Explore the best places to dive in Ilhas Cayman. 38 dive sites with real reviews and ratings from divers.
West Bay, Grand Cayman
The Doc Polson is a small artificial-reef wreck on Grand Cayman, a steel cable-laying barge that was scuttled in 1982 off the West Bay end of Seven Mile Beach to create a dive attraction. The wreck sits upright on a flat sandy bottom in roughly 18 metres of water, with the highest point reaching to about 14 metres. After more than four decades on the bottom the hull is heavily encrusted with stony corals, sponges, gorgonians and hydroids, and has fully integrated into the reef ecosystem. Resident species include green moray eels living in cracks in the hull, schools of grunts, schoolmaster snapper, sergeant majors, queen and French angelfish, blue tangs, the occasional Atlantic spadefish, hawksbill turtles, Caribbean reef squid hovering above the deck, and large lobsters tucked under the hull plates. The wreck makes an excellent second dive paired with a deeper West Wall morning dive. Visibility on the West Bay sand flats regularly exceeds 20 metres, and the protected leeward conditions keep current near zero year-round.
West End, Cayman Brac
The MV Captain Keith Tibbetts is the signature wreck dive of Cayman Brac and one of the most unusual artificial reefs in the world — a 100-metre Soviet-built Brigadyr-class anti-submarine frigate (Patrol Vessel 356) that served in the Cuban Navy before being purchased by the Cayman Islands government and scuttled off Cayman Brac's western tip on 17 September 1996. Renamed in honour of a beloved local statesman, she is the only Soviet-bloc warship accessible to recreational divers in the Western hemisphere. The wreck sits on a sandy slope with the bow at roughly 24 metres and the stern in shallower water around 18 metres. Hurricane Ivan in 2004 broke the ship in two, with the bow now leaning to port at a dramatic angle. Divers can explore the deck-mounted twin 76mm gun turrets fore and aft, the bridge superstructure, depth-charge launchers and fire-control radars. The wreck is heavily encrusted with sponges, corals, gorgonians and hydroids, and now supports schools of yellowtail snapper, sergeant majors, blue tangs, hawksbill turtles, green moray eels, southern stingrays, queen angelfish, midnight parrotfish, and Caribbean reef squid.
Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman
The Oro Verde is one of Grand Cayman's classic wreck dives, a 50-metre former freighter that was deliberately sunk in 1980 to create an artificial reef off Seven Mile Beach. After Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and subsequent storms, the once-intact hull broke apart and is now scattered across the sandy bottom in roughly 15 metres of water as a debris field of large hull plates, deck sections and engine room machinery. The dispersal has actually broadened the site's appeal, as divers can swim from one debris cluster to another exploring the fragments, all heavily encrusted with sponges, corals and gorgonians. Resident wildlife includes green moray eels, large hawksbill turtles, southern stingrays, schools of yellowtail snapper and schoolmaster, sergeant majors, blue tangs, queen and French angelfish, and Caribbean reef squid. The shallow depth and protected Seven Mile Beach lee conditions make the Oro Verde an excellent beginner wreck experience, a popular night dive (with octopus, basket stars and squirrelfish active after dark), and a great second dive after a deeper West Wall morning.
South Hole Sound, Little Cayman
The Soto Trader is the principal wreck dive on Little Cayman's south side, a 36-metre coastal cargo vessel that sank in 1975 after a fuel explosion. The wreck rests in roughly 18 metres of water on the sandy bottom seaward of South Hole Sound. After decades on the bottom and several major hurricanes, the hull has broken into recognisable sections — bow, midship and stern — scattered across a debris field, all heavily encrusted with sponges, corals and gorgonians. The wreck has fully integrated into the reef ecosystem and supports a strong community of green moray eels in cracks in the hull plates, schools of yellowtail snapper, schoolmaster, sergeant majors, queen and French angelfish, blue tangs, midnight parrotfish, hawksbill turtles, southern stingrays cruising the sand around the wreck, the occasional Atlantic spadefish, and Caribbean reef squid hovering above the debris. Visibility on Little Cayman's south-side reefs commonly exceeds 25 metres, especially during the calm dry season from December to May. The wreck is a popular second dive and a rewarding night dive.
North Sound, Grand Cayman
Stingray City is one of the most famous dive sites in the world, located on a shallow sandbar inside Grand Cayman's North Sound where southern stingrays (Hypanus americanus) congregate in numbers to interact with divers. The site is a flat, open patch of pure white sand in roughly 3 to 4 metres of water, surrounded by turtle grass beds and shallow coral patches. The stingray gathering tradition dates back to the 1980s, when local fishermen began cleaning their catch in the lee of the North Sound shallows, and the resident stingrays learned to congregate at the spot for the discarded fish scraps. Today, Cayman dive operators continue limited controlled feeding under Department of Environment regulation, and divers can kneel on the sandy bottom while dozens of large stingrays — many with wingspans over a metre — glide and hover around them. Permitted handlers offer squid to attract the rays in close. Other resident wildlife includes nurse sharks, southern stingrays elsewhere on the bar, schoolmaster, sergeant majors, blue runners, and occasional eagle rays. The shallow depth, calm protected lagoon water and zero current make this a perfect beginner experience.
