VICTORIA STEPHENS - Ocho Rios

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.

Location: Ocho Rios, Jamaica, Caribbean
Coordinates: 17.947617, -76.771980
Type: wreck
Maximum Depth: 13m

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)

Nearest Dive Centres to VICTORIA STEPHENS

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 VICTORIA STEPHENS

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