coursework, equipment rental, guiding, and boat cruises. Some of them also arrange safaris to Apo Reef and other outlying sites.

A number of liveaboards dive the wrecks in Coron on safaris combined with Apo Reef to the east.  Here is my review and five vessels that offer that cruise:

• Best Coron Wrecks & Apo Reef Liveaboard

MV Discovery Palawan – Check the Price

MV Dolphin – Check the Price

PY Atlantis Azores – Check the Price

Flying Dolphin 3 – Check the Price

MY Resolute – Check the Price

For other posts about Philippine diving, please check these:

• Scuba Diving Romblon Philippines
• Scuba Diving Camiguin Philippines Review
• Scuba Diving Siquijor Island Philippines Review
• Scuba Diving Dumaguete Philippines Review
• Philippines Puerto Princesa Scuba Diving Review
• Best Liveaboard Diving – Tubbataha Reefs National Park
• Best Liveaboard Scuba Diving Philippines
• Best Scuba Diving Philippines Subic Bay Wrecks 
• Best Diving Bohol Philippines – Panglao Island Resorts
• Best Scuba Diving Puerto Galera Philippines
• Best Scuba Diving Holidays Boracay Philippines
• Best Scuba Diving Philippines Sogod Bay
• Philippines Best Diving Mactan Island
• Best Philippines Diving Bacuit Bay El Nido
• Best Diving Philippines Anilao Batangas
• Best Diving Review Anda Bohol
• Best Scuba Diving Resorts Malapascua
• Best Diving Philippines Visayas Liveaboards
• Philippines Moalboal Scuba Diving Review

Selected Coron Wrecks & Dive Sites

Akitsushima (near Manglet Island): 17-38 meters (57-125 feet), 118-meter (395-foot) Japanese seaplane tender, hit by a torpedo toward the stern with great damage, lying on its port side, penetration is possible into the engine room and other areas, many guns are in place as is the crane for loading the Kawanishi seaplanes, live ammo is still found in place, lots of batfish, grouper, sweetlips, lionfish, scorpion fish, yellowfin tuna, and barracudas, experienced and technical levels

Irako (mouth of Coron Bay off Tangat Island): 28-43 meters (93-143 feet), 147-meter (490-foot) refrigerated provision boat, largely intact sitting upright, deck can be reached at 28-35 meters (93-120 feet), penetration into the engine room and cargo holds is possible, two turtles in residence, grouper, schools of fusiliers, jacks, and yellowfin tuna, rays near the mast section, experienced and technical levels

Okikawa Maru (near Concepcion): deck at 10-16 meters (35-53 feet), 168-meter (560-foot) Japanese tanker, resting upright, folded near the bow, penetration opportunities through the propeller shaft and into the engine room, there is no engine but two boilers, lots of lettuce coral, soft coral, and sponges, many macro critters including nudibranchs, scorpionfish, lionfish, and pufferfish, other fish highlights are sweetlips, grouper, lionfish, surgeonfish, wrasse, and soldierfish, strong current is possible, all levels

Skeleton (off Coron Island to the northwest): 5-22 meters (16-73 feet), 25-meter (83-foot) deteriorated wreck with only the frame remaining, opening on the starboard side at 14 meters (47 feet) allowing penetration, lots of places for macro critters like ghost pipefish, scorpionfish, and nudibranchs, lots of reef fish, angelfish, damselfish, and turtles, tuna, reef sharks and turtles possible, can also continue on the adjacent reef, all levels and snorkeling

Tangat Wreck (near Tangat Island): 30 meters (100 feet), 160-meter (535-foot) cargo ship resting upright, masts still in place, large open cargo holds for easy penetration the length of the ship with a few tight squeezes, huge pufferfish, schools of banana fish, large turtles, experienced level

Lusong Gunboat (east of Lusong Island): 15 meters (50 feet), small submarine hunter, stern pushes through the surface at low tide, much of the main structure is missing, next to a coral reef, lots of soft corals and sponges, anemones and clownfish, pufferfish, angelfish, butterflyfish, wrasses, parrotfish, cuttlefish, and other reef tropicals, mild current, all levels and snorkeling

