Runaway Bay
Runaway Bay is a small but popular beach town located in St Anne's Parish on the northern coast of t
Explore St Ann
St Ann Parish is the largest Parish on the island of Jamaica. It lies in Middlesex County in the centre of the north coast, the coast which borders the Caribbean Sea. The two main regions within St. Ann Parish which visitors go to, tot dive from, are Ocho Rios and Runaway Bay. These to popular beach towns are the gateway to some stunning dive sites which will cater to divers of all levels and interests. Jamaica lies in the tropical Caribbean meaning it is possible to dive here all year round, but June to September the conditions are at their best. October to May there is more chance of rain but it will very rarely impact diving. Due to the air temperatures being warm throughout the year, the water temperatures are between 26 and 28 degrees Celsius. The visibility is great overall with an average of 25 metres with reaching over 35 metres in the peak diving season. The highlight dive sites here include a minesweeper wreck named SS Kathryn, two plane wrecks, vibrantly coloured reefs, deep canyons and an assortment of other rocky formations at varying depths. The dive sites are reached easily from shot boat trips and in general the water conditions are calm, clear and warm.
Top Regions to Explore
Dive Centers
Top St Ann Dive Sites
1. SS Katheryn Wreck
This site features a Canadian minesweeper sunk in 1980, forming an impressive artificial reef. It's teeming with colorful corals and diverse marine life, including schools of fish. Suitable for scuba diving, it offers an easy to moderate adventure level due to its depth and currents.
2. Planes
Home to two plane wrecks at a 23-meter drop-off, this site offers exploration of cockpits and sightings of sea turtles. It's an advanced scuba dive due to depth and potential strong currents. The unique wrecks and marine life make it a diver's favorite.
3. The Mountains
Featuring two sea mounts between 18 and 36 meters, this site is adorned with colorful corals and sea sponges. Divers can enjoy the vibrant marine life in this easy to moderate scuba dive. The site is known for its rich biodiversity.
4. Devil's Reef
A reef slope descending from 19 to 40 meters, it offers numerous cracks and crevices housing marine species. This advanced scuba diving site challenges divers with its depth and complex topography, rewarding them with diverse underwater life.
5. Fantasy Reef (Freediving Possible)
Located within a marine park, this site allows both scuba and freediving. Its shallow reefs are home to vibrant corals and small tropical fish, making it an easy dive. The protected area ensures a pristine underwater experience.
The best Months to dive in St Ann
St. Ann, Jamaica offers excellent diving conditions year-round, with water temperatures typically ranging from 26°C (79°F) in winter to around 29°C (84°F) in summer. This makes diving possible throughout the year, appealing to divers seeking warm waters.
Visibility in St. Ann usually ranges from 15 to 30 meters, although it can be affected by weather conditions. The region experiences less favorable diving conditions during the hurricane season, which runs from June to November, potentially bringing stronger winds and currents. Outside of this period, calmer waters and mild weather contribute to ideal diving conditions.
Top Wildlife Sightings in St Ann
St. Ann, Jamaica, offers a vibrant marine ecosystem, ideal for divers eager to explore diverse underwater habitats. Typical marine life includes an array of colorful reef fish such as parrotfish, angelfish, and damselfish, which are abundant year-round. These fish are commonly found in coral reefs and are a spectacle for divers exploring the warm, clear waters. Seasonal highlights include sightings of hawksbill turtles and southern stingrays, most frequently encountered during the summer months. Nurse sharks, although less common, can occasionally be spotted patrolling the deeper waters and rocky crevices. The likelihood of encountering these larger marine animals varies, with turtle and ray sightings being more frequent near reef edges and sandy bottoms, depending on the time of year.
Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 200
Alamy-WaterFrame
Moray Eel
11 Sightings
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Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography
Green Turtle
8 Sightings
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 25
iStock/Juliosanjuan
Eagle Ray
7 Sightings
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 300
Alamy/Reinhard Dirscherl
Octopus
6 Sightings
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 27
iStock-Global_Pics
Barracuda
5 Sightings
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 600
iStock/ultramarinfoto
Wrasse
5 Sightings
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 12
iStock/cinoby
Lionfish
28 Sightings
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 80
iStock/Extreme-Photographer
Stingrays
26 Sightings
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 100
iStock-burnsboxco
Parrotfish
17 Sightings
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 130
AdobeStock-JirinaVFR
Pufferfish
15 Sightings
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