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Review
Captain’s Watersports and Dive Centre is a watersports company based on the beach at Round Hill Hotel and Villas to the west of Montego Bay on Jamaica’s north shore. They offer a dual service, first as a watersports company for the guests of the hotel (they provide snorkelling gear, kayaks and pedal boats from the beach and windsurfing and small sailing boats), but secondly as a Jamaica scuba diving operator. For this they also accept outsiders staying in other hotels and in the many villas in the region. Captain’s Watersports offer single and packaged dives and a good range of instruction, including certification and speciality courses, with referral for people who have begun their scuba training at home. They also offer the Bubblemaker and SASY diving programmes for children. On the watersports side they work in conjunction with the Round Hill children’s centre.
The main faces you will see at Captain’s Watersports are PADI Instructor Eugen Kumpfmueller (Managing Senior Instructor and Assistant Watersports Manager), PADI Master Scott Kerr (Watersports Manager) and PADI Divemaster Rory Smythe - affectionately known as 'Monster', due to him being a big sort of chap. The company is owned by Bryan Langford, whose nickname ‘Captain’ comes from his former job as a ship’s captain, with Eugen in charge of running the scuba side of the business. Captain's Watersports are flexible. If you are taking a course in scuba diving in Jamaica then they will come to your villa or hotel to give instruction in the pool (where permitted) and they can offer collection for regular dives by arrangement. Captain’s Watersports runs one dive boat with a maximum of eight divers. They tend to visit dive sites on the coral heads and the reef within 10 minutes of Round Hill. The furthest that they travel is to the main wall the twenty minutes away at Montego Bay.
UPDATE - Captain’s Watersports took over the watersports and dive operations at Half Moon in October 2006, followed by Rose Hall Resort & Spa in November 2007. A second dive boat with a maximum of twelve divers services dive sites in the Half Moon area. |
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Dive Sites
HOUSE REEF, Round Hill Hotel
(Shore dive)
A large House Reef, sitting right in front of the resort’s own beach. Just a few steps away from the dive shop with entry into the water from their private dock. It is perfect for Open Water Certification Dives but also a good start for those who want to refresh their dive skills. Excellent reef for U/W Naturalist or Fish ID. Maximum depth 15ft-35ft/5m-11m. This is a good place to see scorpion fish, spider crabs, spaghetti, feather duster and Christmas tree worms and other macro life.
CHUB REEF, Tryall Hotel
(12 minute boat ride)
The Reef is about 200 yd/180 m in front of Tryall, outside of Montego Bay´s Marine Park and only 12 minutes (by boat) away from Round Hill. Expect to see plenty of Bermuda chubs big and small, all waiting for a handout. Lots of other colourful marine life in just 40ft /12m of water and beautiful coral caverns and crevasses at 60-72 ft/18-22m.
SWIMTHROUGH, Tryall Hotel
(12 minute boat ride)
The same mooring buoy as (Tryall) CHUB REEF but the dive starts in the opposite direction. Here you can (good visibility only) dive into the reef (cavern like diving) but good control of buoyancy is necessary to enjoy some narrow passages. Maximum depth 72ft/22m and on top of the reef 35ft/11m. On the ocean floor there are fields of garden eels and sea cucumbers. Chances to encounter spotted eagle rays or sting rays are always possible.
CULLINS CUT, Round Hill Hotel
(5 minute boat ride)
Wall dive (100 ft / 30 m). The reef has some interruptions which allows divers to switch between the inner and outer side of the wall. In August this is a good spot for nurse shark and great barracuda sightings.
PINEAPPLE REEF, Round Hill Hotel
(5 minute boat ride)
Wall dive (100 ft). Encounter great Barracudas and different type of Rays. First divers go down to 50ft/15m and swim over to the outer edge of the reef, then descend further to their maximum depth. Gorgonians and different sorts of sponges. Average visibility 70ft/22m often 100ft+/30m+.
