MALIBU - Negril

Malibu isn’t your typical Caribbean wreck. We’re talking about a fishing vessel, not some deliberately sunk training ground. She went down back in ’68, a proper maritime incident, just 8 metres off Northeast Cay on the Pedro Bank. That history, the actual story of her sinking, makes the dive feel a bit more… substantial. We love exploring the bow, where the damage from the fire is still evident if you look closely. It’s a bit eerie, thinking about the crew lost. Now, the wreck sits at 25 metres, and honestly, the ambient light often feels a little dim down there, adding to the atmosphere. You’ll find schools of jacks circling the mast, and the resident barracuda seems to enjoy just hanging out in the wheelhouse. Our favourite spot is usually the stern, where the prop is still mostly intact, draped in soft corals. It's a proper hunt for critters too; we’ve spotted morays peeking from every shadowed crevice and plenty of squirrelfish darting in and out of the hold. This dive really suits those who appreciate a wreck with a genuine past and enjoy a good rummage for smaller life alongside the bigger fish.

Location: Negril, Jamaica, Caribbean
Coordinates: 17.183332, -77.766670
Type: wreck
Maximum Depth: 25m

Best Time to Dive in Negril

The warmest water temperatures in Negril occur in January, averaging 27.5°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 27.5°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

January: 27.5°C (air: 25.7°C)
February: 27.5°C (air: 25.5°C)
March: 27.5°C (air: 26.0°C)
April: 27.5°C (air: 26.7°C)
May: 27.5°C (air: 27.5°C)
June: 27.5°C (air: 27.9°C)
July: 27.5°C (air: 28.3°C)
August: 27.5°C (air: 28.4°C)
September: 27.5°C (air: 28.2°C)
October: 27.5°C (air: 27.5°C)
November: 27.5°C (air: 26.5°C)
December: 27.5°C (air: 26.1°C)

Nearest Dive Centres to MALIBU

Marine Life in Negril

Home to 211 recorded species including 178 reef fish, 19 hard corals, 3 sea urchins, 2 other, 2 jellyfish, 2 whales & dolphins.

Notable Species

Mustard hill coral (Porites astreoides) - Hard Corals
Gutong (Scarus iseri) - Reef Fish
Gutong (Sparisoma aurofrenatum) - Reef Fish
Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish
Lettuce Coral (Agaricia agaricites) - Hard Corals
Barber (Acanthurus bahianus) - Reef Fish
Dark Green Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) - Reef Fish
Finger Coral (Porites porites) - Hard Corals
Sheephead (Microspathodon chrysurus) - Reef Fish
Great star coral (Montastraea cavernosa) - Hard Corals
Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) - Hard Corals
Greenblotch Parrotfish (Sparisoma atomarium) - Reef Fish
French grunt (Haemulon flavolineatum) - Reef Fish
Massive Starlet Coral (Siderastrea siderea) - Hard Corals
Graysby (Cephalopholis cruentata) - Reef Fish
Sammy Johnson (Scarus taeniopterus) - Reef Fish
Angelfish (Holacanthus tricolor) - Reef Fish
Hogfish (Bodianus rufus) - Reef Fish
Butterfly (Chaetodon capistratus) - Reef Fish
Yellowtail Parrotfish (Sparisoma rubripinne) - Reef Fish

Recommended Packing List for MALIBU

Based on average water temperature of 27.5°C.

Shorty or Rashguard - warm 27°C water needs minimal exposure protection
Mask - essential for every dive
Fins
BCD - buoyancy compensator
Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories