The Cayman Islands are world renowned for their incredible underwater scenery that is great for scuba diving and snorkelling. With virtually no currents and outstanding underwater visibility, Cayman has amazing wall dives, coral reefs and wrecks for you to explore and discover.
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With water temperatures ranging from 26-30°C (78-86°F) year round, it is always a good time to get in the water and explore.
8 Reasons to Dive Cayman
- World-class dive operators and facilities
- Diving options for all skill and experience levels
- 60-100+ ft. visibility year round
- Avg. 78-86°F water temperature
- Little to no current
- 369 dive sites across three Islands
- Wreck diving and underwater attractions
- Convenient and affordable shore diving options
Best Dive Sites
With a dive site for every day of the year, it can be difficult to choose the 'best dive site' in Cayman but we've managed to narrow it down to our nine top spots:
Big Tunnels - Northwest Point, Grand Cayman
Bloody Bay Wall - Little Cayman
Kittiwake - Northwest Point, Grand Cayman
Babylon - Old Man Bay, Grand Cayman
Eden Rock & Devil's Grotto - George Town, Grand Cayman
Orange Caynon - Northwest Point, Grand Cayman
Snapper Hole - East End, Grand Cayman
Ghost Mountain - North Wall, Grand Cayman
Anchor Point - East End, Grand Cayman
Snorkelling in the Cayman Islands
Already ticked these dive sites off your list? To find out about all the other sites to explore refer to the Dive Areas section for a general overview of what to expect from each area or the Dive 365 section to learn about the programme that suggests a new dive site for every day of the year.
Dive Areas
What to expect from dive locations across Cayman from the caves of George Town to the sharks at the North Wall and the unspoiled beauty of the Sister Islands.
Dive 365
In the Cayman Islands you really can do a new dive every day of the year with Dive 365 - a programme designed to highlight the Island's many unique dive sites.
Wreck Divingkeyboard_arrow_right
Wreck diving in the Cayman Islands is becoming increasingly popular as it provides a dramatic diving experience, as well as attracting thousands of species of fish, beautiful coral and sponges.
There are a number of spectacular wrecks situated around the Cayman Islands and as more marine life inhabits these sites, the better they get. It’s fair to say that the following dive sites should be at the top of any divers’ list.
Shore Diving in Grand Cayman
Because the underwater drop off is so close to shore in many areas, Cayman has a number of great dive sites that are accessible directly from the shore. This means certified divers can rent tanks and gear and go diving on their own schedule, independent of a group. However, the usual rules still apply so make sure you go with a buddy, and do not dive without the supervision of a divemaster if you do not feel confident and experienced enough, let someone on shore know where you have gone and what time you expect to be back.
Aerial view of shore diving at Sunset House
Grand Cayman offers five shore diving locations with on-site facilities for tank and gear rentals:
- Eden Rock
- Lighthouse Point
- Turtle Reef (Sundivers at Macabuca)
- Sunset House
- Cobalt Coast
Responsible Diving
Inform yourself on how to be a responsible diver by avoiding no dive zones, respecting the reefs or getting involved with minding coral nurseries or the lionfish culling programme.
Currently, there are three no dive zones in Grand Cayman, located in North Side, and one on each Sister Island that restricts SCUBA diving.
Visit the Department of Environment for details.
Respecting the Reefs
How to be responsible when diving in the Cayman Islands. How to appreciate the coral reefs while taking precautions to keep them safe.
Coral Nurseries
A programme where local dive operaters, with permits, grow staghorn coral in small nurseries to keep reefs in the Cayman Islands healthy and thriving.
Lionfish
Learn about how lionfish came to the Cayman Islands, why they are so destructive to marine life, where you can eat them and how to get involved with culling.
Dive Resortskeyboard_arrow_right
As a world-renowned diving oasis, it is no wonder there are a host of resorts in the Cayman Islands specifically catered for divers. For the best deals on dive gear and the ideal diving locations look no further than these top dive resorts from Grand Cayman to the Sister Islands:
Dive Courses & Certifications
If you are ‘dive-curious’, there is a wealth of opportunities to get in, under or on the water at every skill level, and a host of dive operators that can teach you how to dive, improve your skills, or even turn your passion into a career.
Read more for in-depth information on various dive courses and certifications available in the Cayman Islands.
Dive Shops & Operatorskeyboard_arrow_right
There are a number of dive operators in Grand Cayman offering everything from an introductory resort course to technical diving courses and instructor training, as well as trips to the Kittiwake.
Underwater Photography Lessonskeyboard_arrow_right
Given the incredible beauty of Cayman’s underwater world, many find themselves wanting to capture it in photographs. The Island offers an opportunity to learn all types of underwater photography, videography and digital image and video editing.
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