🌴 The Cayman Islands are a world-renowned destination for scuba diving. There are three inhabited islands: Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac. The islands are in the Caribbean Sea and are known for their crystal-clear waters, vibrant coral reefs, and abundant marine life.
The 8 Best Dive Sites in the Cayman Islands
As rated on TheScubaDirectory
Handcuff Reef, Cayman Brac
Dive Type:
Easy entry Salt water Shore
A shore divers dream! There are stairs going down
into a protected ‘pool’ area in the ocean. Here you can get
your gear and buoyancy sorted out before swimming out the
channel to explore the site.
Be prepared for beautiful large coral heads, plenty of
healthy hard and soft corals and a variety of marine life
at this site. Keep an eye out for octopus and burfish.
Essential Gear
Captain Keith Tibbetts - shore dive, Cayman Brac
Dive Type:
Deep (80ft/24.5m) Easy entry Salt water Shore Wreck
The Captain Keith Tibbetts Wreck is a decommissioned Russian warship, specifically a Soviet-built Koni class frigate. It was intentionally sunk in 1996 to create an artificial reef and a unique diving experience. The wreck is named after Captain Keith Tibbetts, a local Caymanian politician and avid diver who played a key role in bringing the ship to Cayman Brac.
It lies in about 100 feet (30 meters) of water, making it suitable for experienced divers. The site has since become a haven for marine life, and divers can explore the structure of the sunken frigate while observing various coral formations and marine species.
Trinity Caves, Grand Cayman
Dive Type:
Boat Cavern Deep (80ft/24.5m) Salt water Swim through Wall
If you like swim-throughs and tunnels, this dive
site is for you! The site consists of three long, wide,
tunnels that extend from the sand to open out onto the reef wall.
There are openings in the tops of the tunnels that let in plenty
of natural light making it easy to explore and search for
marine creatures throughout the tunnels. This is one Cayman
dive site that you don’t want to miss.
Turtle Reef, Grand Cayman
Dive Type:
Current Easy entry Salt water Shore Wall
Turtle Reef's entrance is an easy entry right into
a small cove in the ironshore. The site is a mini-wall which
is marked by a buoy about 330 feet (100 meters) out. You can dive
this site two different ways, right (northeast) or left (south).
Typically, the direction you take will depend on the direction
of the current.
Turning left you will find several wide swim throughs where
tons of tarpon usually hang out. It’s an amazing experience
swimming through these silver fish as they casually move around you!
Turning right, you will see healthy sponges and have lots
of overhangs and crevices to explore along the wall. Keep
a look out for lobster, shrimp, eels, and octopus.
Kittiwake, Grand Cayman
Dive Type:
Boat Salt water Wreck
The USS Kittiwake was a submarine rescue vessel in the United States Navy and it was intentionally sunk in 2011 to create an artificial reef and a unique underwater attraction.
The Kittiwake rests in about 60 feet (18 meters) of water, and the top of the mast is closer to the surface, making it suitable for both recreational and advanced divers. The wreck is known for its clear visibility and the opportunity for divers to explore various parts of the ship, including the wheelhouse, mess hall, and decompression chamber. The ship's structure has become encrusted with corals and sponges, attracting marine life.
Big Tunnels, Grand Cayman
Dive Type:
Boat Cavern Current Salt water Swim through
Big Tunnels is a favorite of many divers and as its name implies, there are many tunnels, swim-throughs, and crevices that are waiting to be explored. Divers can also see orange tube sponges, spiny lobsters, turtles, and usually there are tarpon hanging out in the tunnels.
The average depth here is 49 feet (15 meters) and visibility is typically very good at this site and varies from 75 feet/23 meters to 98 feet/30 meters.
Eden Rock Shore Dive, Grand Cayman
Dive Type:
Cavern Easy entry Salt water Shore Snorkel site Swim through
Eden Rock is a well-known dive site located in George Town, Grand Cayman. It is one of the most popular shore diving locations on the island and is accessible to both snorkelers and divers.
Eden Rock is renowned for its dramatic underwater topography, which includes a series of coral canyons and swim-throughs. Divers can explore the vibrant coral formations, encounter various marine species, and navigate through interesting underwater tunnels and passages.
The site is home to a diverse array of marine life, including colorful reef fish, coral formations, and other underwater creatures. Snorkelers and divers often spot parrotfish, angelfish, sergeant majors, and more. The swim-throughs and canyons provide shelter for marine life, adding to the site's allure.
Stingray City, Grand Cayman
Dive Type:
Boat Salt water
Stingray City in Grand Cayman is one of the most famous and popular tourist attractions in the Cayman Islands. It is actually a series of shallow sandbars found in the North Sound of Grand Cayman, where southern stingrays gather in large numbers.
Visitors have the opportunity to enter the water and interact with the southern stingrays that inhabit the area. These stingrays are used to human presence and are known for their friendly behavior. Many tour operators provide food to attract the stingrays, allowing visitors to feed and even hold them.
