KIRK MAID - Ocho Rios
The Kirk Maid, just off Ocho Rios, is our pick for an easy, rewarding wreck dive. Sunk in 1964, this old motor vessel sits upright and shallow, making it perfect for newer divers or those looking for a leisurely second dive. We love poking around her hold, imagining the cargo she once carried. You’ll find the deck and superstructure have become a playground for damselfish and juvenile snapper, darting in and out of every opening. What makes her special is the way the light filters down, illuminating the schools of silversides that often cloud the upper sections of the wreck, reflecting like scattered diamonds. Look closely, and you might spot a shy moray eel peering from a pipe, or a crab scuttling across a barnacle-encrusted beam. The shallow depth means long bottom times, giving you ample opportunity to explore every nook and cranny. It’s a gentle introduction to wreck diving, with enough character to keep even seasoned divers engaged.
- Location
- Ocho Rios, Jamaica, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 17.939466, -76.739080
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 5m
Marine Protected Area: Palisadoes- Port Royal 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 and Caverns - 15-30m (cave)
- Kathryn Wreck - 10-18m (wreck)
- LA BELLE SAUVAGE (POSSIBLY) - 13m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to KIRK MAID
- 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 KIRK MAID
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