Diving in Jamaica
In all honesty, Jamaica is not known for great diving. If you are an experienced diver who has traveled the world you will be disappointed. However, if this is your first dive trip abroad or you want to learn how to dive, you will be pleasantly surprised.

There are many sites within a 10 to 20 minute boat ride from Breezes Runaway Bay. The deep sites usually offer sloping or vertical walls. Reef life ranging from barracuda, spotted eagle rays, southern stingrays, turtles and many other colorful forms of small fish life can be seen the dive sites. Colorful sponges, soft corals and anemones are common. There are also artificial reefs including several airplanes, and a boat.

All diving is done from a boat, which you enter from the shore. All gear is provided, however you may want to bring your own mask. The water temperatures run from 77 to 82 in the winter and 80 to 85 in the summer. Wet suits are not provided so if you tend to get cold a 3mm wet-suit or shorty should suffice. All dives are "follow the leader" guided dives, but a certain amount of freedom is allowed. The first dive is typically 80 feet for 20 minutes, and the second dive is 30 feet for 30 minutes. The boat leaves at 9:00AM and is back by 11:00.

Night diving is available for an additional charge.

Discover Diving Class
Wondering what diving is all about? This is a great way to check out the gear and get wet and find out if diving is for you. A resort course starts with a pool session where you get to try on the equipment, learn the basics of how to use it, and find out if you are comfortable with all the gear. After words, you go out on a dive, accompanied by an instructor. If you have been thinking about learning how to dive, this is a great way to try before you buy! If you want to do a resort course, be sure to check with Superclubs well before your trip for the current medical requirements. You may need a medical release. The cost for the course is about $70.00


Pool Checkout Dive

TIP You may find that your local dive shop has an "Intro to Scuba" night or similar program. Here they let you try diving in a swimming pool, normally for no-charge or a minmal charge. If you get hooked check out a Referral Certification.

Certification
You can get a PADI certification at Breezes, the fee is $300.00. I would not recommend it; check out the Referral Certification below.

Referral certification
PADI offers a referral certification. I highly recommend this method! You take all of the classes and pool sessions before you leave, and when you get to the resort, after two days you are a certified diver! The cost at Breezes is about $200.00 plus the costs from your local dive center. The advantage of this program is that you don't waste your entire vacation studying. And just think, if you are from the north, or the pacific coast, while everyone else is freezing diving in some cold ocean, lake, or quarry, you are diving in the tropics, with Ivan's Jerk Chicken waiting for you after the dive!

For more information about diving at Breezes Runaway Bay, visit Scubaone Travel.