North Sound, Grand Cayman
Stingray Sandbar is the snorkeling-and-shallow-water sister site to Stingray City, located a short distance away on the same expanse of shallow sand inside Grand Cayman's North Sound. While Stingray City sits in roughly 3 to 4 metres for divers, the Sandbar is in just 1 to 2 metres of water — shallow enough that visitors can stand chest-deep on the soft white sand. The same resident population of southern stingrays (Hypanus americanus) glides between the two locations, and operators bring in snorkelers, beginners and non-divers for the iconic encounter at the Sandbar. The crystal-clear water, near-zero current and tropical sun make it a year-round attraction. Permitted handlers feed squid to bring the rays in close, allowing visitors to feel their soft velvet skin. Other wildlife includes occasional southern stingrays foraging the surrounding turtle grass, blue runners, schoolmaster snapper, sergeant majors, juvenile bonefish and yellowfin mojarra. The site is universally considered one of the most accessible wildlife encounters in the Caribbean, suitable for all ages and swimming abilities. North Sound conditions stay calm year-round.
Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman
The USS Kittiwake is the signature artificial-reef wreck of Grand Cayman, a 76-metre former United States Navy submarine rescue vessel (ASR-13) launched in 1945 and decommissioned in 1994. After a four-year Cayman government project to clean and prepare the ship, she was scuttled on 5 January 2011 in 20 metres of water on the sandy shelf seaward of Seven Mile Beach. The Kittiwake sits upright on her keel with the bow pointing north, intact and structurally sound, with the highest deck rising to within 4 metres of the surface — making her accessible to snorkelers and freedivers as well as scuba divers at every level. The interior has been opened up with multiple cut-outs and penetration routes through the wheelhouse, machine rooms, mess hall, recompression chamber, crew quarters and wide passageways. The wreck has rapidly become coated in encrusting corals, sponges and gorgonians, and now hosts goliath grouper, large green moray eels, schools of yellowtail snapper, jacks, schoolmaster, sergeant majors, hawksbill turtles, southern stingrays, and frequent Caribbean reef squid. The Kittiwake is a marine park with a permit-only mooring system and is operated by every major Grand Cayman dive shop.
East End, Grand Cayman
The East End version of Babylon is a separate Grand Cayman dive site from its better-known North Wall namesake, sitting along the East End drop-off where the reef shelf falls away into the deep Caribbean. The mooring tops out near 12 metres on the reef plateau and divers descend over the lip into a vertical wall that plunges hundreds of metres. Typical depths run 21 to 27 metres along a face decorated with massive orange elephant-ear sponges, giant barrel sponges, deepwater sea fans, black coral and rope sponges. The deep blue regularly delivers Caribbean reef sharks, eagle rays, hawksbill turtles, midnight parrotfish, queen angelfish, schooling horse-eye jacks and Creole wrasse swarming the wall edge. Visibility on East End walls commonly exceeds 30 metres during the dry season from December through May, when the prevailing trades produce the most consistent boat conditions. Currents along East End walls can shift moderately. Operated by Ocean Frontiers and other East End operators.
East End, Grand Cayman
Babylon is one of Grand Cayman's most celebrated wall dives, located on the North Wall where the reef shelf meets the Cayman Trench. The site centres on a dramatic ridge that juts out from the main wall, forming a buttress wrapped in massive orange elephant-ear sponges, deepwater sea fans and rope sponges. The wall lip starts around 12 to 14 metres and drops vertically beyond 1,800 metres into open ocean. Most dives explore the buttress between 21 and 27 metres, then return shallower over the reef top. The deep blue regularly delivers Caribbean reef sharks patrolling the drop-off, eagle rays gliding past, hawksbill turtles in the shallows, and large schools of horse-eye jacks and Bermuda chub. Black grouper and Nassau grouper hold position in the cuts. Visibility commonly exceeds 30 metres from December through May when trade winds calm. Currents along the North Wall can run moderate and unpredictable when wind shifts, so the site is rated for advanced divers. Operators include Sunset House, Divetech and Ocean Frontiers (when conditions allow the long crossing from East End).
South Side, Cayman Brac
Bert Brothers Boulders is a Cayman Brac south-side dive named for an arresting cluster of massive coral-encrusted boulders that rise from a sandy bottom in roughly 21 metres of water, topping out around 12 metres. The boulders — some the size of small houses — are spaced to create swim-throughs, channels and overhangs between them, all coated in encrusting sponges, gorgonians, sheet corals, sea plumes and sea fans. The diversity of structures and shaded undercuts concentrates reef life: green moray eels in the crevices, hawksbill turtles foraging on sponges, southern stingrays cruising the sand patches, schools of yellowtail snapper, schoolmaster, sergeant majors, queen and French angelfish, blue tangs, midnight parrotfish, Creole wrasse, the occasional nurse shark sleeping under a ledge, and Caribbean reef squid. Visibility on Cayman Brac's south-side reefs commonly exceeds 25 metres in the dry season from December to May. Currents are typically light. The depth and the swim-through navigation make this an excellent intermediate dive.
