Devil's Reef - Ocho Rios

Devil's Reef often gets overlooked for some of the flashier sites, but for us, it's a quiet standout near Ocho Rios. We love its gentle slope from 10m down to 25m, perfect for an extended intermediate dive without feeling rushed. Keep your eyes peeled in those overhangs – we've often spotted yellow stingrays tucked away, and the occasional moray eel peeking out. The visibility here, typically 20m plus, lets you really appreciate the big, sprawling colonies of massive starlet coral, and the intricate patterns of lettuce coral blanketing the reef. It’s an excellent site for macro enthusiasts, too. We’ve spent whole safety stops just watching mimic blennies darting around, and trying to spot the tiny dwarf gobies and Papillate clingfish on the coral heads. We always recommend an early morning dive here before the boat traffic picks up; it feels like you have the whole reef to yourself. For divers who prefer a relaxed pace and a chance to really observe the smaller, often-missed residents, Devil’s Reef is our pick.

Location: Ocho Rios, Jamaica, Caribbean
Coordinates: 18.415000, -77.105000
Type: reef
Maximum Depth: 10-25m
Difficulty: Intermediate

Marine Protected Area: Ocho Rios Protected Area

Best Time to Dive in Ocho Rios

The warmest water temperatures in Ocho Rios occur in January, averaging 27.4°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 27.4°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

January: 27.4°C (air: 24.7°C)
February: 27.4°C (air: 24.6°C)
March: 27.4°C (air: 25.1°C)
April: 27.4°C (air: 25.9°C)
May: 27.4°C (air: 27.0°C)
June: 27.4°C (air: 27.6°C)
July: 27.4°C (air: 28.0°C)
August: 27.4°C (air: 28.1°C)
September: 27.4°C (air: 27.9°C)
October: 27.4°C (air: 27.1°C)
November: 27.4°C (air: 26.0°C)
December: 27.4°C (air: 25.1°C)

Nearest Dive Centres to Devil's Reef

Sandals Ochi Beach Resort - ["PADI"]
Scubaquatic

Marine Life in Ocho Rios

Home to 367 recorded species including 309 reef fish, 31 hard corals, 7 sharks & rays, 3 seagrass & algae, 3 sea urchins, 3 sea snails & nudibranchs.

Notable Species

Mustard hill coral (Porites astreoides) - Hard Corals
Lettuce Coral (Agaricia agaricites) - Hard Corals
Gutong (Scarus iseri) - Reef Fish
Gutong (Sparisoma aurofrenatum) - Reef Fish
Barber (Acanthurus bahianus) - Reef Fish
Finger Coral (Porites porites) - Hard Corals
Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish
Dark Green Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) - Reef Fish
Sheephead (Microspathodon chrysurus) - Reef Fish
Sammy Johnson (Scarus taeniopterus) - Reef Fish
Great star coral (Montastraea cavernosa) - Hard Corals
Massive Starlet Coral (Siderastrea siderea) - Hard Corals
Greenblotch Parrotfish (Sparisoma atomarium) - Reef Fish
turtlegrass (Thalassia testudinum) - Seagrass & Algae
Doctorfish (Acanthurus chirurgus) - Reef Fish
Graysby (Cephalopholis cruentata) - Reef Fish
Coney (Cephalopholis fulva) - Reef Fish
Branched Finger Coral (Porites furcata) - Hard Corals
Boulder Brain Coral (Colpophyllia natans) - Hard Corals
Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) - Hard Corals

Recommended Packing List for Devil's Reef

Based on average water temperature of 27.4°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