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Cayman Islands

© iStock/Romolo-Tavani

Explore The Cayman Islands

Nestled in the heart of the Caribbean, the Cayman Islands are a diver's paradise with their crystal-clear waters and stunning underwater landscapes. Comprising Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman, these islands offer a variety of diving experiences that cater to all skill levels, from beginners to seasoned divers. With some of the best visibility in the Caribbean, often ranging from 18–30 meters (60–100 feet), divers can explore vibrant coral reefs teeming with marine life, including sea turtles, stingrays, and colorful reef fish. The islands' warm ocean temperatures, between 26–28°C/78–82°F, ensure comfortable diving conditions year-round.

Grand Cayman, the largest of the trio, is renowned for its spectacular wall dives, where dramatic drop-offs plunge into the deep blue, providing thrilling adventures for experienced divers. For those seeking calm and easy dives, the island offers numerous shore diving opportunities, perfect for encountering the resident turtles. Meanwhile, Little Cayman boasts the famous Bloody Bay Wall, considered one of the best wall dives globally, with its steep coral cliffs and abundant marine life. Cayman Brac, with its unique limestone topography, offers exciting wreck dives, including the sunken Russian destroyer, the MV Captain Keith Tibbetts. Whether you prefer the convenience of shore diving or the exploration offered by liveaboards, the Cayman Islands promise unforgettable underwater experiences filled with natural beauty and vibrant aquatic life.

Power Plug Type
A, B
Payment Method
VISA, MC, AMEX, DIS, DC, Cir, Plus
Tipping
10–15% / Service Staff / Tipping is expected in restaurants and for good service; many establishments include a 10–15% service charge.
Currency
KYD
Dial Code
+1-345
Electricity
120V / 60Hz
Time
UTC−5

Top Regions to Explore

Upcoming Events

Dive Centers

Dive Sites

Top Wildlife Sightings in the Cayman Islands

In general, the Cayman Islands are well known for their beautiful coral reefs that are seething with hundreds of species of colorful fish, high numbers of turtles, reef sharks and plunging walls covered in corals, sponges and sea fans all in great visibility.

For those wanting to experience eagle ray flybys, head to Eagle Ray Rock off Grand Cayman where they’re regularly spotted swimming by.

Another great spot for rays is Stingray City, a shallow site where large groups of southern stingrays assemble in the shallow sand in Grand Cayman’s North Sound. The rays are very friendly and accustomed to humans and are far from shy.

At Little Cayman, seahorses, octopi and lobsters can be sighted in and among the black coral and impressive sponges that cover the Great Wall West dive site, which is part of the island’s Bloody Bay Wall complex.

Cumber’s Caves off Little Cayman is home to an array of epic topography, including caves and a wall covered in sponges and corals. With usually infinite visibility, you can also enjoy gazing at turtles, rays, snapper, jacks, lobsters and lots of sharks.

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

Barracuda

Barracuda

2.8k Sightings
J
150
F
159
M
268
A
249
M
287
J
266
J
451
A
250
S
89
O
210
N
232
D
199
Green Turtle

Green Turtle

1.4k Sightings
J
85
F
83
M
139
A
112
M
141
J
149
J
239
A
106
S
55
O
79
N
102
D
96

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 200

Moray Eel

Moray Eel

1.3k Sightings
J
85
F
98
M
150
A
131
M
104
J
87
J
136
A
104
S
68
O
71
N
117
D
122

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

Eagle Ray

Eagle Ray

865 Sightings
J
54
F
45
M
118
A
74
M
84
J
72
J
149
A
90
S
31
O
54
N
44
D
50
Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle

847 Sightings
J
43
F
58
M
84
A
70
M
72
J
94
J
181
A
69
S
20
O
33
N
67
D
56

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 600

Wrasse

Wrasse

712 Sightings
J
42
F
37
M
56
A
35
M
82
J
57
J
85
A
87
S
39
O
84
N
58
D
50
Loggerhead Turtle

Loggerhead Turtle

328 Sightings
J
12
F
7
M
46
A
79
M
51
J
33
J
34
A
21
S
5
O
15
N
12
D
13

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 300

Octopus

Octopus

231 Sightings
J
11
F
21
M
17
A
14
M
28
J
17
J
26
A
19
S
21
O
17
N
30
D
10

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 100

Parrotfish

Parrotfish

3.6k Sightings
J
247
F
206
M
318
A
276
M
286
J
373
J
608
A
344
S
137
O
220
N
312
D
292

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Angelfish

Angelfish

3k Sightings
J
182
F
174
M
273
A
252
M
260
J
333
J
461
A
312
S
123
O
193
N
261
D
222

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 80

Stingrays

Stingrays

3k Sightings
J
180
F
165
M
255
A
312
M
261
J
311
J
498
A
270
S
109
O
180
N
260
D
204

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Grouper/Basslets

Grouper/Basslets

2.4k Sightings
J
123
F
89
M
162
A
200
M
192
J
287
J
468
A
232
S
91
O
197
N
171
D
150

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Butterfly Fish

Butterfly Fish

2.2k Sightings
J
118
F
120
M
172
A
146
M
190
J
290
J
312
A
244
S
89
O
171
N
164
D
148

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 12

Lionfish

Lionfish

2k Sightings
J
101
F
122
M
179
A
184
M
152
J
200
J
332
A
187
S
76
O
150
N
168
D
148