West Bay, Grand Cayman
Big Tunnels is a Grand Cayman West Wall dive site celebrated for its dramatic coral-arch swim-throughs that pierce the reef shelf at the wall lip. The site begins on a reef plateau in roughly 15 metres and descends through a sequence of high-roofed tunnels and arches in 21 to 27 metres, formed where ancient coral overgrowth has bridged narrow canyons in the limestone shelf. The arches are wrapped in giant barrel sponges, orange elephant-ear sponges, deepwater sea fans, black coral and sheet corals, and shafts of sunlight cut through gaps in the ceilings. Beyond the tunnels, the wall plunges vertically thousands of metres into deep blue. Resident wildlife includes Caribbean reef sharks patrolling the drop-off, eagle rays gliding the wall edge, hawksbill turtles, southern stingrays in the sand patches between coral heads, schools of horse-eye jacks, queen and French angelfish, midnight parrotfish, and large green moray eels in the tunnel walls. Visibility along the West Wall commonly exceeds 30 metres in the dry season from December to May. The depth and tunnel navigation rate the dive advanced.
West Bay, Grand Cayman
Bonnie's Arch is one of Grand Cayman's most photographed dive sites, a single freestanding coral arch on the West Wall reef shelf that has become an icon of Cayman wide-angle photography. The arch sits in roughly 15 to 18 metres of water on the reef plateau just before the wall drop-off, perfectly framed against the deep blue beyond. The structure itself is wrapped in encrusting sponges, gorgonians, deepwater sea fans, sheet corals and rope sponges, and silver schools of horse-eye jacks and Bermuda chub frequently pose under the arch with shafts of sunlight overhead. Resident species include hawksbill turtles, green moray eels, southern stingrays, queen and French angelfish, blue tangs, midnight parrotfish, schoolmaster snapper, yellowtail snapper, and Caribbean reef squid. Beyond the arch the wall drops vertically into the Cayman Trench, allowing divers to combine the iconic structure shot with a brief drop along the wall. Visibility along the West Wall commonly exceeds 25 metres in the dry season from December to May. Light currents and moderate depth make this an excellent intermediate dive.
South Side, Cayman Brac
Butterfly Reef is a shallow reef-top dive on Cayman Brac's south side, named for the dense and varied population of tropical reef fish that flutter above the coral heads like butterflies. The site sits on the reef shelf in roughly 12 to 18 metres of water on a healthy hard-coral reef of brain coral, boulder coral, sea plumes, sea rods and sea fans, scattered across patches of white sand. The south-side exposure is sheltered from the prevailing easterly trade winds, keeping water clear and conditions calm. Resident wildlife includes large schools of yellowtail snapper, schoolmaster, sergeant majors, blue tangs, ocean surgeonfish, queen and French angelfish, midnight parrotfish, stoplight parrotfish, Creole wrasse, hawksbill turtles foraging on sponges, southern stingrays cruising the sand, green moray eels in the crevices, the occasional spotted eagle ray, and Caribbean reef squid. Visibility commonly exceeds 25 metres in the dry season from December to May. The shallow depth, near-zero current and easy navigation make Butterfly Reef an excellent beginner dive and a perfect second dive after a deeper north-wall morning.
George Town, Grand Cayman
Cheeseburger Reef earned its tongue-in-cheek name from its location directly offshore from the Burger King restaurant on Grand Cayman's George Town waterfront. The site is a shallow fringing-reef shore dive accessed from the Eden Rock area, sitting in 6 to 12 metres of water just a short surface swim from the seawall. The reef is a healthy stretch of hard coral including boulder coral, brain coral, sea plumes and sea fans, with sandy patches separating the coral heads. Resident wildlife includes hawksbill turtles browsing on sponges, green moray eels and spotted moray eels in the crevices, southern stingrays cruising the sand, schools of yellowtail snapper, schoolmaster, blue tangs, queen and French angelfish, sergeant majors, and Caribbean reef squid. Tarpon and jacks pass through hunting at dawn and dusk. The shallow depth, easy shore access, near-zero current and consistently calm conditions on George Town's protected south-west coast make Cheeseburger Reef one of the best beginner and training dives on Grand Cayman. Visibility commonly exceeds 25 metres in the dry season.
