Throne Room ranks 1st on the list of the best dive sites in Jamaica. The entrance to the Throne Room is at a depth of 40 feet (ca. 12 meters), where the reef has a 25-foot long and 8-foot wide split. The maximum depth is 70 feet (ca. 21 meters) and there is an exit to open water at 70 feet (ca. 21 meters). You can spend more than one dive here, or visit any of the over 15 other local dive sites.

The Throne Room in Negril is frequently said to as Jamaica's premier scuba diving location. It is highly ranked due to the richness of marine life and interesting coral structures that can be seen there. Stingrays, black corals, eels, octopus, barracuda, yellow sponges, marine coral, snappers, and occasionally dolphins and nurse sharks may be seen during a dive here. The throne-shaped elephant ear sponge that may be observed here gave this reef its name. Once inside the underwater grotto, which is roughly 60 feet below the surface, many divers are mesmerized by the illumination. The striking contrast between light and dark is simply magnificent.

Location: Negril, Jamaica

Frenchman Hole ranks 2nd on the list of the best dive sites in Jamaica. Frenchman Hole is also a dive site where you can sometimes spot moray eels, groupers, nurse sharks and hammerhead sharks. It’s not as popular as some of the other dive sites on the island, but it can be found near Orange River, and features a significant number of ledges along a sloping wall. This dive spot is not far off from the beach, and the cave here is easily accessible with a wide opening. The cavern starts at around 30 ft, and ends at 70 ft.

While you’re swimming around exploring the ocean’s depths, you may also spot nurse sharks, West Indian manatees, as well as bluehead wrasse. Some people have even reported spotting larger sharks and whales during migration season in some areas. Whether you go for a shallow dive or something with a little more depth, there are lots to experience beneath the waves in Frenchman Hole.

Widowmaker’s Cave in Montego Bay reportedly gets its name from a James Bond novel, not because it is deadly. It could be better called a cavern or a chimney. There is an opening on a reef at 35 feet. It is the most famous site for scuba diving in Montego Bay. Divers have the option of starting this dive from two different areas – from the top, or from the bottom near the 80 ft mark.

Whether you start from the bottom and make your way to the top, or from the top and make your way down, you’ll be able to see the same unique sights along the way. Different challenges are in store depending on the route you take, but there are safety stops along the way. On this dive, you can see things like black corals which cover the walls, various soft corals, parrotfish, barracuda, and more. Beware of things like fire coral, which will irritate your skin and affect your dive in a negative way if it touches your skin. Other than that, the creatures you’re likely to see around the island, at popular dive sites, are generally harmless.

Location: Montego Bay, Jamaica

The Catherine (or The Kathryn-Caverns) ranks 4th on the list of the best dive sites in Jamaica. It is a great scuba diving site, just off the coast of Ocho Rios in Jamaica. The Catherine was a 120 ft WWII mine-sweeper, and it was intentionally sunk in the 1950s for the purpose of creating an artificial reef. It has thrived over the years, and today you can find corals, sponges, and marine life of all kinds during a dive here. You can either swim around the wreck or venture inside the wheelhouse for a closer look. This dive isn’t really for beginners, though it is incredibly popular.

While diving in the Catherine, you may come across stingrays, sergeant majors, lobsters, eels, sea snakes, hamlets, snappers, and sometimes nurse sharks. There are also lots of barrel sponges and sea fans. Pack light, but make sure you include the things you’ll want to have for your scuba expeditions and other warm-weather essentials. Once you’ve taken this final step, you and the entire family will be more than ready for an unforgettable vacation in Jamaica!

Location: Ocho Rios, Jamaica

Stingray City is one of those attractions that should be at the top of your list of things to do while in Jamaica. As the name suggests, during this dive you’ll have lots of opportunities to see rays up close. There are multiple reefs within the bay in this area, and the reefs here are among the healthiest and most attractive in Jamaica. Don’t be afraid if the stingrays come right up to you, or swim near your legs out of curiosity as they’re quite accustomed to having visitors.

With the help of a guide, you may even get to touch and hold the stingrays above the water if you so choose, but keep in mind they’re a lot bigger than you would expect! Port Royal was once called the wickedest city in the world and was the second-largest city in the new world. That was until a 1692 earthquake sunk it. Today, Stingray City is a protected area, however, the nearby cays offer some outstanding diving. Here you will find a number of shallow shipwrecks as well as outstanding reefs.

Location: Port Royal, Jamaica

Alligator Reef ranks 6th on the list of the best dive sites in Jamaica. The dive site is a great place for underwater exploring and has many crevices and ravines that beg the diver to investigate. There are five distinct dive sites (sections) that are part of Alligator Reef, and they appeal to divers of different skill levels. Each section of this extensive reef comes with its own challenges and sightings vary, but the unexpected nature of what you can see here (everything from stunning coral to tropical fishes) is what keeps divers coming back for more.

