TROPICAL SEA - Ocho Rios

Tropical Sea, off Ocho Rios, is something of an enigma. When we say "wreck," we’re talking about a steamship that went down way back in 1904. You won't find a fully intact vessel, not even close. What you will find, though, is a scattering of the old girl, mostly her boiler, a propeller shaft, and some hull plates, all sitting in a ridiculously shallow three metres of water. It’s perfect for snorkelers or new divers wanting to get a feel for a wreck without any depth anxiety. The real charm here isn't the ship itself, but how nature has completely reclaimed it. The metal pieces are coated in a riot of sponges and soft corals, their colours popping in the bright Caribbean sun. Look closely and you'll spot tiny gobies perched on the sponges, almost camouflaged. Parrotfish graze lazily, their crunching audible if you pause and listen. We love poking around the bits of twisted metal, imagining what life was like on that ship over a hundred years ago, then watching a queen angelfish glide past, oblivious to the history beneath its fins. It’s a gentle, easy dive, a great warm-up for deeper sites, and a fantastic place to just float and observe.

Location: Ocho Rios, Jamaica, Caribbean
Coordinates: 17.895950, -76.811330
Type: wreck
Maximum Depth: 3m

Marine Protected Area: Palisadoes- Port Royal

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 TROPICAL SEA

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 TROPICAL SEA

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