Scuba diving holidays in Port Antonio

Located on Jamaica's northeastern coast, Port Antonio is the capital of Portland Parish and the island's third largest port. The scenery here is stunning, both above and below the water, so this is the perfect place to stay if you are thinking of taking a scuba diving holiday in Jamaica.

One of the biggest attractions for scuba diving enthusiasts visiting Port Antonio is its diverse range of dive sites, all of which are easily accessible just a short boat trip away. The crystal clear, azure waters here are also quieter than Ocho Rios or Montego Bay, so you won't constantly be bumping into other divers.

One of the most beautiful dive sites in Port Antonio is Blue Hole. Located just north of the beautiful Blue Lagoon, this shallow diving site boasts incredible visibility. Colourful corals and sponges are abundant here, and eagle rays, turtles and sharks can often be spotted. This majestic site is one not to miss.

Wall diving is particularly popular in Port Antonio, one of the best sites being Trident Wall. The reef here starts at 60ft and drops steeply into a wall over 120 feet deep and approximately 250ft long. Hundreds of vase and barrel sponges adorn the wall, as well as rare black corals, whilst a myriad of fish such as snapper and schools or brightly-coloured tropical fish also make this their home.

Advanced divers will enjoy exploring Alligator Head. This diving site starts at approximately 50ft and plunges to 160ft down a wall filled with a unique variety of sponges and large corals. Glow-in-the-dark vase sponges can be found here, as well as giant orange tubes, sea fans and underwater gorgonians. A good variety of fish also reside, including multi-coloured tropical fish, jacks, trigger fish, snapper and grouper, and even hawksbill turtles.

Other dive sites in the same Alligator reef area include Alligator Deep, which drops to 160ft in some areas; Alligator West, a shallow dive which is perfect for beginners, and Alligator Long, where you will find an abundance of spade fish at depths of 80-90ft.

One of advantage of scuba diving in Port Antonio is the fact there is little current and excellent visibility, which makes diving very relaxing. Some of the best examples of the most relaxing dives include Boston, a deep diving site with sandy bottoms and good variety of corals, plant life and fish; High Point, a 60-80ft dive filled with star coral, sea fans and barrel sponges, and Dragon's Mouth, a very shallow dive with no current. This is a perfect site for novices scuba divers or simply training.

Whatever underwater experiences you are looking for during your scuba diving holiday in Port Antonio, local dive centres can offer training, certification and equipment so you can make the most of Jamaica's breathtaking underwater world at your own pace.