Top Dive Sites of Grand Cayman

A Few Top Dive Sites According to Frequent Divers of the Island

USS Kittiwake: The latest addition to Cayman's collection of wrecks, this is a former U.S. Navy submarine rescue vessel that was sunk in 2011. It took the Cayman Islands Tourism Association and their point person, Nancy Easterbrook, eight years to apply for and receive the donation of the vessel from the Navy, clean it of military gear and hazardous waste, and pass both U.S. and Cayman Islands environmental tests.

The effort was well worth it. The 251-foot ship is sitting upright on a sandy bottom just 64 feet deep, meaning her smokestack is only a dozen feet below the surface. In preparing the wreck, care was taken to make much of the ship accessible to divers. Unlike accidental wrecks, hanging wires, bulkhead doors and other things that can snare or trap divers have been removed. Also, because the Kittiwake is in a marine preserve, there's none of the dangerous mono filament fishing line that decorates wrecks frequented by fishermen.

Inside, you can swim though the rec room, mess hall, ironing room, workshop, the recompression chamber for the ship's divers as well as other spaces. Because it's shallow and the water is clear, the Kittiwake also makes a fascinating snorkel site. The Kittiwake is a favorite for my husband and I because of the various swim through's and items like mirrors and Ironing boards still in place. It is just an amazing dive everyone should enjoy at least once if not a dozen times for it is addictive. You see new stuff every time you dive it.

                                                                                                                           
Babylon: The north shore of Grand Cayman has it's own share of excellent dives, and one of the most well known is Babylon. The wall starts at about 40 feet, goes vertical for a spell, then turns into a series of cascades of plate coral below 100 feet. Big spotted eagle rays are frequent visitors, along with other open water species. There are abundant sponges and even black coral bushes. You can do this from a dive boat run by one of the north shore operators or as a shore dive, with the wall Orange Canyon: This has been a favorite with visitors for decades. Descending through a fissure in the wall, you exit at about 100 feet. The walls are spotted with giant orange elephant-ear sponges, which give the site its name. The surrounding area is often swarmed by great schools of silversides that create flashes of sunlight when they turn in unison. Large tarpon are frequent visitors as well — their huge underslung jaws and steel-like scales making them look prehistoric.starting about 300 yards offshore. Cayman dive guides go to Babylon on their day off — it's that good. The north shore can be a bit rougher than West Bay, so check the weather before you head out. If you decide to shore dive, it's about an hour from the hotels in West Bay. It's not that far as the crow flies, but you have to drive around the south side of north sound, then up to the north shore. West Bay boat operators don't go to Babylon frequently — it takes a lot more fuel than hitting the sites just off the beach — but for a tip, one of the smaller operators might be willing.

Orange Canyon: This has been a favorite with visitors for decades. Descending through a fissure in the wall, you exit at about 100 feet. The walls are spotted with giant orange elephant-ear sponges, which give the site its name. The beautiful orange coral just pops as you swim around the canyon.

The surrounding area is often swarmed by great schools of silversides that create flashes of sunlight when they turn in unison. Large tarpon are frequent visitors as well — their huge underslung jaws and steel-like scales making them look prehistoric.

Orange Canyon is one of the more well known and visited scuba diving sites on the west side of Grand Cayman.  The dive site is near the west end of the island and is very close to several other well know sites, such as Big Tunnels.  This scuba diving site is typical of the better sites on the west side.  You start on the mooring ball and descend through a break in the coral and emerge on the wall at 100 feet.




Bonnie's Arch: Named for photographer Bonnie Charles, who disappeared on the wall some years ago, this site is at the north end of West Bay. A gentle carpet of sea fans, gorgonians and tube sponges gradually rolls over the edge of the wall. The gently waving branches of the soft corals are shot through with the brilliant metallic blue flashes of chromis flitting about, while squirrel fish shelter in the shade of overhanging ledges. At about 70 feet, there's an arch of undercut coral that spans a sand chute. Arches this large are uncommon in the Caribbean — most collapse before they reach this size. The arch itself is mesmerizing, but take some time to poke around the base and say hi to variety of reef dwellers who hang around.

Stingray City: This shallow, sandy site in North Sound is renowned for its mass of Southern stingrays who loiter about, waiting for divers to come feed them. The site is often mobbed by snorkel operators, especially when a cruise ship is in port, so if you're staying on shore, go on a day when the cruisers aren't in. Typically the divemaster arranges everyone in a circle in about 12 feet of water, then feeds the stingrays, leading them around so each diver has a chance to touch the big galoots as they fly by. Stingrays eat by sucking things up into their mouths, which are located on the underside just south of their snouts. If they decide to take a taste of your arm, it won't hurt but you will end up with a nice hickey. The dive has become so popular that it now has a suburb, Stingray City East.

Snapper Hole
Snapper Hole has been named by many as "the best shallow reef dive in the Caribbean". This signature dive site is located just off shore from The Reef Resort in East End in Grand Cayman. The site consists of a labyrinth of tunnels and caverns filled with snappers, tarpon and silversides, and draped with lush corals on sponges. The mooring pin and top of the reef is at a depth of approximately 25 feet and then drops down to a maximum depth of 65 feet. Snapper Hole also features a large 1872 historical Spanish anchor with chain and a rare formation of pillar coral. You can even find lettuce leaf sea slugs here and lots of other marine critters hiding under ledges or in small cracks and crevasses. This site is not to be missed. Snapper Hole has been named by many as "The best shallow reef dive in the Caribbean."

This signature dive site is located just off shore from The Reef Resort in East End. The site consists of a labyrinth of tunnels and caverns filled with snappers, tarpon and silversides, and draped with lush corals on sponges. The mooring pin and top of the reef is at a depth of approximately 25 feet and then drops down to a maximum depth of 65 feet. Snapper Hole also features a large 1872 historical Spanish anchor with chain and a rare formation of Pillar coral. You can even find Lettuce Leaf Sea Slugs here and lots of other marine critters hiding under ledges or in small cracks and crevasses. This site is not to be missed, in fact it is recommend diving it twice if you get the chance.

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