George Town, Grand Cayman
Devil's Grotto is one of Grand Cayman's most famous shore dives, located directly off the seawall at Eden Rock Diving Centre on the south side of George Town harbour. The site features an interconnected complex of caverns, tunnels and swim-throughs carved into the shallow fringing reef in 6 to 12 metres of water. Divers enter from the seawall, swim out through a sandy channel and drop into a maze of light-filled chambers where shafts of sunlight pierce holes in the cavern roofs. The site is internationally renowned for its seasonal explosions of silversides — millions of juvenile herring (Atherinidae) — that pack the caverns from late spring through summer, parting like curtains as divers swim through. Resident species include tarpon hunting through the silverside swarms, schoolmaster snapper, yellowtail snapper, sergeant majors, blue tangs, queen and French angelfish, green moray eels, spotted moray eels and Caribbean reef squid. The shallow depth, easy entry and mostly calm conditions make this a perfect beginner site, while the cavern swim-throughs add interest for advanced divers. Best silverside displays April through August.
Bloody Bay, Little Cayman
Donna's Delight is one of the named mooring sites of the Bloody Bay Wall Marine Park on Little Cayman, located on the north shore wall system close to Mixing Bowl. The dive starts from a mooring in roughly 6 to 8 metres on the healthy reef plateau and follows the wall edge that begins at 6 metres and drops vertically beyond 1,800 metres into the deep Caribbean. The site features dramatic sponge-encrusted overhangs along the wall face, with massive orange elephant-ear sponges, giant barrel sponges, deepwater sea fans, black coral, sheet corals, rope sponges and yellow tube sponges. Resident wildlife in the Marine Park is exceptional and consistent: hawksbill turtles cruising the reef top, Nassau grouper holding station in the cuts, midnight parrotfish, eagle rays, Caribbean reef sharks patrolling the deep blue, schools of horse-eye jacks, blue chromis, Creole wrasse, queen and French angelfish, and large midnight parrotfish. Year-round Marine Park visibility exceeds 30 metres. Currents typically light, ideal for intermediate divers and great for photography given the consistent water clarity.
West Bay, Grand Cayman
Eagle's Nest is one of the signature North Wall dives off Grand Cayman's West Bay coast, a sheer vertical drop where the Cayman Trench plunges thousands of feet into the abyss. The mooring sits in roughly 12 metres of water on the reef shelf, with the wall lip starting near 18 metres and dropping straight down beyond recreational limits. Divers typically cruise the wall at 24 to 30 metres along an undercut face decorated with deepwater sea fans, rope sponges, black coral bushes and large barrel sponges. The site earns its name from frequent eagle ray encounters gliding along the blue, while Caribbean reef sharks, hawksbill turtles, queen angelfish and schooling horse-eye jacks round out the cast. Visibility on the North Wall regularly exceeds 30 metres during the dry season from December to May, when prevailing trade winds lay flat and crossings from George Town are smoothest. Currents are typically light, but the deep drop-off demands strict gas planning and conservative no-deco profiles. Operated by virtually every West Bay dive shop, Eagle's Nest is a standard advanced wall dive.
East End, Cayman Brac
East Chute is a Cayman Brac dive on the island's east-end wall, named for a deep coral-walled chute that descends from the reef plateau through the shelf and exits onto the main wall face. The dive begins on the reef top at roughly 12 metres and divers descend through the chute walls coated in giant orange elephant-ear sponges, barrel sponges, deepwater sea fans, black coral bushes, sheet corals and rope sponges, exiting onto the wall around 24 metres. The wall continues vertically beyond 1,800 metres into the deep Caribbean. The east-end exposure delivers consistent pelagic action: Caribbean reef sharks patrolling the deep blue, eagle rays gliding the wall edge, hawksbill turtles, schools of horse-eye jacks, Bermuda chub, Creole wrasse, queen and French angelfish, midnight parrotfish, Nassau grouper holding station in the cuts, and the occasional spotted eagle ray. Visibility along Cayman Brac's east-end walls commonly exceeds 30 metres in the dry season from December to May. Currents along the east end can run moderate, so the site is rated intermediate.
George Town, Grand Cayman
Eden Rock is the sister shore-dive site to Devil's Grotto on Grand Cayman's George Town waterfront, accessed from the same Eden Rock Diving Centre seawall. The two sites are often dived as a single circuit, separated only by a sandy channel. Eden Rock itself is a coral mound rising from a sand bottom in roughly 12 metres, undercut by a series of caverns and swim-throughs in 6 to 10 metres that pierce through the reef and create dramatic light shafts. Like Devil's Grotto, Eden Rock fills with massive silverside schools — millions of juvenile herring — from late spring through summer, with tarpon, snapper and jacks hunting through the bait. Resident wildlife includes green moray eels, spotted moray eels, schoolmaster snapper, yellowtail snapper, sergeant majors, blue tangs, queen and French angelfish, midnight parrotfish, large lobster, and Caribbean reef squid hovering above the reef. The shallow depth, calm protected harbour conditions and easy seawall entry make Eden Rock ideal for training dives, refreshers and unlimited shore-diving with a tank fill stop just metres away. Best silverside spectacle April through August.
East End, Grand Cayman
Grand Canyon is a North Wall dive on Grand Cayman where deep canyons and sand chutes carve through the reef shelf and connect to the main vertical drop-off into the Cayman Trench. The dive begins on a coral-covered plateau in roughly 12 metres, then divers descend through narrow canyon walls coated in giant barrel sponges, orange elephant-ear sponges, rope sponges and deepwater sea fans. The canyons funnel divers out onto the wall face around 24 to 30 metres, where visibility commonly exceeds 30 metres in the dry season from December to May. Caribbean reef sharks frequently cruise the blue water beyond the drop-off, eagle rays glide along the rim, and hawksbill turtles forage on sponges. Schools of horse-eye jacks, Creole wrasse and Bermuda chub patrol the canyon mouths, and black grouper hold station in the deeper cuts. The site demands advanced certification for the depth and the moderate currents that can sweep through the canyons when North Wall conditions shift.
Bloody Bay, Little Cayman
Great Wall West is the western anchor of the Bloody Bay Wall Marine Park on Little Cayman, considered by many divers to be among the world's most pristine vertical reef walls. The dive begins on the reef plateau at roughly 6 to 8 metres and divers cross a healthy coral top to the wall lip, which starts as shallow as 6 metres before plunging straight down beyond 1,800 metres into the deep Caribbean. The wall face is festooned with massive orange elephant-ear sponges, giant barrel sponges, deepwater sea fans, black coral bushes, sheet corals, rope sponges and yellow tube sponges, all completely untouched within the strictly protected Marine Park. Resident wildlife is consistently exceptional: Nassau grouper holding station in the cuts, midnight parrotfish patrolling the lip, hawksbill turtles, green turtles, eagle rays, Caribbean reef sharks, schools of horse-eye jacks, blue chromis, Creole wrasse, queen angelfish, French angelfish and large midnight parrotfish. Year-round visibility commonly exceeds 30 metres in the MPA. Currents are typically light, suiting intermediate divers comfortable with depth. Best conditions December to May.
East End, Grand Cayman
High Rock Drop-Off is one of the South-East Wall dives on Grand Cayman, located off the East End coast where the reef shelf gives way to a vertical wall plunging into the deep Caribbean. The site is named for the dramatic cathedral-like buttresses of coral that thrust outward from the wall, separated by deep narrow canyons and sand chutes. Divers descend through the canyons from the reef top around 12 metres, exit the buttresses around 24 metres and continue along the wall face decorated with giant barrel sponges, orange elephant-ear sponges, deepwater sea fans, black coral bushes and rope sponges. The deep blue regularly hosts Caribbean reef sharks, eagle rays, hawksbill turtles, large midnight parrotfish, queen and French angelfish, schools of horse-eye jacks and Bermuda chub. Visibility on the South-East Wall commonly exceeds 30 metres during the dry season from December to May. Currents are generally moderate but can pick up unpredictably along the wall, so the dive is rated advanced.
Jackson's Bight, Little Cayman
Jackson's Wall is one of the named dives of Jackson's Bight, the Marine Park section of Little Cayman's north-shore wall system that extends east of the Bloody Bay Wall. The site begins on the reef plateau at roughly 6 to 8 metres and divers head out to the wall lip, which starts as shallow as 6 metres before plunging vertically beyond 1,800 metres into the deep Caribbean. The wall face is dressed in giant orange elephant-ear sponges, barrel sponges, deepwater sea fans, black coral bushes, sheet corals, rope sponges and yellow tube sponges. Resident wildlife is excellent: Nassau grouper, midnight parrotfish, hawksbill and green turtles, eagle rays, Caribbean reef sharks patrolling the deep blue, schools of horse-eye jacks, queen and French angelfish, blue chromis, Creole wrasse and large midnight parrotfish. The Marine Park's year-round visibility commonly exceeds 30 metres. Light currents and the manageable depth make this an excellent intermediate wall dive, often paired with a Bloody Bay Wall second dive. Best conditions December to May during the dry season.
Bloody Bay, Little Cayman
Lea Lea's Lookout is one of the named mooring sites of the Bloody Bay Wall Marine Park on Little Cayman, sitting on the protected north-shore wall system. The dive begins at a mooring in roughly 8 metres of water on the reef plateau and divers head outward across a healthy hard-coral reef top to the wall lip, which begins at 6 to 8 metres and plunges vertically beyond 1,800 metres into the deep Caribbean. The site features a series of mini-canyons and chutes through the reef shelf that open dramatically onto the wall face, all coated with giant orange elephant-ear sponges, barrel sponges, deepwater sea fans, black coral, sheet corals and rope sponges. Resident wildlife in the Marine Park is exceptional: Nassau grouper, midnight parrotfish, hawksbill and green turtles, eagle rays, Caribbean reef sharks patrolling the wall, schools of horse-eye jacks, blue chromis, Creole wrasse, queen and French angelfish. Visibility year-round in the protected MPA commonly exceeds 30 metres. The site sees minimal current and is ideal for intermediate wall divers.
