Located on the western tip of Jamaica, Montego Bay serves as one of the island's top tourist destinations. Marine Bay Park, opened in 1992, is home to many marine ecosystems.
The reef sites are teeming with sea sponges, sea whips and a variety of fish species. Popular reef sites include Basket Reef, Black Coral Alley and Doctor's Cave Reef. Some of the shallow reefs show signs of wear but many of the deeper sites still thrive.
Along the resort town of Negril reside several different reef sites. Coral species include elkhorn, staghorn, brain and star coral, filefish, angel fish, triggerfish, fairy basslets, starfish and anemones. Coral reef sites include Coral Gardens, Treasure Reef, Throne Room and House Reef.
Located on the west tip of Jamaica and protected by waves and strong wind, the water is especially calm, with visibility exceeding 100 feet. Wrecks near the shore are home to man-made reefs, with planes and vessels sunk intentionally to provide a suitable habitat.
An hour away from Montego Bay, Runaway Bay's clear, calm waters make it a popular dive site. The reefs along the north coast of Jamaica are home to soft and hard coral, tube sponges, gorgonia and black coral. Inhabitants of the reef include green moray eels, lobster, crab and varieties of fish. Some reef sites are Shipwreck Reef, Ricky's Reef and Pocket's Reef.
At Cayman Trench, coral walls start at 20 feet deep and extend more than 150 feet, carpeted with a rainbow of coral.
