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Log This Dive

VICTORIA STEPHENS

The Victoria Stephens, a cargo ship sunk during a hurricane in 1951, offers a delightfully eerie dive just off Ocho Rios. We love a wreck with a bit of history, and this one certainly has it, lying broken and spread across the sand at a shallow 13 metres. It’s not one of those intact wrecks you can swim through, but rather a collection of scattered hull plates, engine parts, and twisted metal, all encrusted with sponges and hard corals. What you'll find here is a busy, thriving artificial reef. Schools of grunts and snapper hover over the debris, and we’ve often spotted moray eels peeking out from beneath larger sections of hull. Keep an eye out for cleaner shrimp stations – they're always a treat. Because of the shallow depth, it’s a site that suits newer wreck divers looking to get a feel for exploring a wreck without the pressure of deep penetration. Our favourite time to dive it is in the late afternoon, when the sun casts long shadows and the light filters through the water in a way that truly highlights the wreck's skeletal remains. Visibility is generally good, but like anywhere, it can drop after heavy rains, so check with the local shops before heading out.