At Red Sail Sports, we have the privilege to dive into Grand Cayman’s waters day in, day out, year-round. And while all three of the Cayman Islands have incredible sights to explore, the waters surrounding Grand Cayman, in particular, offer an unparalleled variety of marine life, vibrant coral reefs, and world-class dive sites.
As the leader for Grand Cayman scuba diving trips and boat excursions, we’re perfectly placed to recommend some of the best underwater wonders you can find here. Whether you’re an experienced diver or a snorkelling novice, an awe-inspiring experience awaits.
While we could easily write a book on the hundreds of dive sites around Grand Cayman, we’ve handpicked a few of our favourite wonders to give you a taste of the spectacular underwater landscapes that attract divers from all over the world.
Scroll down to get started! And if you have any questions for the Red Sail Sports team, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
The USS Kittiwake Wreck is a Cayman Icon
The USS Kittiwake is without a doubt one of the crown jewels in Grand Cayman’s underwater offerings. This 251-foot-long ship was a former U.S. Navy submarine rescue vessel, now resting on the sandy seabed just off the coast of Seven Mile Beach. Intentionally sunk in 2011 to create an artificial reef, the Kittiwake is now home to a myriad of marine life, including barracuda, groupers, and schooling jacks.
At just 20 metres (66 feet) deep, both divers and snorkellers can visit this wreck, although only the former can journey down for a closer look. For experienced divers, there are numerous swim-throughs, allowing you to explore the inside of the ship, including the bridge and mess hall. The clear, warm waters of Grand Cayman offer fantastic visibility, making it easy to observe the incredible transformation of this once-active ship into a thriving underwater ecosystem.
This breathtaking site offers an unforgettable combination of history and marine life. Find out how you can explore it with Red Sail Sports on our 2-Tank Kittiwake Wreck Dive in Grand Cayman.
Stingray City’s Wonder is in the Experience
No trip to Grand Cayman is complete without visiting the famous Stingray City Sandbar, one of the most unique shallow-water ocean experiences in the world. Located in the North Sound, this sandbar is home to dozens of friendly southern stingrays, who glide gracefully through the crystal-clear waters.
The stingrays are accustomed to humans and have been interacting with visitors for decades. They’ll swim right up to you, brushing gently past as they circle in search of food. But this is a hands-on, interactive experience, so you can touch, hold, or, for seven years of good luck, kiss these majestic animals. Our experienced guides ensure that the encounter is safe for both you and the stingrays.
The water is only waist-deep, making Stingray City accessible to everyone, regardless of swimming ability. If you’ve never been up close with stingrays, our Stingray City Grand Cayman tours are your chance to experience the magic of the ocean in the most interactive way imaginable.
Sound like your idea of fun? We think you’ll love reading our Ultimate Guide to Stingray City in Grand Cayman when you have finished here.
Grand Cayman’s West, North, and East Walls Offer Incredible Drop-Offs!
Grand Cayman is known for its spectacular wall diving, and our island’s West, North, and East Walls are a diver’s dream come true. These sheer underwater cliffs drop off thousands of feet into the abyss, providing an otherworldly diving experience.
- The West Wall: Situated along Seven Mile Beach, the West Wall is renowned for its hospitable conditions year-round. With its easy access, remarkable visibility, teeming coral reefs, jaw-dropping caverns, and abundant marine life, it is a firm favourite with locals and visitors alike. It’s no surprise that our 2-Tank AM West Wall Dive in Grand Cayman is so popular!
- The North Wall: Known for its more dramatic vertical drop-offs into the deep blue, the North Wall is slightly more advanced and perfect for deep divers. Here, you can experience the thrill of plunging from the shallow reef down into the depths, surrounded by giant barrel sponges, black coral, and the occasional reef shark. Keep an eye out for large pelagic species that frequently patrol these waters.
