Last Sunday a few of my crew and myself went out on a dive to put in a mooring buoy on a special dive site. We took a speargun in order to start our ” eliminate the Lion fish drive “. After putting in the mooring line the guys shot a large lionfish. While ascending they saw a huge Hammerhead shark swim just below them. This was the first time that they had seen a hammerhead in the water while diving.
We have done several dives in the same area since but have not had the good fortune to see it again.
we have, however, been seeing the usual Southern Stingrays and Eagle Rays, Green Moray Eels and Dolphins.
So, for the last few weeks we have been diving almost every day,(divers showing up) despite the rough seas, chilly winds and light rain … we have a few secret locations that are ideal for dives, where you don’t need a boat but can dive in calm clear ocean with plenty of fish and coral to a depth of ‘down to’ 70 feet with an easy surface swim or starting the dive in 15 ft of water. We experience the same /very similar scenery as if we were on the boat except that there is no possibility of getting sea sick. We have been getting numerous requests for a repeat dive at some locations because it is soooo nice, not to mention the surface intervals……we pack the gear in our trucks and drive to that secret area where we observe the area and plan the dive , before we suit up we order lunch from the kitchen so that when we get back from the first dive lunch is ready……you can guess the rest …splendid days…..the only thing is that it takes up more of your day, we usually get back to the shop around 3pm. some folks bring their families to enjoy the facility while they dive, some will even get massages etc …you gotta check it out . By the looks of the weather we will be going there again tomorrow. Be at the dive shop by 9.30 am and come dive with us!!!
Hello again divers, over the past few days we have been doing some dives all along the Long Bay and Bloody Bay Reefs. Although the sea has been relatively rough and the temp a chilling 28degree celcius ;0) due to a mild cold front passing through, the dives have been very exciteing. We have now discovered/met Eugene a 150 year old hawksbilled turtle weighing about 120 lbs. The poor guy even has barnicles on his back. We have had two encounters with him over the last two days as well as multiple sightings of the pod of dolphins and nurse sharks. Now that the sea is calm and the water temp is back to 30 degrees I hope that there will be more persons coming in to dive, none the less I have stocked up on some new shorties (wetsuits) for rent. See you on the beach!!!
(Janet) Today our divers came back ecstatic! Dolphins swam and played with them!!One diver said this was definitely a once in a lifetime dive for him, he may never have another dive this good. Another said that this was the first one of it’s kind and he has gone over 150 dives. They also entertained the boat captain while the divers got back on boat.’
(David)- The shop is buzzing with talk of the last dive. The dolphins really did it this time…..according to reports reaching myself … they were all on the second dive cruising slowly along when Pinky heard them coming, for a while he couldn’t see them, then suddenly one appeared in the middle of the group hovering in a inverted manner. He (Pinky) banged on his tank to get the attention of the other divers and saw another 4 dolphins swiming over to them. They swam amongst the divers for about ten minutes and then went over to a fish trap near by. The divers all waited to see what they were up to. Suddenly one dolphin looked at them and as if to say “no, lets not show them what we are up to!”. They, the dolphins, then swam off towards the dive boat.
(on the boat) I was there scanning the surface to see if I would spot the school of tuna fish feeding (the divers saw that happening on the first dive and we were within range to see it happen again,)I noticed a lone dolphin about 200 meters west of the dive boat he was heading north towards the group of divers, and a lone fish trap.
I thought it peculiar that one single dolphin was out there. After a few minutes I saw the rest of them traveling in the same direction. From the surface I saw them frolicking and flipping around on the surface, then suddenly they bolted towards the dive boat, thew swam directly towards the boat splashing and jumping over each other. I whistled and waved hoping to get or keep thier attention until they swam directly under the boat ……… and swam away leavng me somewhat heart broken, I had hoped they would have paused and played close to me…….. anyhow within minites the divers all surfaced. As I came close to them I shouted “did you guys see anything intereting on this dive? ” they all burst out laughing and shouted back “‘oh no! It was a boring dive…nothing happened.” as I picked them up the comments were;-
”This is the best dive ever” ,
“This dive was absolutely incredible I dont think any other dive could be better”
“I cant never have a better dive than that one.”
”I have over 100 dives and that has been the absolute best.”
“Nothing can top this dive…”
My heart was filled …I almost had tears in my eyes…sniff .. If only I could pay all my bills (plus a few more )I would be a happy man.
Oh! I don’t have the contact info for the diver who lost the knife so I need him to get in touch with the shop to retrieve it.
Hi folks, this morning we dove the Tug Boat (again) by popular request, it was a bit windy out there but we all managed to do a somewhat simultaneous backroll entry and descend without any drama. They found the wreck quite easily and discovered a really huge Green Moray Eel. “thats the largest ‘D…’ eel Ihave ever seen” commented one very experienced diver….. two others expressed their similar sentiments. Pinky, my great divemaster, found the dive knife that was lost days before by another diver a few days ago. He thouhgt it was lost at the famous Throne Room.We had searched twice after that and never saw it, and behold! here..at the tug boat in a sand patch near to the wreck.. we werent even looking any more and there it is.
We had some of the good Jamaican sugar cane and other refreshments and chatted while I cruised to the Sands Club Reef where we hooked up to the mooring line and told them on the story of how I met Nancy the 12 ft Nurse shark and how we almost became …….Intimate…….lol …….. I also pointed out where to look for Herman and Hilda the pair of gracious spotted eagle rays. Afew splashes and 40 minutes later they surfaced with a barage of compliments on the dive. We took the sceenic route back in to avoid the water splashing back in the boat as the wind was still a bit strong, you should have heard some of the tips and stories as every one now very relaxed, chatted away on the easy ride to our base at the Mariners Negril Beach Club.
I LOOK FORWARD TO MORE DIVES WITH GREAT PEOPLE. DIVERS ARE THE BEST !!!!!!