Jamaica Dive Shops: How to Choose the Right Operator
Jamaica dive shops range from small family-run centres to dive desks inside all-inclusive resorts. Here is how to pick a good one in each region, what to ask before you book, and which courses are worth doing on the island.
Licensed Operators Only
In Jamaica, visitors are expected to dive with an operator licensed by the Jamaica Tourist Board, and the marine parks require dive boats to use the park moorings. A licensed shop has its boats, staff and insurance checked, and it knows the park rules on each site. Ask to see the licence if it is not on display, and avoid anyone selling dives from the beach without a shop behind them.
Most shops on the island are affiliated with a training agency, usually PADI or SSI. Agency membership means the instructors are current and the courses follow a recognised standard, which matters if you want your certification accepted anywhere else in the world.
What to Ask Before You Book
- Group size. How many divers go out per guide? Smaller groups mean more time to look around and a guide who can keep an eye on you.
- Boat and schedule. How far is the ride to the sites, and how many dives go out each day? Many north-coast shops run a two-tank morning trip and a single afternoon or night dive.
- Rental gear. Is the gear serviced, and are there sizes for everyone in your group? Ask whether a dive computer is included or extra.
- Safety. Does the boat carry oxygen and a first-aid kit, and is there a radio or phone on board? Where is the nearest hyperbaric chamber?
- Sites for your level. If you want walls, wrecks or deeper sites, say so when you book. Some shops ask for a recent logbook or a check dive first.
- Cancellations. What happens if weather cancels a trip? Good shops move you to the next day or refund unused dives.
Dive Shops by Region
Choose your region first, then a shop close to where you stay. The sites each area dives are covered in the Jamaica dive travel guide.
Negril
Shops cluster along Seven Mile Beach and the West End cliffs. Calm, shallow water makes Negril a popular place for open-water courses and snorkel trips, and boats reach the marine park sites quickly.
Montego Bay
Several hotels along the bay have a dive centre on the property, and independent shops serve the rest. Sites in the Montego Bay Marine Park are a short ride away, so it is easy to fit a dive in on arrival or departure day.
Runaway Bay
Dive centres here are mostly based at the large resorts. They offer short rides to the north-coast wall and are a good fit for divers who want two or three dives a day.
Ocho Rios
Shops serve both resort guests and cruise passengers. Book early on cruise-ship days, and ask about the Kathryn wreck and the deeper reef sites if you have the experience.
Port Royal and Kingston
A small number of operators run boats to the cays and wrecks off Kingston Harbour. These trips need more planning, and conditions change more, so contact the shop well before you travel.
Resort dive desks
Many all-inclusive resorts include a dive or two in the room rate. Check how many dives are included, whether extra dives cost more, and who runs the operation.
Courses Worth Doing in Jamaica
Try-dive or Discover Scuba. A short pool session followed by a shallow guided dive. It is the easiest way to find out whether diving is for you, and Jamaica's warm, calm reefs are a comfortable place to try.
Open Water Diver. The first full certification. Many visitors do the theory online at home, then finish the pool and open-water dives on holiday in three or four days.
Advanced Open Water. Five adventure dives, usually including a deep dive and navigation. It is a good next step before you dive the deeper walls of the north coast.
Specialties. Wreck, night, enriched air (nitrox) and underwater photography courses are all available at larger shops.
Getting the Most From Your Dive Days
Book your first dive for the morning after you arrive, not the day you land. A good night's sleep and plenty of water make for an easier first dive in warm weather. Tell the shop about any medical conditions on the form; Jamaica's operators follow the same medical rules as shops anywhere else.
Bring your own mask and, if you have one, your dive computer. Everything else can be rented, and our scuba diving gear guide for Jamaica explains what is worth packing. Tip your guide and boat crew if they look after you: it is customary, and the crews work hard in the heat.
Staying near the dock makes early boats easier. The Jamaica dive accommodations guide lists what to look for in each region.
Jamaica Dive Shop Questions
Do I need to book Jamaica dive shops in advance?
In the dry season (December to April) and on cruise-ship days in Ocho Rios and Montego Bay, yes. At other times a day or two ahead is usually enough, but courses should always be booked in advance.
Can I dive in Jamaica without certification?
Yes, on a try-dive with an instructor. To dive with a regular guided group you need a certification card from a recognised agency.
Are dives included at all-inclusive resorts?
Some resorts include one or two dives a day for certified guests. Check the details before you book, because equipment, courses and extra dives often cost more.