Buccaneer Reef (★4.4)
Buccaneers Reef is an easy entry shore dive on the western end of Cayman Brac. A thriving reef great for beginning divers and snorkelers alike. Lots of reef life to see.
Explore the Captain Keith Tibbetts Wreck
On the northwest side of Cayman Brac—the second-largest island in the Cayman Islands—lies the wreck of the MV Captain Keith Tibbets. In 1984, the Soviet Union built this 100-meter-long Koni II class frigate for the Cuban Navy. After years of storage, the Cayman Islands government purchased the ship, which was then sunk off the shore of Cayman Brac in 1996, where it has since been renamed the MV Captain Keith Tibbets after a local dive operator.
The wreck has since become a spectacular artificial reef for snorkelers and divers to explore. This multi-leveled dive is one of Cayman Brac’s premier dive sites. Scuba diving the MV Captain Keith Tibbets wreck is possible via dive centers and dive resorts on Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. To dive Cayman’s three tropical islands, hop on visiting liveaboards in George Town.
Dive Activity
Diving at Captain Keith Tibbetts Wreck
The wreck can be reached by shore via a long surface swim of about 183-metres, yet, most people decide to hop on a dive boat. A 2004 hurricane has broken the wreck in two but there are still some excellent sights. Divers can visit the fore and back turret guns which provide fascinating photo opportunities before heading to the conning tower, which reaches up to the shallows, providing the ideal place for a safety stop. Experienced wreck divers can peer into the inner structures through small entrances while those intending to gain wreck diver certification can visit the wreck while on dive courses.
Dive Sites
The best Months to dive at Captain Keith Tibbetts Wreck
MV Captain Keith Tibbetts Wreck is best dived in March and April, when the winds can be strong on the surface, but below, the visibility is incredible, and the conditions are calm. From July to November is the summer period, when a number of great dives happen on the wreck. Yet, July to November is also hurricane season, with the conditions often being unpredictable on the Cayman Islands. The visibility on the Cayman Islands is incredible, and it’s often possible to see up to 30 meters/98 feet of the 100-meter/328-foot ship.
Top Wildlife Sightings at Captain Keith Tibbetts Wreck
Despite being a relatively young wreck, sunk only in 1996, there are already thick carpets of coral and sponges adorning the components of the ship. Already, 100 species have been documented on the wreck and dive operators that frequent the wreck have named some of the resident species, including Boris the huge goliath grouper and Charlie, a large green moray eel.
Among the coral, numerous species of nudibranch can be seen decorating the metal surface. Peer upwards into the shallows and divers will notice giant barracuda circling above while although it is rare, divers should keep their eyes peeled for the bottlenose dolphins that reside in the Carribean Sea.
Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 27
iStock-Global_Pics
Barracuda
115 Sightings
J
0
F
8
M
10
A
5
M
17
J
21
J
14
A
11
S
0
O
15
N
8
D
6
Shutterstock-Andrey Armyagov
Hawksbill Turtle
26 Sightings
J
0
F
3
M
0
A
0
M
6
J
9
J
5
A
0
S
0
O
2
N
0
D
1
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 600
iStock/ultramarinfoto
Wrasse
16 Sightings
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0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
9
S
2
O
5
N
0
D
0
Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography
Green Turtle
11 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
4
M
4
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
3
O
0
N
0
D
0
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 25
iStock/Juliosanjuan
Eagle Ray
8 Sightings
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0
F
2
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
4
A
0
S
0
O
2
N
0
D
0
iStock-ShaneGross
Loggerhead Turtle
5 Sightings
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0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
5
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 200
Alamy-WaterFrame
Moray Eel
4 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
2
N
0
D
1
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 300
Alamy/Reinhard Dirscherl
Octopus
4 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
4
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 80
iStock/Extreme-Photographer
Stingrays
126 Sightings
J
2
F
1
M
9
A
9
M
19
J
11
J
23
A
16
S
4
O
17
N
11
D
4
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 250
Shutterstock-Henry_and_Laura_Whittaker
Grouper/Basslets
117 Sightings
J
2
F
1
M
6
A
6
M
10
J
29
J
18
A
17
S
0
O
17
N
4
D
7
