Explore East End

Diving in the East End of Grand Cayman offers a unique and authentic experience for those seeking adventure beneath the waves. Known for its more traditional and "off the beaten track" atmosphere, this diving destination is perfect for explorers eager to discover the hidden gems of the Caribbean Sea. The East End boasts over 60 dive sites, featuring breathtaking walls interspersed with a myriad of caverns and swim-throughs that promise to captivate divers. Notably, the region's canyons, like Babylon and Jack McKenny, are renowned for their stunning formations and abundant marine life, including lionfish and typical Caribbean reef fish.

For those who appreciate diverse marine encounters, East End delivers with sightings of sharks and, on occasion, the majestic manta ray. A must-visit site, Dumbo’s Lookout, offers the chance to witness the elusive pygmy elephants, adding a playful touch to the underwater adventure. Whether you're wall diving at Black Rock Drop or simply exploring the vibrant coral reefs, the East End provides an unparalleled dive experience. With the option to dive from local resorts or explore via liveaboards, it's accessible for both casual and dedicated divers alike. This rich marine environment, coupled with the area's cultural charm, makes East End a standout dive destination.

Dive Activity

Diving in East End

For novice divers who intend to take part in dive courses, there are a number of shallow sites with pristine reefs, such as Grouper Grotto where you’ll find Nassau grouper around every corner. While for the more experienced diver, there are staggering wall dives, some which drop down to the Cayman Trough, the deepest part of the Carribean Sea. Almost every wall dive is a labyrinth of fissures, caves, and swim-throughs - including The Maze, Snapper Hole, and Turtle Pass. - while at the Three Sisters dive site float among towering pinnacles adorned with a variety of corals.

Top Wildlife Sightings in East End

Due to the incredible topography of East End’s underwater world, there’s an astonishing amount of biodiversity to be found in the crystal clear waters. Alongside huge brain corals and sea fans are countless colourful creatures, such as octopus, snapper and moray eels. Great barracuda and tarpon patrol sites while electric rays, yellow rays, and the giant southern ray can be found digging into the sand in shallow dive sites.

There are three types of sea turtles in the area, green, hawksbill and loggerhead and black-tip reef sharks are commonly seen assessing the scene below them. Caribbean reef sharks are occasionally seen at The Maze dive site while if you are very lucky divers, manta rays and hammerhead sharks may decide to make an appearance.

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: 27

iStock-Global_Pics

Barracuda
128 Sightings
J
11
F
1
M
9
A
18
M
12
J
13
J
15
A
9
S
7
O
16
N
7
D
10

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

Total number of species: 200

Alamy-WaterFrame

Moray Eel
71 Sightings
J
5
F
3
M
8
A
9
M
4
J
4
J
8
A
2
S
5
O
10
N
6
D
7
Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography

Green Turtle
51 Sightings
J
6
F
5
M
6
A
2
M
5
J
4
J
2
A
2
S
5
O
3
N
5
D
6

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

Total number of species: 600

iStock/ultramarinfoto

Wrasse
43 Sightings
J
3
F
3
M
9
A
6
M
3
J
6
J
3
A
1
S
0
O
6
N
2
D
1
Shutterstock-Ed Jenkins

Hawksbill Turtle
32 Sightings
J
1
F
1
M
4
A
4
M
0
J
2
J
5
A
3
S
3
O
3
N
2
D
4

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

Total number of species: 25

iStock/Juliosanjuan

Eagle Ray
28 Sightings
J
0
F
1
M
2
A
4
M
3
J
4
J
3
A
3
S
3
O
3
N
1
D
1
iStock-ShaneGross

Loggerhead Turtle
16 Sightings
J
0
F
1
M
0
A
6
M
2
J
3
J
1
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
1
D
1

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

Total number of species: 300

Alamy/Reinhard Dirscherl

Octopus
10 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
1
A
0
M
1
J
0
J
1
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
4
D
1

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

Total number of species: 100

iStock-burnsboxco

Parrotfish
167 Sightings
J
11
F
4
M
18
A
20
M
8
J
22
J
19
A
10
S
7
O
15
N
18
D
15