Bloody Bay, Little Cayman
Marilyn's Cut is one of the signature dives of the Bloody Bay Wall Marine Park on Little Cayman, named for a deep cut or notch carved into the wall face by ancient reef erosion. The site is dived from a mooring on the reef plateau in roughly 8 metres, with the wall lip starting at 6 to 8 metres and dropping vertically beyond 1,800 metres into the deep Caribbean. Divers swim along the wall to enter the cut between 18 and 24 metres, where towering walls on three sides are coated in giant orange elephant-ear sponges, barrel sponges, deepwater sea fans, black coral, sheet corals, rope sponges and yellow tube sponges. The site became famous for a resident Nassau grouper named 'Jerry' (a local mascot for years) and continues to host Nassau grouper, midnight parrotfish, hawksbill turtles, green turtles, eagle rays, Caribbean reef sharks, queen angelfish, French angelfish, schools of horse-eye jacks, and Creole wrasse. The Bloody Bay Wall is one of the cleanest, most pristine wall systems in the Caribbean, with visibility commonly exceeding 30 metres year-round in the protected Marine Park. Best December to May.
Bloody Bay, Little Cayman
Mixing Bowl is one of the most celebrated dives on Little Cayman, sitting at the boundary point where the Bloody Bay Wall Marine Park merges into the Jackson's Bight wall system on the island's protected north shore. The site is named for the way swirling currents from both walls converge here, mixing nutrients and concentrating reef life. Divers descend from a mooring on the reef plateau in roughly 6 to 8 metres and head out to the wall lip, which begins as shallow as 6 metres — among the shallowest wall dives in the Caribbean — before plunging straight down beyond 1,800 metres. The reef top is a healthy coral garden of brain coral, boulder coral, sea plumes and sea fans, and the wall face is covered in giant barrel sponges, orange elephant-ear sponges, deepwater sea fans, black coral and rope sponges. Resident wildlife is exceptional: Nassau grouper, midnight parrotfish, hawksbill and green turtles, eagle rays, Caribbean reef sharks, schools of horse-eye jacks, Creole wrasse, queen and French angelfish. Visibility commonly exceeds 30 metres year-round in the protected MPA. Best conditions December to May.
Jackson's Bight, Little Cayman
Nancy's Cup of Tea is a named mooring site within Jackson's Bight on Little Cayman's north-shore wall system, named for a bowl-like indentation in the reef plateau that gives the site a distinctive tea-cup-shaped sand patch surrounded by coral heads. The dive begins from a mooring in roughly 6 to 8 metres of water and divers head outward to the wall lip, which begins at 6 to 8 metres and drops vertically beyond 1,800 metres into the deep Caribbean. The wall face hosts massive orange elephant-ear sponges, giant barrel sponges, deepwater sea fans, black coral bushes, sheet corals, rope sponges and yellow tube sponges. The bowl indentation on the reef top concentrates reef life including queen angelfish, French angelfish, midnight parrotfish, blue tangs and schools of yellowtail snapper. Beyond the lip, divers regularly encounter Nassau grouper, hawksbill and green turtles, eagle rays, Caribbean reef sharks, schools of horse-eye jacks, blue chromis and Creole wrasse. Year-round Marine Park visibility commonly exceeds 30 metres.
East End, Grand Cayman
Old Wreck Head is an East End Grand Cayman dive named for the antique anchors and scattered metal debris from old sailing ship wrecks lost on the surrounding fringing reef during the 18th and 19th centuries. The site sits on the reef shelf seaward of the East End barrier reef and features a series of coral-walled mini-canyons and chimneys in 12 to 18 metres, with the main reef face dropping into the wall further out. Divers can find encrusted anchor pieces, ballast stones and chain wedged among the corals, all softened by decades of growth into sponges and gorgonians. Resident wildlife includes green moray eels, spotted moray eels, hawksbill turtles, southern stingrays, schools of yellowtail snapper, schoolmaster, blue tangs, queen and French angelfish, midnight parrotfish, and large lobsters tucked under ledges. Visibility on East End reefs commonly exceeds 25 metres in the dry season from December to May. The site is sheltered from prevailing trade winds by the reef and operates as a calm intermediate dive.