Once you have dived there it is hard to understand, why it is not considered a major diving destination. Be open-minded and give it a try. Alligator Reef is a lesser-known diving site in Jamaica, which is popular with more experienced divers. This extensive reef spans along depths of 65ft up to 100ft, and it is perfect for those who want to dive a little deeper. During this dive, you’ll navigate a gently sloping area until around 65 ft, and then experience a steep drop-off over the sandy bottom at 130 ft. There are all different kinds of reef fish swimming around, and you’ll also see things like lettuce sea slugs, vibrant corals, turtles, and maybe even moray eels or nurse sharks.

Location: Negril, Jamaica

The Arches and the Caves are incredible diving sites that feature outstanding rock structures; divers in these areas can sometimes see things like rays and sharks. The Caves are about 10 minutes away from shore and consist of two caverns connected by a narrow tunnel. The Arches range from 40 ft to 60 ft, with a noticeable drop-off at the 40 ft mark. You’ll easily be able to swim through The Arch here right alongside schools of purple and yellow fairy basslets. Advanced divers can take advantage of wall explorations with many ledges and overhangs.

The Arches is an exciting dive site situated around the Negril area in Jamaica. This site is open for divers all year round due to the warm air and sea temperatures. It takes its name from the reef of an arch-like coral formation suitable for divers of various levels. Sometimes this spot is made into a drift dive from one mooring buoy to the other. This place also features a sunken plane that was sunk intentionally and today is generously covered with coral and populated by various marine life.

Surprise Reef ranks 8th on the list of the best dive sites in Jamaica. Perhaps your kids have always wanted to try scuba diving, but you’re not sure where the best place is to start in Jamaica. The minimum age for PADI certification is 10 years in most places, and once your kids have their certification, they can dive in areas that are kid-friendly. Surprise Reef is one of those dive sites in Jamaica that is good for beginners. The average depth of this reef is 30 feet, and as the name suggests, it is filled with opportunities to spot all kinds of marine life including turtles and parrotfish.

Surprise Reef is fascinating because of the way divers can navigate in and out, and even around the reef for a wider perspective. This is where its name comes from. While Surprise Reef is most suitable for divers who are just starting out, more advanced divers will still appreciate this setting. The best time to come to this part of the island is between July and September. The water visibility can pleasantly surprise even the most demanding visitors and reaches 98ft/30m. The hurricane season usually takes place during the summer.

Location: Negril, Jamaica

The Sunken City of Port Royal in Jamaica has quite a rich history. It was once considered the wickedest city in the world and was at one point run by pirates. Part of the colorful history of Port Royal involves an earthquake that caused two-thirds of the city to sink into the sea in 1692. Today, the site off the coast of Kingston can be explored with a dive session; you’ll need special permission to dive in this zone though. If you sign up with a licensed diving company, you don’t have to worry about anything but simply arriving and getting ready for an outstanding diving experience. There are several shallow shipwrecks beneath the waters here, and plenty of reefs with lots to see.

Over 40 feet of water covers the remains of the original city today, but it hasn’t stopped travelers, academics, and researchers from finding a way to interact with this incredible pirate story from the past. Diving is allowed at the site with special access granted on the part of the Jamaican government. The majority of items that have been recovered from the Sunken City to date are on display at The Museum of History and Ethnography.

Middle Shoal Reef ranks 10th on the list of the best dive sites in Jamaica. You’ll find a little bit of everything at Middle Shoal Reef. This reef is often used for the PADI introductory (Resort) Scuba Course dive number one. There are two sides to this reef, which cater to divers of varying skill levels. Guests of Sandals Negril can access the more advanced section of this dive with a depth of 90 ft. Sightings include spadefish, turtles, French grunts, squirrelfish, barracuda, and much more. There’s also a small-engine plane wreck at this site. If you dive further out, you’ll encounter a drop-off up to 200 feet. The area suitable for beginners has a depth of 30 feet. During this dive, you’re likely to see anything from lobsters and starfish to stingrays. There are also plenty of barrel sponges and sea fans around the reef.

Middle Shoal Reef is well known as a scorpionfish home, while you’ll also meet lettuce sea slugs, beautifully colored corals, many tunnels, underwater caverns, etc. And you shouldn’t be surprised if you run into the nurse shark. This location has something to offer both for Open Water divers, with its 65-foot deep end, and the Advanced scuba divers, because there is a sudden drop up to 130 feet of depth, where you’ll find the sandy bottom. The special treat is the low-profile reef your dive instructor will show you, from where you’ll be able to see what is going on down there.

Location: Port Royal, Jamaica