Kogyo Maru (north of the Irako off Tangat Island): 38 meters (127 feet), 158-meter (526-foot) Japanese freighter, fairly well intact lying on her port side, penetration is possible to all six holds, the bridge, and huge engine room, the second hold still contains a tractor, air compressor, bulldozer, and cement bags, well encrusted with hard and soft corals, marine life includes waspfish, scorpionfish, razorfish, lionfish, batfish, snapper, crocodile fish, groupers, barracuda, turtles, and rays, experienced and technical levels

Olympia Maru (west of Tangat Island): 25 meters (83 feet), 120-meter (400-foot) Japanese army cargo vessel, lying on her starboard side, intact, cargo rooms can be penetrated, divers can view the inner stern, gangways, locker rooms, boilers, and gangway, superstructure encrusted in sponges, soft coral, and black coral, pufferfish, lionfish, scorpion fish, crocodile fish, razorfish, glassfish, snappers, seahorses, ghost pipefish,  large schools of banana fish, batfish, experienced level

Barracuda Lake (on Coron Island): 35 meters (120 feet) maximum depth, mountain lake with a mix of spring water and salt water, near the surface it is fresh and gets saltier and warmer on descent, not much marine life, interesting moonlike terrain with some limestone pinnacles around the edge, some small catfish, freshwater shrimps, and clams, a channel leads to the sea where there are snappers, pufferfish, batfish, and a 1.5-meter barracuda that resides in the lake, at the surface the water is clear and turns brownish the deeper you go,  requires a 15 minute hike with your equipment up the mountain to the crater lake

Bugor Reef (off the north shore of Culion Island): 3-35 meters (10-120 feet), a sloping reef with rich marine life, hard and soft corals, batfish, moray eels, pufferfish, and many reef tropicals, giant clams, possible leopard and guitar sharks, all levels

7 Islands Reef or Siete Picado (off Coron Island): 24 meters (80 feet) maximum depth, a marine sanctuary, variety of hard and soft corals, lots of fish and macro critters including batfish, barracuda, grouper, emperor angelfish, moray eels, mandarin fish, lobsters, seahorses, nudibranchs, cuttlefish, giant clams, turtles, stingrays, and eagle rays, strong current is possible, all levels

Coron Things to Do (aside from scuba diving)

The best things to do in this remote island paradise involve enjoying nature, the scenery, and the hospitality of the people.  Here are some highlight attractions to consider:  Banol Beach, Barracuda Lake, Kayangan Lake, Caluit Safari Park, Black Island, Culion Island (home of the now-closed historic leper colony), Mt. Tapyas, Maquinit Hot Springs, Twin Lagoons, Bulog Island, Kingfisher Park, Banana Island, Levine’s (restaurant).

This video gives a nice view of the scenery and some options for a visitor.

Coron Hotels, Resorts, Transportation, and Diving Services

• Air – There are frequent flights from Manila to Francisco B. Reyes Airport in Coron on PAL Express and Cebu Pacific Airlines.  On Tuesdays and Fridays, there are also flights from Puerto Princesa and Caticlan (Boracay) on Air Juan.  Airport to town transfers can be made by van at low prices.
• Boat – There are several sleeper ferries per week running between Manila and Coron and Puerto Princesa and Coron.  Fast and slow boats run between El Nido and Coron four times per day.  The fast boat takes 3.5 hours and the slow one takes 8 hours.
• Buses and Jeepneys are available at the tourist center for trips to outlying areas.
• Taxis are not in use.
• Tricycles are available at very low rates for trips around town.
• Motorcycle Rental is also an option which is useful for short trips out of town and into the mountains and countryside.

For more complete details of tourist information, please go here:  Coron – Wikitravel

Hotels and Diving – There are over 100 hotel and lodging options of all levels in Coron starting at $4 per night.  At last count, there were 20 dive shops in Coron town and another dozen or so not far away.  A number of them are located in or affiliated with resorts and offer a range of services including equipment rental, diving certification classes, dive guides, and boat tours.  Some organize safaris to Apo Reef and other outlying sites.  The website linked below has the details and can arrange the booking.  You can easily find the location on the map provided on this site.  Their rates are guaranteed to be the lowest and it is free to cancel or change dates.

