Scuba diving gear for Jamaica: a pair of fins standing upright in the sand on a Caribbean beach

Scuba Diving Gear for Jamaica: What to Pack and What to Rent

The right scuba diving gear for Jamaica is lighter than you might think. The water is warm, the dive shops rent most things, and a few personal items make the biggest difference to comfort. Here is the packing list.

Bring These From Home

Some gear is personal: it has to fit you, and a rental version that fits badly can spoil a dive. These are worth the space in your bag.

  • Mask. A mask that seals on your face and doesn't fog is the single most useful thing you can pack. Bring a spare strap and some defog.
  • Dive computer. Your own computer keeps your dive history in one place and shows numbers you already know how to read. Many shops charge extra to rent one.
  • Exposure protection. A 3 mm full wetsuit or a shorty (see below). Rental wetsuits are available, but your own fits better and you know where it has been.
  • Rash guard and leggings. For sun protection on the boat, and as a thin layer under a wetsuit or on its own when snorkeling.
  • Reef-safe sunscreen. Choose a mineral sunscreen without oxybenzone or octinoxate, and put it on well before you get in the water. Better still, cover up with clothing.
  • Certification card and logbook. Digital versions on your phone are usually fine.
  • Surface marker buoy and whistle. Small, light and important on drift and wall dives.

Rent These in Jamaica

Heavy items cost money to fly and are easy to rent from a good shop. Most divers rent these:

  • Tanks and weights. Always supplied by the dive shop.
  • BCD and regulator. Rentals are standard. If you bring your own regulator, have it serviced before the trip and pack it in your carry-on.
  • Fins. Open-heel fins with boots are handy for shore entries, but full-foot fins are fine for boat diving. Shops carry both.

Ask your shop what is included in the dive price. Our Jamaica dive shops guide lists the questions to ask before you book.

Wetsuit Thickness for Jamaican Water

Water around Jamaica is in the high 70s °F in the winter months and climbs to the low or mid 80s °F by late summer. That is warm, but you still lose heat over an hour underwater, especially on a second or third dive of the day.

3 mm full wetsuit: the best all-round choice from December to April, and for anyone who feels the cold.

Shorty or 2 mm suit: fine for most divers from June to October.

Rash guard only: for snorkeling and very shallow dives. It still protects you from sun and stinging hydroids.

Green sea turtle over a reef in warm blue water, where a 3 mm suit is the usual scuba diving gear for Jamaica

Snorkeling Gear for Non-Diving Days

Jamaica is just as good for snorkeling. The shallow reefs in the Negril and Montego Bay marine parks are full of fish within a short swim of the beach or boat. Pack your mask, a snorkel and a pair of short fins, and you can snorkel on rest days and the day before your flight, when diving is off the table.

Cameras and Lights

A compact camera or action camera in a housing is plenty for most visitors. Clear water and bright sun mean you need less artificial light on the shallow reefs, but a small video light brings back the reds and oranges of sponges and corals below about 30 feet. Bring a torch for night dives and for peeking into the swim-throughs at sites such as The Throne Room and Widowmaker's Cave.

Packing and Travel Tips

  • Pack your dive computer, regulator and camera in your carry-on bag.
  • Rinse everything in fresh water after each day of diving. Most shops have rinse tanks; use them.
  • Dry your wetsuit in the shade, not in direct sun.
  • Bring a dry bag for the boat, plus a hat, sunglasses and a light long-sleeved top.
  • Don't wear gloves on the reef unless the shop asks you to. Marine park rules ask divers not to touch anything.

Have your gear ready? Then see the Jamaica dive travel guide for the dive regions and the best time to go.

Scuba Gear Questions for Jamaica

Can I rent all my scuba gear in Jamaica?

Yes. Licensed dive shops rent full sets of gear. Bringing your own mask and computer is still recommended for comfort and familiarity.

Do I need reef-safe sunscreen in Jamaica?

Use a mineral sunscreen without oxybenzone or octinoxate, and cover up with a rash guard where you can. It is kinder to the reefs in the marine parks and works just as well.