Ocho Rios

Michael Sutton wrote:

> "Mike A" <mikeleesa@comcast.net> wrote in message news:<tqlWa.36060$Ho3.6600@sccrnsc03>...
>
>>I've done about 20 dives in the Ocho Rios area - out on the walls the vis
>>was excellent (80-100') and the coral was ok deep. Now the fish were another
>>matter - very scared little fish - why? Get up at sunrise and see how the
>>locals (it is their island) figure what's for dinner!
>
>
>
> I hear that's why some of their reefs are so damaged.
> from the explosion of "dynamite fishing"


The majority of dynamite fishing isn't an activity that puts food on
their table, it puts money in their pocket from the international
aquarium trade.

--
jer email reply - I am not a 'ten' ICQ = 35253273
"All that we do is touched with ocean, yet we remain on the shore of
what we know." -- Richard Wilbur

Greg Mossman wrote:
> "jer" <gdunn@airmail.ten> wrote in message
> news:bgki1t$hjt@library1.airnews.net...
>
>
>>The majority of dynamite fishing isn't an activity that puts food on
>>their table, it puts money in their pocket from the international
>>aquarium trade.
>
>
> The aquarium fish are paying Jamaicans to kill off their wild cousins? Or
> is there a new fad to display dead fish in aquariums?


The dynamite doesn't kill all the little fish, in fact, most are
scooped up in surface nets. The survivors are exported to aquarium
fish traders.

And dynamite isn't the only method - some use cyanide gas. Released
up-current, it drifts across the coral stunning everything. The fish
rarely die from this method, but the coral always does. You'll notice
the patches of bleached coral without the huge holes in the middle -
that's cyanide.


--
jer email reply - I am not a 'ten' ICQ = 35253273
"All that we do is touched with ocean, yet we remain on the shore of
what we know." -- Richard Wilbur

"jer" <gdunn@airmail.ten> wrote in message
news:bgki1t$hjt@library1.airnews.net...

> The majority of dynamite fishing isn't an activity that puts food on
> their table, it puts money in their pocket from the international
> aquarium trade.

The aquarium fish are paying Jamaicans to kill off their wild cousins? Or
is there a new fad to display dead fish in aquariums?

Always interested with reports on Jamaica - having lived in Mo Bay 68-72.
Dived all areas Negril through to Ocho Rios (Dived from what was Shaw Park
hotel beach). Ocho Rios was always cruise ship base before Montego Bay
freeport. Swim out to drop offs (avoiding sea urchins) or inflatable boat
dives. Back then reefs were pristine but always very few large fish due to
fishermen using fine mesh nets and taking everything above 3 inch long.
Never saw a lobster in 70+ dives. Poor vis usually in May and September due
to run off in rainy season, also if a Norther blows through it stirs up the
sand for about a week. Otherwise year round 80 to 100 ft vis and constant
temp with few currents.

Mike G
"Michael Sutton" <mike_sutton@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:b773503d.0307310659.72b33f07@posting.google.c om...
> "Da Parrot-chick" <just@sk.me> wrote in message
news:<yNVVa.126072$Io.10720695@newsread2.prod.itd. earthlink.net>...
> > Any good diving there, or should I leave my gear at home? For that
matter
> > is there any good diving in Jamaica at all these days?
>
>
> I've been to Ocho Rios, Montego bay, and Negril.
> And also have heard negative things about diving in Jamacia
>
> We didn't dive in Ocho Rios, because of scheduling problems....
> But the water there wasn't "clear" at the beach. If you were
> chest deep, you could barely see your feet. So I wasn't
> that worried about the diving, or lack of. I had not heard
> good things about it anyway.
>
> In Negril, or actually north of Negril, the diving was surprisingly
> very good. Great visisbility. Very good reef life, lots of
> fish and creatures in the reefs. I was very happy with the diving there
> and would do it again. So if you go for diving, I would
> say this is much better. It was as good in places as some
> of the sites I'd been to in other spots of the Caribbean.
>
>
> The beaches were also much prettier in Negril. white powder sand and
> crystal clear water.
>
> There's not much to do in tourist activies to do in either location.
> The big item in Ocho Rios is Dunn's River Falls. It's well worth
> doing. Take and old pair of tennis shoes to get wet. There is
> also Plantation tour. It was 'neat' but not exciting. Kinda like
> a school fieldtrip. You can also go horseback riding, other type
> tours. Negril's big attraction are it's beaches. It's also popular
> with the Spring Break college crowd that time of year, and the bars
> are packed with spring breakers. They seem to set up makeshift bars
> just for that event for a few weeks a year. There is a duty free shopping
> complex in Negril near the resort area also. The other 'big attraction'
> is Rick's Cafe. It's a cafe/bar on the cliffs where local kids jump
> or dive in the waters for tips. It's a great place to view the
> sunset. It's neat to visit once maybe, but not worth a 2nd trip.
> Drinks are high priced, it's very overcrowded with standing room only,
> and due to the crowdedness, the service lacks.
>
> Most of the activities at both these resort areas simply are to
> remain in the resort and enjoy it's amenities. :)
>
> hope that helps some.