Liveaboard diving in
Surprise Reef
Cave
Sharks
Surprise Reef attracts divers of all levels and pleasantly surprises them with its natural beauty. Even though it is not the deepest site in the area with the maximum depth of only 49ft/15m, it offers a nice combination of beautiful reef, crevasses, sandy patches and swim throughs. The bottom of the reef is covered with colorful corals of different shapes as well as sponges, purple fans and gorgonians that are full of moray eels, lionfish, parrotfish, trumpetfish, starfish, lobsters, shrimp, sea slugs and hundreds of small tropical fish. There are also a few caverns around this site, which are ideal hiding places for nurse sharks and even green sea turtles. Surprise Reef is great for practice diving for beginners and many diving centers use it as a certification ground by offering guided dives around this site.
When To Go Diving
Surprise Reef is located around Negril area in Jamaica, where it serves as a diving paradise open to its visitors throughout the year. The warm sea combined with high air temperatures make it a popular spot. The average water temperature ranges between 26C/78F and 28C/82F, while the air temperature is usually about 26C/79F-29C/84F. The best time to visit this part of the island is during the months of July, August and September. The water visibility at this site can reach up to 98ft/30m.