Water Sports
Many hotels have beaches and swimming pools. The finest beaches for bathing are mainly on the northern coast. Surfing is also the greatest on the north coast, east of Port Antonio, where long lines of breakers roll into Boston Bay. Most beach hotels have sailfish, sunfish and / or windsurfing boards for hire. To charter larger boats, please contact the Royal Jamaica Yacht Club. Facilities for water skiing are offered at the majority of beach hotels and at the Kingston Ski Club at Morgan’s Harbour.
Diving
Jamaica has several attractions for divers, including close to shore wrecks, sponge forests, underwater caves and coral reefs. In some areas, visibility is exceptional, reaching 30.5 metres (100 feet). Famous dive sites include the Throne Room near Negril, where it is possible to see sponges, corals, nurse sharks and cubera snapper, Ricky’s Reef, with brightly coloured fish, and the wreck of the Kathryn. There are several professional dive operators on the island, please contact the Tourist Board for a list of licensed operators. Shops are equipped for rentals and offer guided scuba trips and snorkel.
Golf
Jamaica has developed some of the Caribbean’s most gorgeous and challenging golf courses. Montego Bay is the best area and it is not necessary to be resident at a hotel to play on its 3 courses. Other golf courses include Caymanas Golf Course (which hosts the Jamaica Open and Pro-Am every November) and Constant Spring, which is near Kingston.
Fishing
Fresh and sea water fishing are both popular. Mountain mullet, drummer, hognose mullet and small snook are caught in rivers. Deep sea fishing charters can be arranged through hotels in major resorts. Spearfishing is permitted among the reefs., and no licence is needed. Entry forms are accessible for the Blue Marlin Tournament held in Port Antonio during September.
Other
For those keen on mountain climbing and hiking, the Blue Mountains, which reach above 2,134 metres (7,000 feet), offer unspoilt scenery and a variety of flora and fauna. It is advised to go hiking with a guide. Some stables for horse riding are open all year, others run schedules during the winter season, most arrangements for this can be made through hotels.
Cricket is the national obsession’and matches are played from January to August in Sabina Park, Kingston and alternative locations throughout the island. The 2nd most popular sport is probably football, which is played throughout the year.
There are numerous tennis courts, and most hotels without their own court have access to those nearby. Polo has a tradition going back over a century, therefore matches are played all year round in Kingston, matches at Kingston and at Drax Hall, which is near Ocho Rios, are played every week. Horse races are held at Caymanas Race Track, Kingston. |