• Coron Hotels, Resorts

Coron Photos

With the coral reefs, a variety of reef fish, wrecks, and macro critters, and scenic shoreside targets, as well, there are many excellent photo opportunities.  For information and reviews of dive cameras, click here:

• Best Underwater Cameras Compared and Reviewed

Scuba Diving Trip Insurance

A cushion for emergencies provides peace of mind when on vacation.  I recommend this diving insurance as they have worldwide coverage and provide scuba divers a quality insurance and medical assistance service.

Feedback and Comments

I hope you found this post on Coron scuba diving interesting and useful. If you have any questions or ideas, please feel free to share them in the comments section.  I’d love to know of any experience you have diving in Coron.  If there is no comments section directly below, click here:  >>comments<<

This is the one hundred and first in a series of reviews of the best dive resort locations around the world.  In this post, the focus is on Jamaica. In addition to this series on dive resort locations, the best worldwide liveaboard diving locations and services are reviewed in their own series.  To check them out, or others in this series, click on Liveaboards/Resorts on the menu at the top and choose a title from the list.

Have you ever been diving in Jamaica before?  If so, I’d love to know about your experience.  What dive shop did you use?  Which dive spots are the best and what are the conditions there regarding the visibility, current, water temperature, sealife attractions, etc.?  Please post your response in the comments section at the bottom and we’ll all learn something we can use.

Best Scuba Diving Jamaica

Background – Jamaica is situated 145 kilometers (90 miles) south of Cuba and 191 kilometers (119 miles) west of Haiti.  This member of the British Commonwealth which became independent in 1962 has a population just under 3 million and is this 4^th largest country by area in the Caribbean.  Settled by the Taino and Arawak peoples sometime between 4,000 and 1,000 BC, it was first visited by Columbus in 1494.  Spanish control was followed by British rule where the exploitation of timber and cultivation of sugar and fruit changed the natural landscape and brought on a lengthy period of African slavery until abolition in the 19^th century.  In spite of the historic changes to the ecology and wildlife, Jamaica today has a diverse ecosystem on a mountainous terrain of forests and rivers.  It also has a diversified mixed economy with 4.3 million annual tourists playing a significant role.  The official language is English, but the language of the street is Patois, derived from English, which has recently begun to be taught formally in the Jamaican educational system.  69% of Jamaicans are Christian.

Undersea World – Jamaica used to be known as a place where abusive fishing practices had significantly damaged the reef and the diving wasn’t top class.  Over the recent decades, the destructive methods have been largely curtailed and completely eradicated in several marine protected area.  The Cayman Trench near the north shore feeds nutrient-rich cold water from the depths to Jamaican reefs.  There are eight or nine developed areas around the island where divers can enjoy a variety of subsea terrain with shallow coral gardens, walls, tunnels, and wrecks and fairly rich marine life including 260 species of reef fish, lots of hard coral, sponges, and gorgonians, and rich macro life.  Commonly seen highlights include butterflyfish, angelfish, sharpnose puffers, bluehead wrasses, moray eels, parrotfish, spadefish, nudibranchs, lobster, barracuda, stingrays, eagle rays, nurse and reef sharks, and turtles.

Seasons and Conditions – Diving is possible all year in Jamaica.

• Air temperature is always warm with daily highs ranging from 30 to 33°C (86 to 91°F) all year in Kingston.  There will be some variation in different latitudes and altitudes around the country.
• Water temperature consistently stays from 26 to 30°C (79 to 86°F) most of the year.  A 3 mm wetsuit is probably the most thermal protection needed for most.
• June through September is the best time to dive with calm water conditions and the best visibility. The rainy season is from October through May with hurricanes most possible in October and November.
• Current – Dive sites in Montego Bay and on the south side have a degree of protection from the wind and current which comes from the north.  However, sites around the island can have moderate to strong current at times.
• Visibility is normally in a range of 21-30 meters (70-100 feet).  That will be influenced lower if the site is near a river or affected by wind and rain.
• There are sites suitable for all level of diver. Dozens of dive shops are in operation around the island that can offer a full range of diving coursework, equipment rental, guiding, and boat cruises.

Jamaica currently does not have liveaboard diving available.