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Pufferfish

Pufferfish

1.4k Sightings
J
101
F
78
M
138
A
105
M
99
J
105
J
214
A
130
S
58
O
85
N
154
D
120

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 350

Damselfish

Damselfish

1.3k Sightings
J
57
F
56
M
113
A
76
M
106
J
149
J
159
A
185
S
70
O
127
N
82
D
83

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Triggerfish

Triggerfish

1.2k Sightings
J
49
F
44
M
133
A
99
M
96
J
116
J
183
A
166
S
60
O
78
N
88
D
101

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 110

Snapper

Snapper

1.1k Sightings
J
88
F
61
M
104
A
65
M
77
J
93
J
170
A
133
S
23
O
101
N
116
D
86

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 2

Nurse Shark

Nurse Shark

1k Sightings
J
47
F
63
M
83
A
75
M
116
J
114
J
175
A
79
S
31
O
73
N
97
D
69

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Squirrelfish

Squirrelfish

1k Sightings
J
74
F
52
M
102
A
48
M
79
J
126
J
120
A
123
S
35
O
73
N
113
D
75

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Spiny Lobster

Spiny Lobster

1k Sightings
J
52
F
72
M
74
A
79
M
65
J
95
J
184
A
90
S
32
O
90
N
101
D
81

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 85

Surgeonfish

Surgeonfish

962 Sightings
J
64
F
54
M
91
A
53
M
78
J
116
J
127
A
114
S
23
O
62
N
94
D
86

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 150

Sweetlips and Grunts

Sweetlips and Grunts

798 Sightings
J
66
F
39
M
38
A
55
M
75
J
98
J
87
A
118
S
39
O
65
N
64
D
54

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Jackfish

Jackfish

721 Sightings
J
42
F
21
M
54
A
33
M
77
J
75
J
96
A
122
S
18
O
55
N
87
D
41

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Goatfish

Goatfish

705 Sightings
J
46
F
36
M
45
A
24
M
67
J
48
J
102
A
103
S
32
O
71
N
63
D
68

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 7000

Crab

Crab

693 Sightings
J
51
F
57
M
80
A
71
M
82
J
36
J
85
A
39
S
29
O
46
N
68
D
49

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 55

Lobster

Lobster

601 Sightings
J
39
F
56
M
74
A
71
M
65
J
40
J
92
A
34
S
21
O
23
N
47
D
39

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 2

Tarpon

Tarpon

588 Sightings
J
29
F
30
M
70
A
37
M
51
J
77
J
81
A
65
S
29
O
40
N
47
D
32

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 8

Bannerfish

Bannerfish

568 Sightings
J
25
F
24
M
49
A
47
M
49
J
43
J
59
A
102
S
51
O
39
N
45
D
35

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Trumpetfish

Trumpetfish

567 Sightings
J
38
F
24
M
28
A
47
M
50
J
66
J
112
A
38
S
21
O
38
N
51
D
54

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 28

Clownfish

Clownfish

560 Sightings
J
13
F
25
M
55
A
54
M
20
J
41
J
71
A
109
S
61
O
43
N
39
D
29

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Soldierfish

Soldierfish

527 Sightings
J
13
F
32
M
42
A
37
M
50
J
53
J
68
A
90
S
29
O
37
N
44
D
32

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3400

Shrimp

Shrimp

300 Sightings
J
17
F
15
M
32
A
21
M
52
J
17
J
52
A
23
S
18
O
8
N
14
D
31

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

Boxfish

Boxfish

284 Sightings
J
27
F
8
M
26
A
14
M
33
J
21
J
47
A
12
S
20
O
19
N
24
D
33

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 30

Sand Eel

Sand Eel

263 Sightings
J
27
F
11
M
19
A
17
M
20
J
12
J
42
A
26
S
22
O
10
N
17
D
40
Blacktip Reef Shark

Blacktip Reef Shark

259 Sightings
J
12
F
14
M
26
A
28
M
31
J
12
J
34
A
24
S
12
O
15
N
30
D
21

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 120

Flounder

Flounder

236 Sightings
J
15
F
15
M
22
A
31
M
31
J
17
J
45
A
13
S
11
O
8
N
14
D
14

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 300

Squid

Squid

180 Sightings
J
7
F
11
M
20
A
9
M
16
J
25
J
48
A
20
S
9
O
7
N
3
D
5
Grey Reef Shark

Grey Reef Shark

157 Sightings
J
10
F
15
M
20
A
11
M
19
J
13
J
28
A
16
S
10
O
4
N
4
D
7

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 20

Porcupinefish

Porcupinefish

147 Sightings
J
11
F
11
M
12
A
22
M
13
J
4
J
31
A
7
S
0
O
4
N
20
D
12

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 80

Emperor

Emperor

137 Sightings
J
2
F
4
M
18
A
7
M
15
J
9
J
9
A
48
S
7
O
9
N
7
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3000

Nudibranch

Nudibranch

122 Sightings
J
4
F
3
M
17
A
5
M
7
J
3
J
10
A
8
S
14
O
11
N
26
D
14

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Scorpionfish

Scorpionfish

96 Sightings
J
1
F
4
M
1
A
14
M
7
J
4
J
5
A
14
S
8
O
13
N
15
D
10