Divers Guide to the Cayman Islands
Jennifer PennerGrand Cayman’s Stingray City site is beloved by underwater photographers for its shallow depths and crystal-clear water.
Good to Know
Language: English
Currency: Cayman Islands dollar
Signature Dish: Fish rundown, a stew made with coconut-milk-soaked fish.
Signature Topside Activity: Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park, Grand Cayman; Owen Island, Little Cayman; Bat Cave, Cayman Brac.
Main Airport: Grand Cayman’s Owen Roberts International Airport (GCM).
Water Temp/Visibility: High 70s to low 80s/80 to 100 feet.
Travel Tip: Carry both Cayman and U.S. dollars — resorts and hotels usually quote prices in U.S. dollars, while restaurants and shops ask for Cayman Islands dollars.
You’ll see the word “Caymankind” in advertisements for this western Caribbean island country, but what does it mean? “Whoever you are and wherever you come from, there is a piece of Cayman that will speak to you,” explains the tourism bureau. Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac share qualities that divers will love — starting with the wall diving that put the destination on the map more than 60 years ago. But when you consider the whole of each island, you’ll find distinct differences. Discover a wealth of fun activities in Grand Cayman. Savor the solitude in Little Cayman. Explore Cayman Brac’s natural beauty. Trust us — when you visit, you’ll find your Caymankind.
Best Overall
Reader Favorite
Year after year, these islands take home multiple awards in our annual Readers Choice Awards, and it’s easy to see why. For starters, it has 365 named dive sites, one for each day of the year; hundreds of fish species; scores of reefs, walls and wrecks; and dive resorts and operations that cater to every level of diver. In the 26 years that we’ve been publishing the results of our survey, the Cayman Islands have never missed being listed among the top five best dive destinations in the Caribbean.
Off the Wall
Get vertical on walls that are the crème de la crème of the Caribbean. The dizzying drops and deep canyons often begin shallow, but magnificent black coral, sponges, eagle rays and turtles abound out in the blue and in countless nooks and alcoves. “I love Babylon up on the north side of Grand Cayman,” says UK underwater photographer Alex Mustard, who runs photo workshops on the island. “It’s a large pinnacle off the wall that starts in 150 feet of water and comes up to about 40 feet. The narrow cut between the pinnacle and main wall is stacked with black coral, whips and soft coral, which look like hanging gardens when the morning light shines through them — giving the site its name.”
Stellar wall diving is found off Grand’s sister islands, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac too. The dramatic, world-famous Bloody Bay Wall that graces Little Cayman’s north shore is staggering in its beauty, plastered by soft corals and sponges and inhabited by huge parrotfish and friendly grouper.
“My favorite Little Cayman dive is Jackson’s Reef and Wall,” says Sharon Maher, manager of Reef Divers at Little Cayman Beach Resort. “I love the diversity — the sheer, deep wall, great swim-throughs, and then shallower reefs on top of the wall.” Off Cayman Brac, turtles, eagle rays and schooling horse-eye jacks cruise by divers exploring Wilderness Wall, a drop-off that also features a deepwater pinnacle plastered with enormous sponges and pristine corals.
Advanced Diving
Wreck Exploration
The 330‑foot Captain Keith Tibbetts, one of the only sunken Russian naval vessels in the Western Hemisphere, is Cayman Brac’s signature dive site. Openings on the upper deck allow penetration for wreck divers. Off Grand Cayman’s southwest coast, the 100‑foot freighter Carrie Lee, which is almost fully intact, is truly a technical dive — depths range from 150 to 240 feet.
Underwater Photography
Camera Ready
The islands are tailor-made for underwater photography — excellent water clarity, diverse marine-life subjects and calm conditions all combine to allow photographers to concentrate on their craft.
Scenic Wrecks
“During my photo workshops, we call the Kittiwake ‘the wreck of a thousand faces,’” says Mustard. “It’s the perfect size — small enough to cover her in one dive, large enough to keep you entertained dive after dive.”
“It’s reasonably sheltered year-round,” adds Chris Zinsli, Reef Divers manager at Cobalt Coast Resort. “This makes for great visibility and a lot of marine life.”
2019 Readers Choice Awards
1st Place: Advanced Diving; Underwater Photography
2st Place: Best Overall Dive Destination; Cavern, Cave and Grotto
3rd Place: Wreck Diving
4st Place: Shore Diving; Beginner Diving
5st Place: Big Animals;Macro
Top 10, Best Dive Sites: Eagle Ray Pass, Grand Cayman; Devil’s Grotto, Grand Cayman
Top 10, Best Wall Dives: Bloody Bay Wall, Little Cayman; North Wall, Grand Cayman; Big Tunnels, Grand Cayman
Top 10, Best Wreck Dives: Kittiwake, Grand Cayman; Captain Keith Tibbetts, Cayman Brac; Doc Poulson, Grand Cayman
Top 10, Best Shore Dives: Sunset House Reef, Grand Cayman; Lighthouse Point Reef, Grand Cayman
Top 10, Best Night Dive: Sunset House Reef, Grand Cayman
Top 10, Best Animal Encounter: Stingray City, Grand Cayman
Top 10, Best Beach: Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman
Top 10, Best Cultural Experience: Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park, Grand Cayman