There are three liveaboard dive boats cruising nearby Cuba’s Jardines de la Reina.  Here is my review of the boats and diving there and links to the liveaboard vessels and booking:

• Best Cuba Scuba Diving Liveaboard Jardines de la Reina

MV Avalon I – Check the Price

MV Avalon II- Check the Price

Tortuga – Check the Price

The nearby Caymans also have a liveaboard cruising there.  Here are my review and a link to the vessel.

• Best Diving Cayman Islands

Cayman Aggressor V – Check the Price

Here are my reviews of other Caribbean dive locations and liveaboards:

• Scuba Diving Cuba – Best Dive Sites Scuba
• Scuba Diving the Dominican Republic
• Best Scuba Diving Panama
• Scuba Diving Cancun Mexico
• Best Scuba Diving Puerto Rico
• Scuba Diving St Vincent and the Grenadines Review
• St. Lucia Scuba Diving Review
• Cozumel Scuba Diving Review
• St. Martin Scuba Diving Review
• Turks and Caicos Scuba Diving Review
• Best US Virgin Islands Vacations Scuba Diving
• Best Trinidad and Tobago Vacations Scuba Diving
• Best Caribbean Beach Vacations Curacao Scuba Diving
• Best Caribbean Diving Destinations Aruba
• Best Caribbean Dive Vacations Bonaire
• Best Tropical Island Vacations Dominica Scuba Diving
• Best Caribbean Scuba Diving Los Roques Venezuela
• Barbados Scuba Dive Vacations
• Grenada Scuba Diving Review
• Best Scuba Diving Caribbean – Martinique
• Best British Virgin Island Diving Liveaboard
• Best Bahamas Liveaboard Scuba Vacations
• Best Roatan Honduras Liveaboard Reviews
• Best Belize Dive Trips & Cocos Island Diving
• Best Caribbean Liveaboard Dive Trips

Selection of the Best Jamaica Dive Sites

The Throne Room, Negril: 12-21 meters (40-70 feet), less than 10 minutes from shore, a cavern with a 2.5- meter (8-foot) opening penetrating 8 meters (25 feet) in length, there is an exit window at the bottom, to a point there is still direct access to the surface, good photo opportunities, all levels

Shark’s Reef, Negril: 23 meters (75 feet) maximum depth, 20 minutes from shore, a coral reef with overhangs sloping to a sandy bottom at maximum depth, nurse sharks and stingrays frequent the sandy area, experienced level

Deep Plane, Negril: 27 meters (90 feet) maximum depth, 20 minutes from shore, small plane sunk to become an artificial reef, richly encrusted, spadefish, ocean triggerfish, turtles, and barracuda, experienced level

Widowmaker’s Cave, Montego Bay: 24 meters (80 feet) maximum depth, 20 minutes from shore, chimney-like cave with an opening at 10 meters (35 feet) descending to 24 meters (80 feet) and an exit, the walls are  covered in soft and black corals, schools of glassy sweepers within, experienced level for full penetration

The Point, Montego Bay: 24-33 meters (80-110 feet), 20 minutes from shore, ocean current site bathed in plankton, soft corals and basket sponges, lots of fish, turtles, reef sharks, and eagle rays, visibility is usually excellent, experienced level

SS Kathryn Wreck, Ocho Rios: 15 meters (50 feet) maximum depth, 10 minutes from shore, 35-meter (120-foot) minesweeper sunk in the 1980s on a cavernous reef system, well encrusted with barrel sponges and sea fans, snappers, sea snakes, lobster, eels, flaming scallops, sergeant majors, stingrays, and nurse sharks, all levels

Alligator Head, Port Antonio: 18-48 meters (60-160 feet), 25 minutes from shore, part of a long 5 part reef system, coral reef descending from 15 meters (50 feet) to 18 meters (60 feet) which drops of from there on a wall to 48 meters (160 feet), rich plant life, barrel, vase, and tube sponges, gorgonians, grouper, snapper, triggerfish, barracuda, and jacks, experienced level

Groupers Drop, Runaway Bay: 21-36 meters (70-120 feet), 20 minutes from shore, a wall between the 2 listed depths, strong current possible, lots of creole wrasse, and barracuda, experienced level

