There are almost 60 dive sites in the East End alone, which means there is always something new and exciting to explore on
every dive. Grand Cayman is also home to one of the most world renowned dive sites - Stingray City.
Eagle Ray Pass
A deep coral chasm leading to the wall. It is an awesome formation with towering coral heads, coral archways and narrow crevices-filled with magnificent sponges, gorgonian fans and black coral. This magical spot is also a regular gathering place for spotted eagle rays that cruise along the face of the wall. Divers frequently encounter groups or up to six rays on a single formation.
Tarpon Alley
Where more than 100 tarpon school together in a narrow coral canyon near the edge of the drop-off. Divers can swim through the canyon almost touching the tarpon that are slowly cruising back and forth. Most of these silvery fish measure 3-4 feet long, but there are some giants that reach five feet in length and must weigh 150 pounds.
No Name Wall
Straight out from Rum Point Channel, at the eastern end of the North Sound. The top of the drop-off begins in 55 feet of water with a wall. The upper edge is marked by a series of four parallel coral ravines. They begin at 55 feet and slope to 90 feet where they go over the edge of the wall. One of the main attractions of No Name is a large, crimson red sponge growing out from the face of the drop-off at a depth of 100 feet. This sponge is shaped like a basket, 18 inches in diameter and two feet tall, and grows out from the wall almost horizontally.
Gail's Mountain
An extraordinary coral formation perched on the edge of the drop-off. In fact, it is the only formation of its kind known to exist off Cayman. It is around 250 feet across at the base, rises to within 40 feet of the surface and is flat on the top. This formation is flanked by two coral canyons that spill over the wall and give it an awe-inspiring appearance.
Sand Chute
A 300 foot wide river of sand that slopes gradually to a depth of 120 feet, where the sand flow narrows. At this point, the slope becomes steeper, slanting on a 45 degree angle and continues to plunge more than 350 feet. The white sand slope looks like a snow ski run with mountains of coral formations boarding the sides.
Le Mesa
A small, flat topped coral reef loaded with more than a dozen separate schools of reef fish. Here divers can swim with and photograph groups of blue striped grunts, schoolmasters, sailor's choice, horse-eye jacks, Bermuda chubs and mahogany grunts.
Trinity Caves
A system of three coral canyons that converge on the face of a vertical wall. The canyon begins at approximately 60 feet and slopes gradually to 100 feet, where they exist together. Just south of here is a slightly shorter and more meandering tunnel. It also leads to the drop-off but exists into a deep coral crevice directly in front of a towering pinnacle. Just to the right of this is a shorter tunnel that curves around a second pinnacle.
Aquarium Reef
A medium depth dive site consisting of grove coral formations. The fish are so tame you almost have to push them away from your face mask. Residents of this reef include a big school of yellowtail snappers, sergeant majors and an extremely friendly angelfish.
Oro Verde
Grand Cayman's most popular wreck dive. Lying on the white sand bottom in 50 feet of water; this 184 foot steel freighter has become a refuge for all types of marine life. It is a veritable fishbowl with yellowtail snappers, Nassau groupers, sergeant majors and a pair of friendly French angelfish swarming around divers, all hoping for a handout.
Royal Palm's Ledge
A long coral ridge, undercut at one end. The top has tightly clustered coral heads, providing protection for small fish, while the underside curves sharply back under the coral ridge and drops down to a sandy channel at 55 feet. This site is known for the abundance of tiny invertebrates and is regarded as one of Cayman's best night dives.
Royal Palms Ledge
Info Coming Soon...
Cheeseburger Reef
A cluster of three small to medium depth coral reef systems that can be dived from shore. Coral heads are honeycombed with caves, tunnels and grottos that are often filled with schools of tiny silversides. A late afternoon dive has a cathedral like atmosphere as the sunlight streams through small openings in the high vaulted coral chambers.
Balboa
A 375 foot steel hulled freighter that sank during the great hurricane of 1932. Her dynamited remains are scattered over 7 acres of ocean bottom. A popular night dive, this wreck is loaded with life, including octopus, moray eels, red shrimp and parrot fish sleeping in cocoons.
Devil's Grotto
Just south of Eden Rock and separated from it by a sand gully. This reef features a long tunnel that opens into a large grotto with a cathedral-shaped exit. At times this cave is inhabited by schools of silversides that open and close like curtains to allow divers to pass.