- The East Wall: Offering a more remote and serene experience, the East Wall is famous for its untouched beauty and the sense of adventure that comes with diving at less crowded sites. The corals here are pristine, the marine life is abundant, and our 2-Tank AM Grand Cayman East Wall Dive is the perfect way to explore it all!
Each of these walls offers a different flavour of diving, but they all have one thing in common: the dramatic beauty of the underwater cliffs and the sense of awe that comes with exploring the deep blue sea.
Marvel at the Size and Scale of Big Tunnels in Grand Cayman
Located off the western coast of Grand Cayman, Big Tunnels is a must-see for experienced divers. It even has the distinction of featuring among our dive instructors’ favourite dive sites in Grand Cayman. As its name suggests, this site is a collection of alleys, swim-throughs, and tunnels that run out to the West Wall. One of the most famous tunnels is a huge, 90-foot passage that’s big enough to fit a medium-sized truck!
At depths of around 18 to 30 metres (60 to 100 feet), you’ll descend through the tunnels surrounded by towering coral formations and colourful sponges. As you swim through the winding passageways, the site opens up to a stunning underwater vista where you’ll often encounter turtles, barracuda, and the occasional eagle ray cruising by.
Paradise Reef is One of Grand Cayman’s Best Coral Sites
For those looking for a site that’s easily accessible and perfect for both diving and snorkelling, Paradise Reef is a fantastic choice. Located just a short distance from George Town, this reef is a kaleidoscope of marine life, with vibrant coral formations and an abundance of tropical fish.
You’ll encounter schools of blue tang, parrotfish, and even the occasional octopus or moray eel peeking out from the coral crevices. The reef is shallow, with a depth of just 10 to 15 metres (30 to 50 feet), making it an excellent spot for snorkellers and beginner divers.
Paradise Reef is a true underwater wonder beloved by first-time visitors, divers who have explored it countless times, and everyone in between. It’s no surprise, then, that it features as one of our island’s best coral sites in our Guide to Exploring Coral Reefs In Grand Cayman.
Immerse Yourself in Marine Biodiversity at the Barrier Reef Coral Gardens
If you’re in search of a snorkelling site that showcases the incredible diversity of Grand Cayman’s marine life, the Barrier Reef is the perfect spot. Located in the North Sound, near Stingray City, this remarkable shallow reef ecosystem is teeming with colourful corals, sponges, and a stunning variety of fish species. It’s why we visit on some of our Stingray City tours!
The calm, shallow waters make it ideal for snorkellers of all skill levels, and you’ll be amazed at the sheer number of fish swimming around. From sergeant majors to butterflyfish, the diversity of species here is truly remarkable. The Barrier Reef is also known for its crystal-clear visibility, which makes for perfect conditions to explore the intricate coral structures and the bustling marine life they support.
The selections above are only an introduction to the remarkable range of underwater wonders in the Cayman Islands! If we’ve fuelled your sense of adventure, read our Ultimate Guide to Diving in the Cayman Islands for more ideas and inspiration.
See the Stars of the Ocean at Starfish Point!
Last but not least, let us introduce you to the resident starfish at Starfish Point. Located in Grand Cayman’s North Side region, a short drive from Rum Point, you can find Starfish Point near the end of Water Cay Road. The calm, shallow water here is home to numerous large red starfish, and visiting them is a fantastic family-friendly experience and one of our picks for the top things to do in Rum Point.
If you’re unable to reach Starfish Point, our Grand Cayman North Sound Eco Safari is here to help! Starfish Point is the third and final stop on this tour, after Stingray City and the Barrier Reef. Departing from Camana Bay, it’s the ideal way for people staying in the Seven Mile Beach area to enjoy three quintessential Cayman experiences.
Explore Underwaterwater Wonders on Our Grand Cayman Diving Trips
So, which underwater wonders in the Cayman Islands do you want to explore first? At Red Sail Sports, our Grand Cayman scuba diving trips and boat excursions visit hidden gems and famous features, so be sure to browse our range and start planning your own adventures!
If you have any pre-booking questions for us, please just get in touch for the answers you need.