Peter Tosh, Treasure Beach: 18 meters (60 feet), 25 minutes from shore, in front of Reggae star Peter Tosh’s childhood house, pristine corals, eagle rays often spotted, experienced level

Port Royal Cays, Kingston:  near the sunken city of historical Port Royal (sunk in 1692 by an earthquake and tidal wave), the lair of 15th-century pirates, diving is restricted there, but permission may be attainable, nearby Port Royal Cays has many historic shipwrecks in shallow water on nice reefs, all levels

Jamaica Things to Do (aside from scuba diving)

There is so much to do in this country with such a beautiful natural setting, intriguing culture, and history.  Here are just a few to consider: visit a waterfall like YS Falls, Mayfield Falls, Dunns River Falls, or Reach Falls, watch a sunset, listen to live reggae music, watch cliff jumpers at Rick’s Cafe, drink blue mountain coffee or Jamaican Rum Punch, go on an Appleton Estate rum tour, go parasailing, visit the Bob Marley Museum, eat a Jamaican patty or jerk chicken from a street vendor, get a massage on the beach, go bamboo rafting on Martha Brae River, have a drink at a local bar.

This video gives a nice view of the country and some options for a visitor.

Jamaica Hotels, Resorts, Transportation, and Diving Services

• Air – Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston and Donald Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay handle international traffic from many locations.  There is also a second airport in Kingston and other smaller ones in Negril and Ocho Rios where charters and private aircraft are serviced.
• Train – There is no passenger train service in the country.
• Boat – Several cruise lines land on Jamaica.  Hotels and tourist companies offer trips along the coastline.  Fisherman can be chartered to provide transportation.  Watch out for overcharging and poor quality.
• Bus – Local bus service is cheap and reasonably reliable.  Many hotels and tour companies use buses for day trips and excursions.
• Route Taxis – These run a sort of bus service on routes, but do it from a car with multiple passengers at reasonable pricing.
• Taxis – Licensed regular taxi service is available at airports and tourist locations and is expensive.
• Rental Cars are readily available but beware of poor roads, congestion, uncautious drivers, and driving on the left.

For more complete details of tourist information, please go here:  Jamaica – Wikitravel

Hotels and Diving – The tourism infrastructure is substantial in Jamaica.  In order to meet the needs of the 4.3 million annual tourists, there are hundreds of hotels and resorts in seaside resort locations around the country starting at $13 per night.  The major diving locations are serviced by several dozen dive operations.  Many of them are located in or affiliated with resorts and offer a range of services including equipment rental, diving certification classes, dive guides, and boat tours.  The website linked below has the details and can arrange the booking.  You can easily find the location on the map provided on this site.  Their rates are guaranteed to be the lowest and it is free to cancel or change dates.

• Jamaica Hotels, Resorts

Jamaica Photos

With the pristine coral reef, variety of sharks, rays, grouper, reef fish, wrecks, and other underwater attractions, and scenic and historic shoreside targets, as well, there are many excellent photo opportunities.  For information and reviews of dive cameras, click here:

• Best Underwater Cameras Compared and Reviewed

Scuba Diving Trip Insurance

A cushion for emergencies provides peace of mind when on vacation.  I recommend this diving insurance as they have worldwide coverage and provide scuba divers a quality insurance and medical assistance service.

Feedback and Comments

I hope you found this post on Jamaica scuba diving interesting and useful. If you have any questions or ideas, please feel free to share them in the comments section.  I’d love to know of any experience you have diving in Jamaica.  If there is no comments section directly below, click here:  >>comments<<

This is the one hundredth in a series of reviews of the best dive resort locations around the world.  In this post, the focus is on the Maldives. In addition to this series on dive resort locations, the best worldwide liveaboard diving locations and services are reviewed in their own series.  To check them out, or others in this series, click on Liveaboards/Resorts on the menu at the top and choose a title from the list.

Have you ever been diving in the Maldives before?  If so, I’d love to know about your experience.  What liveaboard or dive shop did you use?  What are the best dive spots and the conditions there like the visibility, current, water temperature, sealife attractions, etc.?  Please post your response in the comments section at the bottom and we’ll all learn something we can use.

