Dive sites in Jamaica

Situated along the reef system of the Montego Bay Marine Park, Basket Reef is named after the massive barrel and basket sponges anchoring its coral spurs. Divers drift along coral buttresses that transition into a deep wall dropping into the Caribbean abyss. Gorgonian sea fans, whip corals, and wire corals sprout from the hard substrate, providing shelter for small reef critters and nurseries for juvenile fish.

Chatham Reef lies just off the coast of Montego Bay within the protected marine park waters. The site features classic Caribbean spur-and-groove coral formations interspersed with sand channels, leading to a gentle slope dotted with sea fans, barrel sponges, and soft coral colonies. Divers navigate low-relief ridges where morays and reef fish shelter among coral heads.

Located within the protected waters of Montego Bay Marine Park, Paradise Reef features low-profile coral ridges interspersed with broad sand channels. The reef structure provides refuge for typical Caribbean reef dwellers, with sea rods, purple gorgonians, and boulder corals dominating the landscape. Divers frequently glide along the gentle slope while looking into crevices for resting crustaceans and small morays.

Located along the north coast near Montego Bay, Spanish Anchor centers around an ancient, coral-encrusted colonial anchor resting amidst spur-and-groove reef formations. Divers navigate sandy channels flanked by hard coral buttresses, where marine life gathers around undercut ledges and sponge-covered overhangs.

Located along the outer edge of Montego Bay Marine Park, The Point features a sloping spur-and-groove reef system that drops into a plunging wall. Because of its exposed position at the headland, water movement can sweep pelagic life past the coral formations. Divers typically drift along the upper plateau before exploring undercut ledges, deep barrel sponges, and gorgonian fans anchored along the drop-off.

Located off Montego Bay, Widowmaker's Cave is a vertical reef chimney that plunges through the coral bedrock. Divers can descend along the outer wall and enter the lower cavern entrance to ascend through the shaft, or run the profile in reverse. Filter-feeding sponges and branching black corals line the dark interior passages before the route opens out onto the sunlit reef drop-off.