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

Total number of species: 90

Shutterstock-Rich Carey

Angelfish
142 Sightings
J
11
F
6
M
16
A
20
M
11
J
16
J
15
A
8
S
6
O
16
N
9
D
8
Show More

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

Total number of species: 12

iStock/cinoby

Lionfish
109 Sightings
J
10
F
4
M
9
A
21
M
7
J
8
J
11
A
7
S
6
O
14
N
4
D
8

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

Total number of species: 80

iStock/Extreme-Photographer

Stingrays
95 Sightings
J
11
F
5
M
10
A
8
M
3
J
10
J
8
A
7
S
6
O
7
N
12
D
8

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

Total number of species: 130

Shutterstock_Krzysztof Odziomek

Butterfly Fish
90 Sightings
J
6
F
3
M
13
A
9
M
8
J
14
J
12
A
5
S
0
O
12
N
3
D
5

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

Total number of species: 110

iStock-Rainer von Brandis

Snapper
79 Sightings
J
3
F
2
M
4
A
10
M
2
J
11
J
6
A
6
S
0
O
19
N
13
D
3

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

Total number of species: 40

iStock-wrangel

Triggerfish
78 Sightings
J
4
F
2
M
14
A
8
M
8
J
10
J
8
A
5
S
1
O
8
N
4
D
6

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

Total number of species: 250

Shutterstock-Henry_and_Laura_Whittaker

Grouper/Basslets
76 Sightings
J
8
F
3
M
9
A
6
M
5
J
8
J
9
A
4
S
4
O
14
N
3
D
3

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

Total number of species: 130

AdobeStock-JirinaVFR

Pufferfish
75 Sightings
J
5
F
3
M
8
A
13
M
4
J
9
J
11
A
1
S
1
O
10
N
5
D
5

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

Total number of species: 85

iStock-mirecca

Surgeonfish
70 Sightings
J
3
F
3
M
11
A
4
M
5
J
11
J
7
A
3
S
2
O
8
N
9
D
4
k

Caribbean Reef Shark
69 Sightings
J
8
F
0
M
9
A
4
M
3
J
4
J
10
A
10
S
4
O
3
N
5
D
9

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

Total number of species: 60

iStock-Global_Pics

Squirrelfish
64 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
12
A
5
M
3
J
9
J
7
A
5
S
0
O
6
N
8
D
8

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

Total number of species: 40

iStock-Hoatzinexp

Jackfish
62 Sightings
J
4
F
1
M
8
A
5
M
8
J
9
J
5
A
6
S
0
O
10
N
4
D
2
AdobeStock-Nikolai Sorokin

Blacktip Reef Shark
61 Sightings
J
3
F
3
M
7
A
11
M
4
J
3
J
3
A
5
S
6
O
2
N
5
D
9

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

Total number of species: 150

Shutterstock-aquapix

Sweetlips and Grunts
58 Sightings
J
3
F
4
M
6
A
11
M
6
J
9
J
6
A
3
S
0
O
5
N
3
D
2

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

Total number of species: 60

iStock-Global_Pics

Spiny Lobster
58 Sightings
J
5
F
1
M
4
A
10
M
3
J
7
J
3
A
4
S
1
O
10
N
6
D
4

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

Total number of species: 350

Alamy-Andre Seal

Damselfish
57 Sightings
J
3
F
4
M
9
A
7
M
5
J
9
J
5
A
5
S
0
O
7
N
1
D
2

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

Total number of species: 3

Shutterstock_Leo Lorenzo

Trumpetfish
48 Sightings
J
3
F
3
M
5
A
8
M
2
J
5
J
7
A
3
S
1
O
4
N
1
D
6

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

Total number of species: 28

Udo Kefrig

Clownfish
47 Sightings
J
4
F
1
M
6
A
6
M
2
J
6
J
6
A
4
S
2
O
6
N
3
D
1

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

Total number of species: 60

iStock-Global_Pics

Soldierfish
43 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
4
A
6
M
2
J
6
J
7
A
3
S
1
O
6
N
4
D
2

