Diving is a big draw to the Cayman Islands, renowned for its exceptional visibility, healthy reefs and abundant marine life.
All three islands have numerous dive sites to explore, some accessible from shore and others by boat, including wrecks, walls, tunnels and canyons.
With more than 300 dive sites in the Cayman Islands, divers of all skill levels and interests have plenty of options when it comes to exploring the underwater world.
Top dives sites in Grand Cayman include:
THE USS KITTIWAKE
This 1945 submarine rescue ship was sunk close to shore off West Bay Public Beach to take on new life as an artificial reef. The 251-foot ship was sunk in Cayman’s waters in 2011 and now has a host of exotic underwater wildlife to enjoy. Suitable for all levels of diving experience.
DEVIL’S GROTTO
A network of caves and tunnels that fill with shoals of tiny silversides.
EDEN ROCK
Next door to Devil’s Grotto is Eden Rock, a shore dive located off the waterfront in George Town. Eden Rock features caverns and tunnels and boasts an abundance of corals, sponges and tropical fish. It is also a popular spot to see tarpon, crabs and lobster.
TURTLE REEF
A spectacular coral garden replete with resident eels and turtles. It is a spectacular shore dive in West Bay at Macabuca restaurant. Night divers will spot octopus and coral extending its polyps.
SUNSET HOUSE
Famous for the bronze mermaid statue and the wreck of the Nicholson landing craft.
COBALT COAST
Access the ‘deep wall’ with the possibility of sighting a passing manta ray.
CHEESEBURGER REEF
This reef earned its unusual name as the site is located just out from Burger King on the waterfront in George Town. It has a large population of tarpon and is teeming with reef fish. Divers may also spot sea turtles and stingrays. Nearby is the shipwreck Cali, a freighter that sank near the reef in just 20 feet of water.
DIVER- RECOMMENDED SITES
Divemaster and underwater photographer Sergio Coni is a veteran diver in the Cayman Islands.
The Argentina native got certified at age 15 and began working as a commercial diver and instructor at 18. He has been working with Don Foster’s Dive Cayman since 1988. In March 2024, Sergio will mark 50 years of exploring the underwater world.
His career has taken him to many places, spanning from South America to the Philippines and Indonesia.
As the operations manager at Don Foster’s, he is passionate about his career, the ocean and its creatures, as well as introducing people to the world of diving.
“The Cayman Islands has many top-of-the-line dive sites,” he says. “Every dive, I see something I had not seen before.”
HERE ARE SOME OF SERGIO’S FAVOURITE DIVE SPOTS TO EXPLORE:
Best wall/deep sites: Northwest Point; Big Tunnels and Orange Canyon
Best shallow sites: Fish Reef; Stuey’s Crevasse; Doc Poulson’s Wreck
Best shore dives: Casuarina Point Reef; Devil’s Grotto; Turtle Farm Mini Wall
Best shore night dives: Macabuca; Casuarina Point Reef (Don Foster’s house reef)
Best night dive: Black Water Dive off the West Wall
Little Cayman: Any site along Bloody Bay Wall
Cayman Brac: MV Captain Keith Tibbetts wreck