Quiet Port Antonio is perfect for those in search of a secluded getaway. To order directly from publisher click here, Hunter Publishing Offshore reef tracts provide a bounty of dive and snorkeling sites. Many are a short swim from the beach. Wall dives predominate as Jamaica s north stretch of reef edges the Great Cayman Trench. A ledge of shallow reefs stretches around the island s perimeter.
Depths range from extreme shallows to awesome depths.
Almost everything imaginable grows in Jamaica s sensuous environment. Marine scientists have identified more than 50 species of sponges on the surrounding reefs. In the heyday of the British Empire, flowering and fruit trees were brought from Asia, the Pacific and Africa, evergreens from Canada, roses and nasturtiums from England. The breadfruit was sent from Tahiti, first by Captain Bligh on the Bounty . In return, Jamaica s native pineapple was sent to Hawaii and its mahogany to Central America.