Grand Cayman’s treasure trove of diving spots was off the radar for early scuba enthusiasts until the first dive operation opened in 1957. Today this island, which measures 196 square kilometers in size, is now receiving boatloads of divers every single day. Today, Grand Cayman is a top destination for divers all over the world. If you’re looking for diverse dive sites and dive establishments, Grand Cayman is the way to go. Below is a list of Grand Cayman diving spots you shouldn’t miss.
Stingray City
Stingray City is a site that some tourists think twice about visiting. First, the tail of a stingray is thin and sharp; and second, its stinger stores venom. Still, most of those who hesitate to visit Stingray City end up going to the site and even plan on coming back because it’s such a fabulous experience. There’s nowhere else in the world where you can interact with stingrays but in Stingray City.
Honored as the “world’s best 12-foot dive,” Stingray City is located in the mouth of the North Sound between Rum Point and West Bay. You can contact any of the dozens and dozens of watersports operators who offer excursions both in its deep and shallow parts. You may also choose between half-day and full-day excursions. To see and feed stingrays, you can either scuba dive or snorkel. Bring a bucket of squid to let all the rays come near you. No need to fret because at Stingray City the rays are used to people. The water is clear and blue, and the guides are very encouraging and helpful.
How to Go: Because of Stingray City’s popularity, it is very easy to go to this dive site. There are numerous custom charters and group snorkel or dive tours to Stingray City. Inquire at your resort or at the nearest dive shop to arrange a tour to Stingray City.
Turtle Reef
If you are an amateur diver expecting the most diverse of marine life in the shallowest of waters, Turtle Reef is the place to visit. It is one of the best kept secrets of the Cayman Islands. You do not need to go too far to see golden sea fans, brain coral heads, sailfin blennys, scorpionfish, lettuce sea slugs, peacock flounders and octopuses all in one spot. With a mini-wall which you can reach in a five-minute swim from the shoreline and a few magnificent ledges and caves after an 18-meter wall drop, you will realize it doesn’t take professional skills to see so much of the underwater world.
How to Go: Turtle Reef is easy to find. Just go to West Bay and you will find Turtle Reef located next to the Tortuga Rum shop. It is right behind the Cracked Conch restaurant.
Bonnie’s Arch
A lot of tourists will tell you that diving in Bonnie’s Arch is the highlight of their diving escapades in the Cayman Islands. Diving Bonnie’s Arch is such an amazing experience that divers usually don’t have enough time to take pictures. The arch, the mini-wall and the cavern pointing towards the sandy valley are just some of the site’s features that will make you want to come back. With all the remora, sponges, corals, tangs, tarpon and turtles you will see 60 feet below, you will surely find this diving spot the best part of your vacation.
How to Go: Bonnie’s Arch is at West Bay, just off Northwest Point.
Babylon
Babylon is for all divers of all levels. Its sandy flats welcome amateur divers, while its stunning 40-foot wall lip invites intermediate divers to explore the area. The pinnacle is dotted with pink-tipped anemones, bull sharks, green turtles, eagle rays, sponges and corals which divers love to photograph. There’s also a passageway with black coral bushes, sponges and gorgonians everywhere, which challenge and entice divers to travel around Babylon.
How to Go: Proceed to Grand Cayman’s North Shore. Babylon is right across from the Queen’s Monument, east of Old Man Bay. If you are an expert diver, you can go to Babylon from the shore, but make sure that surface conditions are ideal before taking the plunge.
Doc Polson Wreck
If a tugboat 80 feet in length were intentionally sunk in the waters, you get a shipwreck as breathtaking as what you may have seen in pirate films and as fascinating as the Doc Polson Wreck. Diving the Doc Polson is safe because all its hatches were removed. You can safely tour the ship by swimming through the cargo holds or the wheelhouse. It’s quite an experience witnessing the deck, which features the controls, industrial equipment and winches of the tugboat. Night diving is best at the Doc Polson wreck because here you will see scary wiggly bloodworms attracted by the light.
How to Go: Doc Polson is located in West Bay.
Aside from these popular places, the Cayman Islands has more diving spots definitely worth checking out – Ghost Mountain, MV Captain Keith Tibbetts, Wilderness Wall, Tarpon Reef, Bloody Bay Wall, Jackson’s Point, Mixing Bowl and Randy’s Gazebo. Visit the Cayman Islands now to experience these amazing diving sites yourself!