With over 250 dive sites to choose from, Grand Cayman offers some of the greatest underwater diversity anywhere in the world. Its 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 in the North Sound of Grand Cayman Island. Our local water sports association has adopted the 130-foot depth limit in its Safety Guidelines, making so much more available to divers.

It's difficult to imagine a destination that offers divers, snorkellers and those who simply love the water, more to see and do than the Cayman Islands. Below the tranquil, azure waters that line Grand Cayman and her two sister islands, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac, a world of magic awaits. For divers, it's the opportunity to experience first-hand the legendary walls, reefs and wrecks that have made our islands famous the world over. For snorkellers and swimmers, the chance to mingle with Stingrays, turtles, tropical fish and corals in every colour of the rainbow.

Guests enjoy all this in bathtub-like temperatures (79 to 83-degrees) with a visibility that often exceeds 100 feet. With an abundance of experienced, highly professional dive operators, state-of-the-art live aboards and numerous snorkel sites accessible by boat or straight from shore, the Cayman Islands is the ideal setting in which to explore the underwater realm. Even children can get in on the fun (with the proper adult supervision). SASY (Supplied Air Snorkelling For Youthl is available at many operators on the islands and can provide an exciting introduction to the marine world. Additionall): kids between the ages of eight and twelve can participate in the PADI Bubblemaker or the Scuba Rangers programmes - where they are introduced to scuba under an Instructor's guidance and can experience the underwater breathing sensation in depths up to 12 feet.

Unlike many underwater hot spots, which require exhausting travel to lonely outposts, the Cayman Islands is on a 75-minute Right from Miami. Many international airlines have direct flight service to Grand Cayman from major U.S. gateways (Atlanta, Charlotte, Detroit, Ft. lauderdale, Houston, Memphis, Miami, Newark, Philadelphia, Tampa, as well as from Toronto, Canada, london (Heath row), UK, Havana, Cuba and Kingston and Montego Ba): Jamaica. Some, like our national carrier, Cayman Airways, offer discount packages for divers and dive groups. The airline's diver-friendly service includes a variety of accommodations such as easy equipment check-in and a dedicated team of specialists to help dive groups plan the ultimate trip. Once you've arrived on Grand Cayman, making the jump to either little Cayman or Cayman Brac couldn't be easier. Cayman Airways jets fly to Cayman Brac, and Island Air offers daily flights to both Little Cayman and Cayman Brac.

Why Dive in Cayman?
Many reasons underpin the Cayman Islands popularity as a premier scuba diving destination.
Here's a very short sample:

Learn to dive - Get SCUBA CERTIFIED!
Never dived before? If you are at least 10 years old, you can learn to dive, in just three hours, by doing a resort course, offered by most dive operators on all three islands. Professional instructors will teach you everything you need to know in a short, fun course, before taking you on either a shore or boat dive. Under close supervision, you will dive to a depth of about 40 feet and experience the underwater world in a way you've never seen it before. Prepare to be amazed! Vibrant colors, intricate patterns, vast shoals of fish, complex coral reefs all await you. And, with water visibility ranging from between 100 to 200 feet, you'll feel as if you were wearing a mask and tank in a swimming pool or well-kept, well-stocked aquarium! The best news is that you can do further dives, after your resort course, without being fully certified. With an instructor guide, you can go on to do exciting dives such as Stingray City or explore a shipwreck. Don't delay... dive today!

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 mid water, 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 wont be disappointed no matter where you go. Dive & snorkel operators visit different sites on a daily basis - so if its variety that you are looking for - we have it! If there is a particular type of marine life that you 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 favorites.

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 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 • lronshore Caves/East End • Kents Caves/South Side • Chinese Gardens/South Side

Wall & Wreck Diving:
Among Grand Cayman's more spectacular dive attractions are the walls that completely surround it. There are two wall systems in Grand Cayman; the 6O-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 it’s own family of eccentric residents, all too eager to pose for passing photographers.

Wall Diving 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 • Pat~ Wall/East End • Jack McKennedy's/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