ARENA/SPANISH ANCHOR, Charlet Caribb
(12 minute boat ride)
The shallow reef drops down to a sandy bottom at 50ft/15 m, where there is a fixed mooring. There are two ways to do this dive: as a straightforward deep dive, returning to the same mooring or as a multilevel dive with pick-up at the next mooring (Spanish Anchor). Both dives are through tunnels and caverns, so this site is best suited for those divers who have mastered the skills of buoyancy control and who enjoy exploring tight passages. Others might prefer to stay on the outer side of the wall and enjoy the view of the canyon like underwater topography while get the chance to see great barracuda and mackerel.
SPANISH ANCHOR, Charlet Caribb
(12 minute boat ride)
Right beside the mooring, on the north side of the reef in 40ft/12m there is an old (as yet undated), very large Spanish anchor. Sightings of rays are possible and sometimes a nurse shark may pass by. Also grey snappers and tobacco fish, sea cucumber, upside-down jellyfish are to be found in the shallows. At greater depths are large coral heads, black coral colonies and tube, rope and elephant ear sponges.
CLASS ROOM, Charlet Caribb
(12 minute boat ride)
There is a third mooring buoy called Class Room 15-30ft/5-9m. So called, because it is ideal for all kinds of training dives. You can find balloon fish hiding among the soft gorgonians in the company of butter hamlets, and fringed filefish blending with the sea rod near the mooring. Large colonies of pillar coral are common. From here there is also an excellent wall dive.
AIRPORT REEF, Marine Park
(15-20 minute boat ride)
A nice wall dive in Montego Bay´s Marine Park just offshore by the Donald Sangster International Airport. Divers start their tour at the edge of the shallow part of the reef at 50 ft/15m, to follow down the wall (not exceeding 100ft/30m) which is covered with black corals and sponges. A constant passing of schools of creole wrasse is a highlight of this dive. Possible sightings of king crabs, great barracuda, bar jacks and moray eels to name a few. |
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Dive Courses
SASY
Supplied Air Snorkelling for Youth programme for children 5-12 yrs. An accompanied surface scuba excursion takes the child from the pool (10 minutes) to an open water shallow reef where the child is introduced to the marine world (approx. 20 minutes). Equipment includes specially designed 13qft tank mounted on a flotation jacket with child friendly swivel mouthpiece and gauge. Cost US$30
PADI Bubblemaker
For children 8 yrs and over (maximum 2 at a time), an introduction to underwater breathing in the secure confines of the hotel’s swimming pool. Duration approximately 1 hour. Cost US$50.
PADI Discover Scuba Diving
A 3 hour Resort Course which includes theory, pool work and an ocean dive on Round Hill’s house reef. Can be credited towards the pre- and full entry-level courses PADI Scuba Diver or PADI Open Water Diver. For age 12yrs and up. Cost US$120.
PADI Scuba Diver
Pre entry level Certification within 2 days includes pool work, classroom work and two open water dives. The Certification allows scuba diving anywhere under the supervision of a PADI professional, limited to maximum depth of 40ft/12m. Cost US$350.
If you start with Discover Scuba Diving experience program at US$120 and wish to continue and become a Certified PADI Scuba Diver, you only need to pay the balance for the PADI Scuba Diver Certification.
PADI Open Water Certification
Full entry level certification, within 3-4 days and includes pool work, classroom work and four open water dives. This qualifies you to dive anywhere that recognises a PADI qualification. Cost US$500.
PADI Open Water Referral
This allows you to stagger your scuba diving training over the duration of on year, by doing the theoretical sections at home and then the practical dives for full certification in the warmth and more colourful setting of the Caribbean. It avoids spending holiday time in the classroom. Cost US$350.
PADI Adventure Diver
A 1-2 day course for open water divers to perform 3 specialty dives under the supervision of a PADI instructor who will aid in the selection of the elective dives. Cost US$280.
