When I decided to blog about Jamaica, the first memory that came to my mind was when our captain left me in the water with the students and returned to the dive center for coffee. When I finished the dive, there was no boat and no captain… Welcome to Jamaica!
As I mentioned in my previous article, Jamaica may be the most beautiful island in the Caribbean. If you are planning to dive here, Montego Bay, located in the Northwest of Jamaica, should definitely be on your list.
Montego Bay, a location I really enjoy doing courses in, offers suitable diving conditions for divers of all levels.
Water temperatures are between 25C and 29C throughout the year. Between November and April there is less rain and better visibility in the ocean. Between May and October, humidity is a little high and there are occasional short, steady showers, but conditions are still very favorable for diving.
When you first enter the water, you may be fascinated by the diversity and vibrancy of the coral reefs. Coral species such as elkhorn, staghorn, and brain coral are spread all over the sea floor. But after spending some time in Jamaica, I realized that the fish diversity is less than in other parts of the Caribbean. After doing some research, I learned that what I saw was misleading.
Coral reefs in Jamaica are actually not as healthy as I thought. Since the 1970s, coral reefs have been reduced by half due to natural events such as overfishing, pollution, human activities and hurricanes. In some regions, coral reefs have disappeared by 95%. This naturally led to a decrease in fish diversity.
In order to reduce the effects of this extinction, new habitats have been tried to be created through artificial wrecks. But the biggest danger of artificial reefs created unconsciously without research is that they swing between being a reef and becoming garbage…
The reason why Montego Bay still looks healthy in terms of coral reefs is that a series of measures have been taken in this area. Restricting human activities, prohibiting boats from anchoring and trying to protect the bottom structure are small steps to keep the area healthy. My opinion is that even though small steps are being taken, it is time to take big steps. In the article I wrote about Palau in the Pacific, I wrote that the whole endangered area was closed to all human activities, including diving, if necessary.
Because of the way the coral reefs of Montego Bay are spread out, there can be some current near the shore. And there is almost constant surface activity. For this reason, it is not a very suitable place to spend a long time on a boat. But once you jump in the water, Jamaica will not disappoint you.
As divers, we are very lucky to have the opportunity to explore the underwater world. If we do not want to be the last generation to have this opportunity, we are responsible for passing on what we see and know. As instructors, it is among our duties to raise responsible and conscious students. For this reason, we must first educate ourselves and then spread this to our students.