Eagle Ray Rock
A beautiful wall dive on the corner of the West side's southwest point. This location was named for the eagle rays frequently seen cruising along this section of the drop-off. The wall begins at 55 feet and drops vertically. There is an interesting l-shaped ravine formed by high coral promontory with vertical sides. The walls of this canyon are loaded with all types of colorful sponges, black coral trees and sea fans.
Big Tunnel
A drop off with a giant coral archway. The top is at 105 feet, the bottom at 120 feet. This is sheer wall approximately 300 feet in length and etched by many winding channels and canyons. While there are many smaller tunnels, crevices and overhangs, the real thrill of this dive is the arch. In addition to the swim through opportunities, this site is frequented by a school of large tarpon that hangs out in the canyons.
Orange Canyon
So named because of the brilliant array of orange elephant ear sponges growing on the walls of this canyon. A giant coral head sits on the edge of the wall; two ravines form canyons on either side, trailing all the way back to 60 feet. Along both of these ravines are many different sized orange sponges, engulfed in gorgonians and sea fans.
Bonnie's Arch
Consists of a high profile coral reef, with lots of coral ridges and sand canyons. The site gets its name from a natural coral bridge that forms a 50 foot archway. This site is frequented by a school of tarpon.
Sunset Reef
A popular shore dive directly off Sunset House Resort. It's only a 200 foot swim from the hotel's pier and the reef profile slopes gradually from 17 feet - 55 feet. The reef is loaded with hard corals, small sponges, seawhips and other lovely gorgonians. There are all types of tropical fish including friendly Nassau and black groupers, yellowtail snappers, sergeant majors, moray eels and puffer fish. Farther out from the coral slop lies the LCM David Nicholson, a World War II vintage steel-hulled landing craft. New to this site is Amphitrite which is actually a 9 foot tall bronze mermaid created by Simon Morris of Canada and put underwater at Sunset House in their continuing effort to give the reef some damage relief. Today she sits in 55 FSW and keeps an ever present watch over the reef.
Sentinel Rock
A unique coral pinnacle jutting straight up from a steeply sloping drop-off at a depth of 90 feet. There is a horizontal tunnel piercing the center and filled with a collection of black coral and colorful sponges. The entire pinnacle is covered with a colorful tapestry of gorgonian fans, orange sponges, red encrusting sponges and marine life.
Round Rock East
A large coral rampart that juts out from the face of the wall and helps form a gigantic basket sponge found at 105 feet. The sponge is in the coral valley, surrounded by black gorgonian fans and many hard coral formations. The unusual basket sponge is at least six and a half feet tall.
Grouper Grotto
A shallow 65 foot maximum dive. This site is full of Nassau grouper and several species of jacks. At the reef crest there are numerous caves, tunnels and coral blocks. Large formations of Elkhorn coral stand in amongst sea fans and plumes.
The Maze
A deep dive of up to 100 feet and can be affected by inclement weather but is worth the effort. With many swim-throughs in the fissures and caves, these will lead the diver into semi-darkness and out into the beautiful blue wall. An abundant supply of brain coral, black coral fans and deep-water gorgonian fans just add to this impressive site.
White Stroke Canyon
A coral wall that almost defies description. The immense formation literally dwarfs the diver and vividly portrays the grandeur of the North Wall drop-offs. Two giant coral ramparts jut outward from the vertical wall. With a gaping chasm of clear blue water in between, it is about 150 feet from one rampart to the other, and the rim of the wall curves sharply inward forming a u-shaped indentation.
Stingray City
Regarded as the most unique shallow dive in the entire Caribbean. The site consists of a wide sand channel that runs parallel to the barrier reef and allows North Sound to empty on an outgoing tide. Diving depths range from 9 to 12 feet and the bottom is a combination of flat sandy areas and small, solitary coral heads. This site is a gathering place for the tame stingrays that can be handled by dive masters. These will come right up to a diver, bumping a facemask and rubbing up against the divers' legs. The stingrays have developed this peculiar behavior over several years.
Julies Wall
The top of the wall sits at 55ft and is home to stunning black coral formations, as well as stingrays and other marine life. An outstanding dive often mentioned in dive books because of its dramatic drop-off.
Babylon
Named after the famous hanging gardens, this site is a "must see" and a favourite among divers. Babylon is loaded with sea fans, large tube sponges, not to mention beautiful fish such as Parrot fish or Queen Angel fish. The wall starts around 40 feet, and drops into the Cayman Trench, ideal for the thrill seeking diver.
Black Rock
Black Rock is a relatively shallow dive, with the ledge dropping off at 50ft. The swim through is home to many critters such as eel, grouper and even Caribbean Spiny Lobster.