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

Total number of species: 2

AdobeStock-hakbak

Nurse Shark
42 Sightings
J
3
F
2
M
4
A
5
M
1
J
1
J
7
A
5
S
5
O
2
N
6
D
1

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

Total number of species: 90

Shutterstock-Levent Konuk

Goatfish
39 Sightings
J
2
F
1
M
6
A
1
M
3
J
8
J
3
A
2
S
0
O
9
N
1
D
3
AdobeStock-Marc Henauer

Grey Reef Shark
36 Sightings
J
2
F
4
M
3
A
3
M
2
J
0
J
6
A
2
S
4
O
2
N
3
D
5

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

Total number of species: 7000

iStock-Michael Zeigler

Crab
36 Sightings
J
2
F
1
M
3
A
7
M
3
J
2
J
5
A
3
S
2
O
4
N
2
D
2

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

Total number of species: 8

Alamy-Reinhard Dirscherl

Bannerfish
34 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
4
A
5
M
1
J
7
J
4
A
1
S
2
O
4
N
1
D
3

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

Total number of species: 25

AdobeStock_Vladimir Wrangel

Boxfish
33 Sightings
J
3
F
0
M
6
A
1
M
1
J
7
J
5
A
2
S
1
O
5
N
2
D
0

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

Total number of species: 2

iStock-stock_colors

Tarpon
29 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
6
A
1
M
1
J
1
J
3
A
2
S
4
O
9
N
1
D
1

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

Total number of species: 250

iStock-Miguel-Angelo-Silva.

Scorpionfish
24 Sightings
J
2
F
2
M
2
A
6
M
1
J
3
J
1
A
1
S
1
O
1
N
4
D
0

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

Total number of species: 55

k

Lobster
24 Sightings
J
3
F
0
M
2
A
1
M
2
J
2
J
2
A
2
S
2
O
3
N
4
D
1

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

Total number of species: 80

iStock-bearacreative

Emperor
22 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
2
A
1
M
2
J
6
J
1
A
1
S
2
O
7
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: 3400

Shutterstock-Shane Gross

Shrimp
21 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
3
A
0
M
3
J
1
J
2
A
0
S
4
O
3
N
1
D
2

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

Total number of species: 120

AdobeStock-Composer.

Flounder
21 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
2
A
8
M
0
J
3
J
0
A
3
S
0
O
2
N
2
D
1
iStock-June Jacobsen

Whitetip Reef Shark
17 Sightings
J
3
F
0
M
3
A
2
M
1
J
1
J
0
A
2
S
0
O
0
N
5
D
0

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

Total number of species: 15

Shutterstock-Al McGlashan

Tuna
17 Sightings
J
0
F
1
M
1
A
5
M
1
J
2
J
2
A
1
S
1
O
1
N
2
D
0

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

Total number of species: 20

iStock-stephankerkhofs

Porcupinefish
12 Sightings
J
3
F
1
M
0
A
2
M
2
J
1
J
0
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
2

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

Total number of species: 30

Shutterstock-s_a_j

Sand Eel
11 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
3
A
3
M
0
J
0
J
2
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
1
D
0
AdobeStock_cherylvb

Garibaldi Damselfish
10 Sightings
J
0
F
1
M
1
A
4
M
0
J
1
J
0
A
0
S
2
O
0
N
1
D
0

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

Total number of species: 30

SSI-Peter-Schinck

Stonefish
10 Sightings
J
2
F
1
M
0
A
1
M
0
J
2
J
0
A
1
S
0
O
1
N
0
D
2

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

Total number of species: 3000

SSI-Peter-Schinck

Nudibranch
9 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
4
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
1
A
0
S
0
O
2
N
1
D
1

The best Months to dive in the East End

East End diving is best in mid-March through to mid-August. Outside of these times, East End experiences strong winds and, while the wind doesn’t always affect dive operations, to experience scuba diving in East End at its absolute best visit in April, May, June or July. One of the grest things about diving on Grand Cayman is that the island is flat with no river-off, so the visibility is always incredible.

Dive Centers

Ocean Frontiers Ltd.

