Negril & Bloody Bay · Jamaica · Cave & cavern · Wall
Frenchman Hole
A shore-entry cavern in a ledged, sloping wall
Frenchman Hole is an advanced cavern dive near Orange River, normally entered straight from the shore. Ledges line a sloping wall, the cave has a wide opening, and divers go for the cavern and the moray eels, groupers and nurse sharks under the ledges.
Also known as Frenchman's Hole.
Where it is and how deep
18.3620° N, 78.3116° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The dive follows a sloping wall with a large number of ledges, not far off the beach. The cave is easily reached through a wide opening; the cavern starts at around 9 m (30 ft) and ends at 21 m (70 ft). Moray eels and groupers shelter along the ledges, and nurse sharks are sometimes seen.
Marine life and season
- Groupers
- Reef sharks
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Prime |
Season follows Negril & Bloody Bay: December to April is the dry peak season; July to October brings rain and hurricanes, and the rain can cut visibility.
Questions divers ask
Can Frenchman Hole be dived from shore?+
Yes. It is normally entered straight from the shore near Orange River, and the cavern runs from about 9 m down to 21 m.
Sources
- Scuba Diving in Jamaica — Beaches Resorts
- Diving Jamaica — Bluewater Dive Travel
- Orange River, Hanover — OpenStreetMap
Similar dives elsewhere
Canyons and tunnels, a mini wall and a white sand plain
Cave & cavern
Salón de María
María la Gorda · Cuba
A reef cavern with three entrances at around 20 m
Two long tunnels that empty out onto the open blue
Exit a sand-chute tunnel through an opening in the vertical wall face