5m
    Montego Bay, Jamaica

    VISCAYA

    Best months: Jan–Mar

    Why dive here

    With 213+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, orcas, sea turtles, frogfish and mantis shrimp - VISCAYA offers some of Montego Bay's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 27-32°C, warmest July, August, September.

    Best timeJan–Mar
    WetsuitA 3mm shorty or thin full wetsuit
    Marine lifeBarracuda, Orcas, Sea Turtles, Frogfish and Mantis Shrimp · 213+ species recorded
    Water27-32°C · warmest July, August, September
    CharacterWreck dive · max 5m
    StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

    The Viscaya in Montego Bay is a wreck that really tells a story, even if it’s a short dive. This Spanish cruiser, sunk back in 1898 during the Spanish-American War, sits in just 5 metres of water. We love that it’s so shallow; it makes for a super relaxed dive, perfect for extending your bottom time and just soaking it all in. You won't find huge intact sections, but the scattered debris field gives you a real sense of its former scale. Large plates of hull, twisted metal, and the occasional rib jut out from the sandy seabed. Look closely and you’ll spot a surprising amount of life hunkering down – parrotfish graze on algae, often darting between the rusty plates, and we frequently see small schools of grunts schooling around the larger pieces. Our favourite part is looking for the tiny critters, like blennies peering out from crevices or little crabs scuttling amongst the growth. It’s a gentle exploration, a historical footnote you can glide right over. This site is brilliant for photographers who want to spend time composing shots without deep-water time limits, and it's a calm spot for newer divers to experience a wreck without any strong currents or intimidating depths.

    Typical VISCAYA Dive Profile

    5mSafety Stop0m5m max~60 min estimated bottom time

    Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.

    Safety Notes

    Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.

    Today05:5817:4611h 48m daylightGolden hour 17:17

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    Conditions

    Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for VISCAYA

    VISCAYA Ocean Conditions

    Monthly averages for VISCAYA, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (19.95, -77.7) (52km away)

    ExcellentGreatGoodFairPoor★Best monthsThis month

    October Averages

    Sea Temperature

    31°C

    87°F · Range: 28.4–32.1°C

    Air Temperature

    27°C

    80°F

    Wind Speed

    3.55 m/s

    6.9 knots

    Atmospheric Pressure

    1012.1 hPa

    Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data

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