West Bay, Grand Cayman
Orange Canyon is a signature Grand Cayman West Wall dive named for the spectacular density of orange elephant-ear sponges (Agelas clathrodes) that coat its canyon walls. The site begins on the reef plateau in roughly 12 metres and descends through a deep canyon that cuts through the reef shelf and exits onto the main wall face around 24 to 30 metres. The canyon walls are dominated by enormous bright-orange elephant-ear sponges — some over a metre across — alongside giant barrel sponges, deepwater sea fans, black coral bushes, rope sponges and sheet corals. Beyond the canyon mouth, the wall plunges vertically thousands of metres into the deep Caribbean. Resident species include Caribbean reef sharks cruising the deep blue, eagle rays gliding the wall, hawksbill turtles foraging on sponges, schools of horse-eye jacks, queen and French angelfish, midnight parrotfish, large green moray eels in the canyon cracks, and the occasional black grouper. Visibility along the West Wall commonly exceeds 30 metres in the dry season from December to May. The depth rates the site advanced.
Bloody Bay, Little Cayman
Randy's Gazebo is one of the most photogenic dives in the Bloody Bay Wall Marine Park on Little Cayman, named for a coral chimney structure that resembles a gazebo, with windows of light and sponge-encrusted columns. The site sits at the western end of the Bloody Bay Wall system. Divers descend from a mooring in roughly 8 metres of reef plateau and head out through narrow coral-walled mini-canyons that lead down through the chimney swim-through, exiting onto the main wall face around 21 to 27 metres. The wall plunges vertically beyond 1,800 metres into the deep Caribbean. The chimney walls and wall face are covered in giant orange elephant-ear sponges, barrel sponges, deepwater sea fans, black coral, sheet corals, rope sponges and yellow tube sponges. Resident wildlife: Nassau grouper, midnight parrotfish, hawksbill and green turtles, eagle rays, Caribbean reef sharks, schools of horse-eye jacks, queen and French angelfish, blue chromis. Year-round Marine Park visibility commonly exceeds 30 metres. The chimney navigation rates the dive intermediate.
North Wall, Cayman Brac
Rock Monster Chimney is a Cayman Brac north-wall dive featuring a dramatic coral chimney swim-through that descends from the reef plateau through the shelf and exits onto the main wall face. The dive begins on the reef top at roughly 12 to 15 metres and divers enter the chimney near 18 metres, descending through the vertical coral-walled passage to exit onto the wall around 24 to 27 metres. The chimney walls and surrounding wall face are coated in giant orange elephant-ear sponges, barrel sponges, deepwater sea fans, black coral bushes, sheet corals, rope sponges and yellow tube sponges. Beyond the chimney mouth, the wall plunges vertically beyond 1,800 metres into the deep Caribbean. North-wall exposure on Cayman Brac delivers strong pelagic encounters: Caribbean reef sharks patrolling the drop-off, eagle rays gliding the wall edge, hawksbill turtles, schools of horse-eye jacks, Bermuda chub, Creole wrasse, queen and French angelfish, midnight parrotfish, and Nassau grouper. Visibility commonly exceeds 30 metres in the dry season. Currents can run moderate along the north wall, rating the dive advanced.
Jackson's Bight, Little Cayman
Sailfin Reef is a shallow reef-top dive within Jackson's Bight on Little Cayman, sitting on the reef plateau just landward of the wall lip. The site is named for the sailfin blennies (Emblemaria pandionis) that perch on the coral heads, displaying their tall sail-like dorsal fins as territorial signals to rivals. The dive sits in roughly 12 to 21 metres of water on a healthy hard-coral reef of brain coral, boulder coral, sea plumes and sea fans, scattered across white sand patches. Resident wildlife includes the namesake sailfin blennies, hawksbill turtles foraging on sponges, green moray eels in the crevices, southern stingrays cruising the sand, schools of yellowtail snapper, schoolmaster, sergeant majors, blue tangs, queen and French angelfish, midnight parrotfish, Creole wrasse, and Caribbean reef squid. The shallow depth, near-zero current and consistently excellent visibility (commonly above 30 metres in the protected Marine Park) make Sailfin Reef an ideal beginner dive and a perfect second dive after a deeper Bloody Bay Wall morning.
East End, Grand Cayman
Snapper Hole sits on Grand Cayman's protected East End and is celebrated as one of the most dramatic coral-canyon dives on the island. The site begins on a sandy plateau in roughly 12 metres and drops into a complex labyrinth of coral pinnacles, narrow swim-throughs and overhangs that descend to about 21 metres. Inside the canyons, an enormous old iron anchor — believed to be from a colonial-era sailing ship — lies wedged between coral walls and is now encrusted with sponges and corals, serving as the site's signature feature. The hole itself shelters dense schools of yellowtail snapper, schoolmaster snapper and blackbar soldierfish, while green moray eels, spotted moray eels, southern stingrays, hawksbill turtles, queen angelfish and the occasional nurse sheltering under ledges round out the marine life. East End reefs benefit from the prevailing easterly trades that limit boat traffic and keep the corals healthy and visibility frequently above 25 metres. The dive is operated almost exclusively by East End shops such as Ocean Frontiers and Compass Point. Best conditions December to May.
