Grand Cayman is the largest and most visited of the three islands (Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman) that comprise the Cayman Islands. Grand Cayman is popular for scuba divers and vacationers alike. With crystal clear water, vibrant reefs and its famous 7-Mile Beach, it’s perfect for diving, snorkeling and swimming. There are over 160 dive sites surrounding from West End to East End and North Sound, and its numerous resorts and dive operators cater to scuba divers in a manner which few destinations can match. Crystal clear waters, beautiful beaches, reef diving and even encounters with its friendly stingray population are but a few of the reasons that divers flock to this dive Mecca.
Diving in the Cayman Islands
World-renowned for its warm, clear waters and sheer wall dives, the Cayman Islands have much to offer divers. Whether you’re in the mood for deep or shallow dives, reefs, walls or wrecks, the Caymans have it all. Little Cayman’s famous Bloody Bay Wall Marine Park is arguably one of the world’s best dive sites. The Cayman Islands are recognized as the birthplace of recreational diving in the Caribbean. The warm, calm waters, 100 ft. plus visibility and breath-taking variety of marine life offer a world of exciting logbook entries. In general, the weather is good all year and the cool tradewinds ensure it doesn’t get too hot. Peak season runs between December and April, while the rainy season runs from May to November, but generally the short afternoon showers aren’t enough to hinder any vacation activities. The average summer temperature is 80 degrees, dropping to 75 degrees in winter.
Grand Cayman has over 160 dive sites ranging from steep walls adorned with vibrantly colored sponges and corals to the “The World’s Best 12 Foot Dive:” Stingray City, where friendly Southern Stingrays swim around divers waiting to be fed. Grand Cayman’s reefs are unspoiled: gorgonians and hard corals thrive in the clear, warm waters, and most dive sites are just minutes offshore.
Cayman Brac’s miles of shallow reefs are inhabited by a multitude of marine life, unafraid of divers. The 330-foot Russian warship #356, complete with four deck guns, was intentionally sunk off the island’s west end in 1996. Renamed the MV Capt. Keith Tibbetts, she is the only divable Russian warship in the Western Hemisphere. The Tibbetts is a unique and exciting addition to the Brac’s other underwater attractions, which include two other wrecks, an ancient anchor embedded in a wall; miles of healthy shallow reefs featuring elkhorn corals and abundant fish populations; and miles of colorful sponge and coral laden drop-offs.
Dive Primer
- Water Temp: 78-82°
- Visibility: 100′+
- Wetsuit: skin to 3mm
Best Time to Travel
- Year-round
Favorite Dive Sites
- Wreck of the Calie
- Stingray City
- North Wall
Topside Attractions
- Hell, Grand Cayman
- Atlantis Deep Sub
- Boatswain’s Turtle Farm, Grand Cayman