Page 178 - Visitor Guides

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Grand Cayman

With over 250 dive sites to choose from, Grand Cayman offers some of the greatest underwater
diversity anywhere in the world. It’s all here: deep, dramatic walls adorned with sponges and
corals in a stunning array of colours; shallow reefs filled with schooling fish and small invertebrates;
and an assortment of wrecks, each with their own peculiar character and special inhabitants.There’s
also the world’s best 12-foot dive, the legendary Stingray City. Our local watersports association
has adopted the 130-foot depth limit in its Safety Guidelines, making so much more available to
divers.

Reefs & Marine Life
Grand Cayman’s reefs offer a variety of marine life encounters.Aware that strangely clad divers
and snorkellers pose no threat, the fish and critters are amazingly docile and welcoming. Large
silvery Tarpon hover motionless midwater, surrounded by glittery Silversides and magnificent
French Angelfish. Huge Barrel Sponges and swirling schools of fish are equally common.
Gorgonians and hard corals also thrive in the clear, warm waters.
There are so many dive sites that are teeming with marine life you won’t be disappointed no
matter where you go. Dive & snorkel operators visit different sites on a daily basis – so if it’s
variety that you are looking for – we have it! If there is a particular type of marine life that you’d
like to see or capture on film – mention it to your dive/snorkel operator and they will give you
the best advice on where to go. Best of all, no site is more than a few minutes offshore. Below are
just a few island favourites.
Marine Life Hotspots
Sandbar/North Sound • Tarpon Alley/North Wall • Bear’s Claw/North Side • Bonnie’s Arch/West Side •
Wildlife Reef/West Side • Eagle’s Nest/West Wall • Hammerhead Hole/West Wall • Paradise Reef/West
Side • Armchair Reef/West Side • Snapper Hole/East End • Chub Hole/East End • Grouper Grotto/East
End • Ironshore Caves/East End • Kents Caves/South Side • Chinese Gardens/South Side

Walls & Wrecks
Among Grand Cayman’s more spectacular dive attractions are the walls that completely
surround it.There are two wall systems in Grand Cayman; the 60-foot drop off for those lazy
afternoon shallow dives, and the second drop-off to the deep wall into the abyss.All wear a
cloak of luxurious marine life. Orange Elephant Ear and Strawberry Vase Sponges form vibrant
underwater bouquets, while Spotted Eagle Rays, Green Turtles and other deep-water pelagics
cruise by for a look-see. Grand Cayman’s storied wrecks are equally impressive. Reefs in and of
themselves,each wreck has acquired its own family of eccentric residents, all too eager to pose
for passing photographers.
Walls Hotspots
Orange Canyon/West Wall • Big Tunnels/West Wall • Big Dipper/West Wall • Eagle Ray Pass/North Wall
• Westgate/North Wall • No Name Drop-off/North Wall • Little Pinnacle/South Side • Big Pinnacle/South
Side • Three Sisters/East End • Jack McKennedy’s/East End • Pat’s Wall/East End • Babylon/East End •
Mermaid Point Drop-off/East End

Wrecks Hotspots
Doc Polson/West Side • Oro Verde/West Side • LCM David Nicholson/West Side • Ridgefield/East End

Snorkelling
For snorkellers, there are coral heads and shallow water wrecks galore and, of course, a
teeming abundance of marine life in every colour of the rainbow.The best snorkelling is where
you find “iron shore” as opposed to sand – iron shore is dry coral that used to be below the
water. Snorkellers should have buddies while in the water for fun and added safety.
Snorkelling Hotspots
Eden Rock/West Side • Wreck of the Cali/West Side • Wreck of the Gamma/West Side • Cheeseburger
Reef/West Side •Turtle Reef/Northwest Point • Cemetery Beach Reef/West Side • Coral Gardens/North
Sound • Wreck of the Geneva Kathleen/North Side • Smith’s Cove/Southwest Sound • Morritt’s Tortuga

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