Shallow Plane

Best months: Jan–Feb

Protected Area

Negril Marine Park

Why dive here

With 208+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, dolphins, oceanic whitetip sharks, orcas and sea turtles - Shallow Plane offers some of Negril's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 28-32°C, warmest August, September, October.

Best timeJan–Feb

WetsuitA 3mm shorty or thin full wetsuit

Marine lifeBarracuda, Dolphins, Oceanic Whitetip Sharks, Orcas and Sea Turtles · 208+ species recorded

Water28-32°C · warmest August, September, October

CharacterWreck dive · max 8-14m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

We love a good wreck at beginner depths, and Negril’s Shallow Plane delivers a proper little adventure. It’s a Cessna, resting upright on a sandy bottom at 12m, nose slightly down as if it just ran out of runway. The current description doesn't do justice to how thoroughly colonised it is; we’re talking thick growth here. The wings, fuselage, and tail are a tapestry of coral – Massive Starlet, Finger, and Lettuce corals are all over it. Swim around and through what’s left of the cabin. You’ll find French grunts schooling inside, sometimes a shy hogfish peeking out from under a wing. Look closely for juvenile snappers hiding in the nooks and crannies. The plane itself feels ancient, even if it’s not. Its metal skeleton is now home to countless tiny critters, and the way the light filters down through the shallow water, shimmering off the sand and the plane’s encrusted surfaces, makes it feel quite magical. It's a relaxed dive, usually with little to no current, so you can take your time exploring every angle. We’d suggest going in the morning; the light is best then and you often get it to yourselves. It’s perfect for new divers getting their first taste of wreck diving, or anyone who enjoys a leisurely poke around a unique, vibrant artificial reef.