PADI Advanced Open Water Certification
Over 2-3 days undertake 5 Open Water Specialty Dives (2 Core Dives = Deep Dive and U/W Navigation) and 3 elective Dives like Multilevel Diver, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Underwater Naturalist or Fish Identification. Cost US$400
PADI Scuba Review
A refresher course for certified divers who have not been diving for over two years, and tailored to suit individual needs US$110.
PADI Rescue Diver
A rewarding course done over 3-4 days which is for PADI Advanced Open Water Divers who will need a Medic First Aid certification (or already have one that is not older than 24 months) to enrol. Cost US$450.
PADI Divemaster
Professional level certification. Available on request, and only after an intensive exchange of information with the PADI instructor beforehand. Cost US$600.
PADI Specialty Courses
The following specialities are available through Captain’s Watersports: Deep Diver (4 dives), Underwater Naturalist (2 dives), Fish ID (2 dives), Multilevel Diver (2 dives), Peak Performance Buoyancy Diver (2 dives) and Boat Diver (2 dives). Cost for 1 certification dive US$75 and Certification (envelope or online) US$30. |
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Package Plans
Dives are in the morning from 9am-12pm with the dive boat departing from the dock at Round Hill between 8.30-9am for the first dive, with the second dive at 11am. Divers must carry their certification and should note that in Jamaica dives are limited (by law and Tourist Board Act) to a maximum depth of 100ft/30m.
Certified Diver with own equipment (own Regulator + BCD)
1 Tank dive US$60
2 Tank dive US$90
Certified Diver without equipment
1 Tank dive US$80 including rental equipment
2 Tank dive US$100 including equipment
Every 6th dive is a FREE dive (no charge)
Rental fee for a 3mm Wetsuit (Shorty) US$10 per day.
Please see notes under Safety and Medical. |
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Boats
A 23 ft Steigercraft hull with twin Yamaha 80 HP outboard engines. Canapé and small cuddy cabin allow shelter from the elements. Maximum of divers 6, plus a Divemaster and Captain. |
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Rentals
All certification dive courses include equipment except for wetsuits which cost US$10 per day. Certified divers on package plans can rent a regulator and BCD for 1 or 2 tank dive for US$20.
Captain's Watersports carries the following equipment:
BCD´s : SeaQuest, SeacSub and. ProSub. All BC´s are within 1 ½ years old, and a all sizes are available.
Regulator First Stages : ProSub, SeacSub, Mares, Sherwood and Dacor.
Regulator Second Stage : SeacSub, US Divers, SeaQuest and Sherwood.
Weight belts: Neoprene Pocket Belts, regular Belts and Weight pouches.
Fins (full shoe): Seadive and Oceanways Professional.
Masks: Seadive (Adult - medium and children’s sizes).
Wetsuits: 3mm Neopren Shorties (Action Plus) available.
Cylinders: 80-qft and 63-qft aluminum, all have international tank valves. Can provide 2 Adapters for Regulators with DIN- First Stages.
SASY(Supplied Air Snorkeling for Youth): "AquaLung". |
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Safety & Medical
Captain’s Watersports advises that all divers over 45 years of age who wish to enjoy scuba activities, or those who have a medical issue, should provide medical clearance from a Physician (not older than 2 years) which states: "fit for scuba diving”.
Also note:
No diving within 3 months of major surgery.
No diving within 24 hrs of airline departure.
No spear guns or spear fishing of any kind.
No breaking or taking anything from the sea floor (dead of alive).
Strictly no gloves policy.
A recompression chamber is located at the Discovery Bay Marine Laboratory. The Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard also has a chamber, located at their headquarters in Port Royal, Kingston. |
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How to Book
If you wish to make further enquiries or a reservation, please use the WEB LINK or DIRECT EMAIL ENQUIRIES facility at the top of this page to make contact with Captain's Watersports in Jamaica, or if you wish to telephone them, please click on TELEPHONE CONTACT to reveal the number |
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