Maldives Scuba Diving 

Situated southwest of Sri Lanka 1,000 kilometers (625 miles) from the Indian sub-continent is the nation of the Maldives.  The 26 atolls that make up the country consist of 1,192 islands, 200 of which are inhabited, and 80 of which have resorts.  It is a Sunni Muslim country of 428,000 citizens with South Indian, Sinhalese, and Arabic influence which relies on tourism for 28% of the GDP and 90% of government tax revenue.  While pork, alcohol, drugs, and public observance of non-Muslim religion is banned, there appears to be a blind eye toward such activities on the resorts.

Please refer to my earlier post for background information about the undersea environment, seasons and conditions, current, visibility, and a general discussion of the central and outer atolls.

• Best Liveaboard Diving Maldives

Best Dive Sites Maldives

Broken Rock, South Ari Atoll: 12-25 meters (40-83 feet), a pinnacle split in two by a 50-meter (165-foot) long canyon, the pinnacles top out at 12 meters (40 feet) and extend to a depth of 25 meters (83 feet), you can execute a dive through the canyon or around the outside of the pinnacle, lots of soft coral, gorgonian fans, and sponges, there is another rock formation to the east that peaks at 17 meters (57 feet), highlights include schools of blue-lined snappers and barracuda, moray eels, Napoleon wrasse, and whale sharks during their peak times in May and November, currents can be strong, experienced level

Five Rocks, South Ari Atoll: 12-40 meters (40-130 feet), 5 rocky formations roughly in a circle peaking at 12 meters (40 feet) and extending down to a sandy bottom at 40 meters (130 feet), channels between the rocks have numerous crevices, overhangs, and caverns featuring gorgonian fans, tube sponges, anemones, and encrusting algae, nooks and crannies harbor great macro critters like mantis shrimp, and honeycomb moray eels, orange damselfish can be found upside down in the caverns, other highlights are stingrays, whitetip reef sharks, schools of grunts and jacks and Napoleon wrasse, at the end of the dive you can fin 21 meters (70 feet) across the channel to rocks that rise to 7 meters (23 feet) for further exploration as you move to your safety stop, this area often has huge schools of red-tooth triggerfish and bannerfish, experienced level

Fish Head, North Ari Atoll: 10-35 meters (35-120 feet), this top shark spot is a pinnacle from 10-35 meters (35-120 feet), numerous overhangs and caves, lots of black coral and large gorgonian fans, big schools of blue-lined snappers, other highlights are schools of fusiliers and batfish, Napoleon wrasse, and around 16 resident grey ree sharks, pelagics and spotted eagle rays are a possibility, currents can be strong, experienced level

Fesdu Wreck, North Ari Atoll: 30 meters (100 feet), 30-meter (100-foot) fishing trawler scuttled to become an artificial reef,  on a sandy bottom, stern is at 27 meters (90 feet), bow at 30 meters (100 feet), the shallowest section is at 12 meters (40 feet), well encrusted with soft and hard corals, sponges, tube coral, and crinoids, schools of anthias and glassfish visible in the wheelhouse, lionfish, butterflyfish, nudibranchs on sponges, morays, red-mouthed grouper, and bluefin jacks are all commonly spotted, passageways are narrow, advanced divers only are advised to penetrate, experienced level

Banana Reef, North Male Atoll: 10-30 meters (35-100 feet), curving reef reminiscent of a banana that is a marine protected area close to the resort areas in the south of North Male Atoll, very rich corals, on a terrain with overhangs, caves, and caverns, many gorgonian fans, highlights include  lobsters, moray eels, huge schools of bannerfish, Napoleon wrasse, jacks, grouper, and reef sharks, currents can be strong, one section of the site is known as the “washing machine,” all levels

Maldives Victory Wreck, North Male Atoll: 35 meters (120 feet) maximum depth, 100-meter (350-foot) Singaporean cargo ship that ran aground in 1981 with no life lost, you can reach the main deck at 12 meters (40 feet), strong current is possible, making your way along the deck to 25 meters (83 feet) you can shelter from the current, well encrusted with coral and sea fans, penetration of the wheelhouse there is possible, highlights are batfish, big pufferfish and grouper, schools of fusiliers, and turtles, other residents include soldierfish, hawkfish, lionfish, pipefish, and nudibranchs, experienced level