344C Austin Conolly Dr, KYI-1801 East End, CYM

Dive Sites

Ocean Frontiers Ltd., KYI-1801 East End

Chub Hole (★4.5)

Southeast of the pin, the miniwall features a maze of tunnels, canyons, and archways. Northward, the reef opens with large overhangs and towering coral fingers.
Ocean Frontiers Ltd., KYI-1801 East End

Black Rock Reef (★4.5)

Black Rock Reef features sandy channels, coral gardens, shallow hardpan, and freestanding coral heads with narrow passages. Ridges and a massive barrel sponge mark the vibrant site.
David S. (#3177691)

The Maze (★4.5)

Located five minutes from the dock, The Maze sits at 40–45 feet atop the wall. The site is characterized by a complex network of narrow canyons, buttresses, and pinnacles. A shallow sand bowl near the mooring pin allows for extended bottom time and easy navigation back to the boat.
Mares

Anchor Point (★4.4)

20 min boat ride from Compass Point Dive Resort. Mooring ball situated on the wall with a pin depth of 58 ft / 17 m. Mild to moderate current is often observed at this dive site. It is accessible via a shore entry but local knowledge is advised.
Scubapro, Stephen Frink

Sunset Reef (★4.2)

Five minute drive from the Compass Point Dock. A shallow reef system within the natural lagoon with protection from the prevalent swell from the barrier reef. A oasis of coral heads with an old Spanish anchor resting in the sand patch. The reef starts at a depth of 22 feet / 7 metres and travels up to 6 feet / 2 m
Scubapro

Three Sisters Cayman (★4.4)

Three Sisters, located off Grand Cayman’s East End, features three towering coral pinnacles named Agatha, Bertha, and Cleo. An open-topped canyon near the mooring pin provides a direct navigation path to the first formation, with the third pinnacle notably leaning at a depth of 70 feet.
Mares

River of Sands (★4.3)

River of Sands features a flat sandy bottom that drops at a 45-degree angle, flowing through narrow channels toward a main drop-off at 50 feet. This sheltered site is protected from strong currents and includes a network of overhangs, ledges, and narrow swim-throughs.
Aqualung

Playing Field (★4.5)

Playing Fields is a reef site located five minutes from the dock with depths from 25–65 feet. Three freestanding coral heads create a figure-eight navigation route. The site features a rubble bottom, a swim-through between primary formations, and active coral out-planting zones.
Aqualung

Pat’s Wall (★4.6)

Pat’s Wall is a deep East End wall dive named for Patricia Schaar. Located five minutes from the dock, it features a 60–100 foot depth range. The site is defined by towering coral spurs, steep-walled canyons, and a narrow swim-through running parallel to the drop-off.
Mares

Lighthouse Wall (★4.3)

Named after the nearby East End lighthouse, this wall dive features jagged rocky points and sandy channels that plunge from 50 feet into the abyss. The site is characterized by razor-thin formations and a deep wall section containing an old, encrusted rope suspended over the drop-off.
Aqualung

Old Issac’s (★4.5)

Named after a 1662 settlement, this site features a ledge dropping from 25 to 50 feet near Compass Point. The layout includes a rubble bottom and a line of coral heads at 60 feet, alongside a dedicated coral nursery with 30-foot PVC out-planting structures.
Scubapro

Snapper Hole (★4.7)

Snapper Hole is a complex network of swim-throughs, tunnels, and caverns on the East End. Notable features include a cavern filmed for a BBC documentary, a massive 1872 Spanish-style anchor leaning against a coral head, and a mushroom-shaped formation known as Papa Smurf’s House.
Mares, Predrag Vuckovic

Little Bluff Reef (★4.1)

Named after Little Bluff Bay, this site features shallow coral meadows ranging from 20 to 40 feet. It is characterized by low-relief coral fingers and rock spines that run north-south, acting as natural navigational aids. The area is known for its calm conditions and minimal current.
Scubapro

Split Rock (★4.3)

Split Rock is a wall dive defined by a narrow, carved canyon that divides the reef. The site features a ledge and multiple headlands to the west, all characterized by prolific black coral growth. Numerous tunnels and swim-throughs weave through the reef wall, accessible via a split descent.