South Side, Cayman Brac
Snapper Reef is a shallow reef-top dive on Cayman Brac's south side, named for the dense schools of yellowtail snapper (Ocyurus chrysurus) and schoolmaster snapper (Lutjanus apodus) that hover above the coral heads. The site sits on the reef shelf in roughly 12 to 18 metres of water, with healthy hard coral cover including boulder coral, brain coral, sea plumes and sea fans, scattered across white sand patches. The south-side reef is sheltered from the prevailing easterly trade winds, keeping conditions calm and water clear. Resident wildlife includes the signature yellowtail and schoolmaster snapper schools, hawksbill turtles foraging on sponges, southern stingrays in the sand patches, green moray eels in the coral crevices, schools of grunts, sergeant majors, blue tangs, queen and French angelfish, midnight parrotfish, Creole wrasse, and Caribbean reef squid. Visibility commonly exceeds 25 metres in the dry season from December to May. The shallow depth, near-zero current and easy navigation make Snapper Reef an ideal beginner dive and a perfect second dive after a deeper east-end wall morning.
East End, Grand Cayman
Tarpon Alley is a Grand Cayman North Wall dive famous for the resident school of large Atlantic tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) that hovers motionless in the coral canyons running parallel to the wall lip. The dive starts on the shallow reef plateau around 12 metres and works through a series of coral-walled canyons in 18 to 23 metres, where the silver tarpon — many over 1.5 metres long — drift in the shadows under coral overhangs. Beyond the canyons the reef shelf rolls over into the wall and drops thousands of metres into the Cayman Trench. The site also delivers Caribbean reef sharks patrolling the drop-off, eagle rays passing through, hawksbill turtles, schooling horse-eye jacks, queen angelfish, French angelfish and large midnight parrotfish. Visibility regularly tops 30 metres during the dry season from December to May. Currents can run moderate when the wind shifts onshore. Operated by East End and West Bay shops on calm-day North Wall trips.
Bloody Bay, Little Cayman
Three Fathom Wall is one of the defining dives of the Bloody Bay Wall Marine Park on Little Cayman, named for the wall lip beginning at just three fathoms — about 5.5 metres — making it among the shallowest vertical wall dives in the entire Caribbean. The mooring sits in roughly 5 to 8 metres of water on a healthy reef plateau of brain coral, boulder coral, sea plumes and sea fans. Divers swim a short distance over the reef top before the bottom drops vertically beyond 1,800 metres, allowing recreational divers to hover at safe stop depths and still gaze straight down into the abyss. The wall face is covered in massive orange elephant-ear sponges, giant barrel sponges, deepwater sea fans, black coral bushes, sheet corals, rope sponges and tube sponges. Resident wildlife is exceptional: Nassau grouper, midnight parrotfish, hawksbill and green turtles, eagle rays, Caribbean reef sharks, schools of horse-eye jacks, blue chromis, Creole wrasse, queen and French angelfish, and the occasional spotted eagle ray. The Marine Park's strict protection keeps visibility above 30 metres year-round.
East End, Grand Cayman
Three Sisters is a Grand Cayman East End dive named for three large coral pinnacles that rise from the reef shelf alongside the drop-off into deep water. The pinnacles top out around 12 to 15 metres and rise from a sandy base near 24 metres, each one wrapped in encrusting sponges, gorgonians, deepwater sea fans, sheet corals and clusters of orange elephant-ear sponges. Divers can circumnavigate each sister and explore the swim-through gaps between them, then drift along the wall lip to enjoy the deep blue. Resident species include hawksbill turtles, southern stingrays cruising the sand patches, Caribbean reef sharks patrolling the drop-off, eagle rays, large schools of horse-eye jacks, blue chromis, Creole wrasse and yellowtail snapper. Visibility on East End reefs regularly exceeds 25 metres in the dry season from December to May. Currents are usually light, so the site suits intermediate divers comfortable with mild depth. Note: this is a separate site from Three Sisters dives in Australia and Indonesia.
West Bay, Grand Cayman
Trinity Caves is a Grand Cayman West Wall dive named for the three (trinity) deep canyon chimneys that descend through the reef shelf and lead divers out to the wall face. The site begins on the reef plateau in roughly 12 metres of water and follows a system of narrow coral-walled canyons and swim-through chimneys downward to the wall lip around 21 to 24 metres. The canyon walls are wrapped in giant barrel sponges, orange elephant-ear sponges, deepwater sea fans, sheet corals and rope sponges, with shafts of sunlight piercing through cracks above. Beyond the canyon mouths, the wall drops vertically thousands of metres into the deep Caribbean. Resident species include hawksbill turtles foraging on sponges, southern stingrays in the sand patches, Caribbean reef sharks patrolling the drop-off, eagle rays, schools of horse-eye jacks, blue chromis, queen and French angelfish, midnight parrotfish, and the occasional moray eel. Visibility along the West Wall regularly exceeds 30 metres during the dry season from December to May. Currents are typically light, making this an excellent intermediate wall introduction.
