The Cayman Islands are world-renowned for their incredible underwater scenery, particularly the beautiful coral reefs and array of colourful fish.
On This Page
Located in the western Caribbean, just 480 miles south of Miami, Cayman is perfect for scuba diving and snorkelling, boasting some of the Caribbean’s best excursions. With virtually no currents and outstanding underwater visibility, Cayman has amazing wall dives, coral reefs and wrecks for you to explore and discover. If you are ‘dive-curious’, there are a wealth of things to do in, under, or on the water at every skill level. A variety of dive operators can teach you how to dive, improve your skills and provide you with an amazing underwater experience. With water temperatures ranging from 26-28°C (78-82°F) all year round, it is always a good time to get in the water and discover the stunning scenery beneath the surface.
Diving in the Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands continues to receive global recognition. In the 2024 Scuba Diving Magazine Reader's Choice Awards, Cayman was voted the second best overall dive destination in the Caribbean and Atlantic region. It also appeared in the top five lists for wreck diving, shore diving, wall diving, big animals, macro life, photography, cave, cavern and grotto diving, beginning diving, advanced diving and snorkelling in the Caribbean and Atlantic region. Some of Cayman's dive operators and resorts also received awards for best scuba diving operators and best diving resorts in the world.
Cayman is hyper-aware of the importance of coral reefs to our three Islands, our waters, the marine ecosystem and the diving industry. To protect and replenish Cayman's fish population, the Department of Environment (DoE) has expanded Cayman's marine parks to cover 48% of Cayman's waters. Although many efforts have been put in place to safeguard the coral reefs, sea grass and mangroves in the Cayman Islands, various factors have contributed to their destruction. According to a United Nations report, marine heatwaves are expected to become more common as the planet warms and in the summer of 2023, local sea temperatures surpassed the threshold that coral reefs can comfortably tolerate and were described by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as a super-marine heatwave. Excessively warm water could be devastating to Cayman’s coral reefs and lead to coral bleaching, loss of marine life and loss of ‘reef services’, such as flood protection. Construction and overdevelopment continue to be the main cause of the destruction of Cayman's mangrove, our first line of defence against storm surges, flooding and erosion.
Sadly, many dive sites in Grand Cayman have been affected by the spread of the deadly Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD). Researchers from the US Geological Survey have found evidence that SCTLD is caused by a breakdown in the symbiotic relationship between corals and Zooxanthellae algae. This discovery is a big step towards finding future treatments for this disease. Given the rapid spread of SCTLD in the Cayman Islands, the DoE wants to remind the public to disinfect all snorkel and dive gear before and after each shore dive and boat trip by soaking them in disinfectant solution (with 1% bleach) for 10 minutes.
On a more positive note, the 2024 PADI Women's Dive Day invited divers to take part in an underwater scavenger hunt. The event raised US$13,000 and attracted more than 80 participants locally, as well as support and donations from the dive community overseas. The PADI Women’s Dive Day occurs annually on the third Saturday of July and celebrates women in diving, while raising money and awareness for breast cancer and the Cayman Islands Breast Cancer Foundation.
Cayman continues to promote its lionfish culling programme by encouraging divers and dive operators to safely remove as many of the invasive lionfish from Cayman's waters as possible and thus protect native fish populations.
In addition, the Cayman Islands Government announced that new legislation is being prepared to restrict the importation of six types of single-use plastics. Despite some uncertainties, activists commend the progress and stress the importance of a comprehensive approach to tackling plastic pollution.
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
- Average 78-82°F water temperature
- Little to no current
- 369 dive sites across the 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
The USS Kittiwake - Northwest Point, Grand Cayman
Babylon - Old Man Bay, Grand Cayman
Wreck of the Balboa - George Town, 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
Here's what to expect from dive locations across the Cayman Islands, from the caves of George Town to the unspoiled beauty of the Sister Islands.
Dive 365
In the Cayman Islands you really can dive a new site every day of the year with Dive 365 - a programme designed to highlight the Island's plentiful dive sites.
Wreck Divingkeyboard_arrow_right
Wreck diving is becoming increasingly popular as it provides a dramatic diving experience. There are a number of spectacular wrecks situated around the Cayman Islands and, as more marine life inhabit these sites, the better they get. It’s fair to say that the following dive sites should be at the top of any diver’s list:
Oro Verde - Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman (a good beginners site due to its shallow depth)
Keith Tibbets - Cayman Brac
The USS Kitiwake - Northwest Point, Grand Cayman
Carrie Lee - Southwest Coast, Grand Cayman (Note that this is a technical dive as the Carrie Lee sits at a depth of 180-260ft near to the wall's edge)
Shore Diving in Grand Cayman
As 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 seven no dive zones in Grand Cayman and one on each Sister Island that restricts SCUBA diving without permission.
Visit the Department of Environment website for details.
Respecting the Reefs
When diving in the Cayman Islands, we must remain cautious and responsible towards the reefs. Learn how to protect and respect them.
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, some of which are regularly voted amongst the best dive resorts in the world. 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 are a wealth of opportunities to get in, under or on the water at every skill level. There are a host of dive operators in the Cayman Islands that can teach you how to dive, get certifications, 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 USS 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. Private and semi-private classes are available. Serious dive-certified photographers also have the option of completing their PADI Digital Photography and PADI Videography certifications.
Read More
