Kathryn and Caverns - Ocho Rios
The Kathryn and Caverns site in Ocho Rios gives divers a taste of overhead environments without going full cave. We're talking swim-throughs and small chambers rather than deep penetration. Expect to see the usual reef fish taking shelter inside the various nooks and crannies. It's a good option for divers looking for something a bit different from a standard wall or reef dive.
- Location
- Ocho Rios, Jamaica, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 18.416332, -77.090520
- Type
- cave
- Maximum Depth
- 15-30m
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)
Nearby Dive Sites in Ocho Rios
- 101 - 1m (wreck)
- ADD EXPRESS - 0m (wreck)
- APOSTOLOS ANDREAS - 5m (wreck)
- BREEZIN THRU - 16m (wreck)
- CARRIE BUCKHAM - 3m (wreck)
- CAYMAN 2200 - 10m (wreck)
- CAYMAN TRADER - 2m (wreck)
- Devil's Reef - 10-25m (reef)
- EAGLEWING - 2m (wreck)
- EDGEWOOD - 5m (wreck)
- Golden eye
- HMS TEXAS - 32m (wreck)
- Kathryn Wreck - 10-18m (wreck)
- KIRK MAID - 5m (wreck)
- LA BELLE SAUVAGE (POSSIBLY) - 13m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to Kathryn and Caverns
- 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 Kathryn and Caverns
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