Kandooma Thila, South Male Atoll: 13-40 meters (43-130 feet), teardrop-shaped formation with a pinnacle topping out at 13 meters (43 feet) descending to a sandy bottom at 40 meters (130 feet), the formation is about 300 meters (1000 feet) long requiring more than one dive to explore it all, on the west and north sides is a cave at 23 meters (75 feet) called Jack’s Corner with lots of soft coral and big schools of jacks and red bass, and barracuda in that section, many green turtles, singular grey and whitetip reef sharks, numerous hard coral blocks all around the pinnacle, often there is strong current running west to east, experienced level

Alimatha Jetty, Vaavu Atoll, Southern Atolls: jetty in front of the resort was historically used as a feeding station, a practice supposedly discontinued, today there are many 3-meter (10-foot) nurse sharks, black-blotched and cow-tail stingrays, giant trevally, and lots of fascinating macro critters that live in the shallow water under the jetty, excellent night dive, all levels

Dhonfanu Thila, Baa Atoll, Northern Atolls: Dhonfanu Thila is a submerged pinnacle known for massive amounts of fish, manta rays, and pelagics, strong currents possible, there is a swim-through with an entrance at 18 meters (60 feet) descending to 25 meters (83 feet), parrotfish, several species of butterflyfish, red-toothed triggerfish, angelfish, unicornfish, cleaner wrasse, and starry rabbitfish are all prominent along with many others, experienced level

A number of liveaboard yachts cruise the Maldives for scuba diving.  Here is a review and links to a few of the best boats:

• Best Liveaboard Diving Maldives

Most Popular – MV Adora – Check the Price

Staff Choice – MV Emperor Leo – Check the Price

Great Value – MV Amba – Check the Price

Top-Rated – MV Carpe Vita – Check the Price

Small Group – MY Sheena – Check the Price

Photographers’ Favorite – Maldives Aggressor II

Here are reviews of a couple of relatively nearby Indian Ocean dive sites:

• Scuba Diving the Andaman Islands
• Best Sri Lanka Diving

Maldives Hotels, Transportation, and Diving Services

• Air – Velana International Airport is the primary port of entry for the country located in Male, the capital.  Regularly scheduled flights from China, Sri Lanka, Dubai, and several Southeast Asian countries land there as well as charters from Europe, and British Airways flights from October through March departing from London Gatwick.  Trans Maldivian Airways provides air taxi service to domestic airports around the country using 15 passenger seaplanes.  No airport is more than 90 minutes away. 
• Boat – There are no regularly scheduled passenger boats from outside the Maldives that land there.  Taxi boats travel between the atolls of North and South Male.  Public dhoni ferries and cargo boats provide a more rugged service at low prices to a number of island destinations.  Private yachts provide service by special arrangement.

For more complete details of tourist information, please go here:  Maldives – Wikivoyage

Hotels and Diving – There are nearly 400 resorts and accommodation ranging from $19-$1,863 with the majority on the central atolls.  There are many dozens of dive shops mostly located in resorts that can provide a full range of services which include equipment rental, dive classes, dive guiding, and boat tours.  The liveaboards are so popular that they are at times fully booked, in which case these resorts are an excellent alternative.  This website is a good source for the available options and can arrange a booking.  You can easily find the location on the map provided on the site.  Their rates are guaranteed to be the lowest and it is free to cancel or change dates.

• Maldives Islands Resorts

Maldives Photos

With the pristine coral reef, variety of sharks, rays, grouper, reef fish, wrecks, and other underwater attractions, and scenic shoreside targets, as well, there are many excellent photo opportunities.  For information and reviews of dive cameras, click here:

• Best Underwater Cameras Compared and Reviewed

Scuba Diving Trip Insurance

A cushion for emergencies provides peace of mind when on vacation.  I recommend this diving insurance as they have worldwide coverage and provide scuba divers a quality insurance and medical assistance service.

Feedback and Comments

I hope you found this post on Maldives scuba diving interesting and useful. If you have any questions or ideas, please feel free to share them in the comments section.  I’d love to know of any experience you have diving in the Maldives.  If there is no comments section directly below, click here:  >>comments<<