Explore the West Wall

West Wall diving, stretching from the South West corner to the North West corner, is Grand Cayman’s most popular dive location. Situated at the leeward side of the island, the seas are almost always calm making it the ideal choice for novice divers or those who prefer more relaxed sites. Discover scuba diving for the first time in shallow pristine reefs or venture deeper to explore wrecks, swim-throughs, and caverns.

Scuba diving the West Wall is possible from dive resorts and dive centres based on Seven Mile Beach or by visiting liveaboards. If you wish to dive all three Cayman Islands, it is best to do it via liveaboard.

Dive Activity

Diving in West Wall

The variety of swim-throughs, caverns and shipwreck dives make the West Wall a dive area that can not be missed! More sloping than the North Wall, there’s a labyrinth of canyons to make your way through at Big Tunnels while further out into the sea, there are two wrecks - the Doc Poulson Wreck and the Ex USS Kittiwake - both abundant with marine life.

Aside from deep sites, there is also a huge number of beautiful, shallow reef sites such as Peppermint Reef and Memorial Reef, where divers can search for macro critters, and Lost Treasure Reef which is great for novice divers.

Dive Centers

Dive Sites

The best Months to dive at the West Wall

The seas surrounding the West Wall are usually calm, as they are protected from winds, therefore diving can be done all-year-round. However, the Cayman Islands can be impacted by hurricanes, primarily between June and November, so visitors should be aware there can be sudden changes in the weather conditions.

Top Wildlife Sightings at the West Wall

Dive Caymans West Wall to witness green turtles, loggerhead turtles, moray eel and silvery tarpon against an impressive coral reef backdrop. Whale sharks have been seen patrolling the West Wall - although very occasionally - and marlin, black-tip reef sharks and nurse sharks are all commonly seen in the area. Eagle rays swoop down to feed on crustaceans from the seafloor while there is also incredible macro life in shallow sites, like diamond blenny, leopard flatworm, and the very rare flying gurnard. Whether you are diving deep or staying shallow there’s always plenty to see while scuba diving at the West Wall.

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

139 Sightings
J
4
F
6
M
21
A
9
M
19
J
17
J
22
A
10
S
8
O
6
N
1
D
16

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

98 Sightings
J
8
F
12
M
7
A
4
M
7
J
10
J
10
A
11
S
5
O
5
N
5
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

Octopus

Octopus

68 Sightings
J
0
F
2
M
6
A
3
M
9
J
12
J
8
A
8
S
7
O
5
N
5
D
3

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

60 Sightings
J
13
F
5
M
10
A
6
M
0
J
5
J
0
A
7
S
1
O
0
N
2
D
11
Green Turtle

Green Turtle

59 Sightings
J
4
F
4
M
13
A
4
M
6
J
9
J
4
A
9
S
0
O
2
N
0
D
4
Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle

30 Sightings
J
0
F
2
M
0
A
2
M
0
J
10
J
6
A
0
S
0
O
1
N
4
D
5

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

21 Sightings
J
0
F
3
M
3
A
0
M
0
J
2
J
7
A
0
S
1
O
1
N
4
D
0
Loggerhead Turtle

Loggerhead Turtle

8 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
2
M
0
J
6
J
0
A
0
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

Stingrays

Stingrays

171 Sightings
J
10
F
8
M
11
A
7
M
20
J
24
J
38
A
11
S
12
O
6
N
11
D
13

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

164 Sightings
J
11
F
9
M
17
A
6
M
13
J
17
J
31
A
14
S
13
O
5
N
11
D
17

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

138 Sightings
J
9
F
6
M
19
A
9
M
11
J
17
J
28
A
7
S
5
O
3
N
14
D
10

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

93 Sightings
J
3
F
5
M
9
A
6
M
9
J
11
J
16
A
7
S
5
O
3
N
6
D
13

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

81 Sightings
J
5
F
4
M
8
A
6
M
11
J
8
J
16
A
5
S
4
O
3
N
1
D
10

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

75 Sightings
J
3
F
0
M
8
A
2
M
6
J
12
J
9
A
6
S
3
O
7
N
7
D
12

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

71 Sightings
J
5
F
0
M
11
A
3
M
0
J
13
J
23
A
0
S
3
O
0
N
10
D
3

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

71 Sightings
J
4
F
0
M
12
A
5
M
8
J
8
J
9
A
3
S
3
O
0
N
4
D
15

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

65 Sightings
J
5
F
5
M
11
A
4
M
5
J
7
J
17
A
0
S
1
O
0
N
1
D
9

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

61 Sightings
J
0
F
3
M
5
A
5
M
13
J
10
J
8
A
0
S
5
O
0
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 approx.: 350

Damselfish

Damselfish

58 Sightings
J
1
F
5
M
10
A
3
M
0
J
7
J
10
A
5
S
4
O
0
N
7
D
6

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

58 Sightings
J
3
F
2
M
8
A
6
M
6
J
6
J
14
A
3
S
4
O
0
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 approx.: 90

Goatfish

Goatfish

56 Sightings
J
2
F
5
M
8
A
2
M
3
J
3
J
14
A
0
S
2
O
0
N
6
D
11

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

55 Sightings
J
1
F
2
M
8
A
0
M
9
J
8
J
5
A
0
S
3
O
7
N
2
D
10

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

49 Sightings
J
1
F
4
M
4
A
2
M
0
J
6
J
10
A
4
S
3
O
0
N
9
D
6

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

49 Sightings
J
8
F
0
M
7
A
4
M
0
J
5
J
13
A
0
S
5
O
0
N
0
D
7

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

48 Sightings
J
3
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
6
J
6
J
10
A
0
S
5
O
1
N
5
D
12

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

47 Sightings
J
0
F
6
M
8
A
3
M
0
J
4
J
9
A
4
S
3
O
3
N
7
D
0

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

44 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
3
A
2
M
0
J
3
J
11
A
5
S
1
O
0
N
9
D
8

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

44 Sightings
J
3
F
0
M
11
A
3
M
0
J
7
J
6
A
0
S
1
O
0
N
6
D
7

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

39 Sightings
J
1
F
2
M
3
A
4
M
2
J
6
J
14
A
0
S
1
O
1
N
2
D
3

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

33 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
5
J
11
J
8
A
4
S
1
O
0
N
0
D
4

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

32 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
4
A
0
M
7
J
6
J
0
A
4
S
1
O
5
N
3
D
0

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

30 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
4
J
11
A
3
S
4
O
0
N
0
D
6

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

30 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
5
J
13
A
3
S
0
O
0
N
4
D
5

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

28 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
3
A
2
M
0
J
6
J
4
A
0
S
2
O
0
N
6
D
3

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

24 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
2
J
8
A
0
S
1
O
0
N
5
D
8

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

24 Sightings
J
5
F
4
M
3
A
0
M
0
J
2
J
3
A
0
S
0
O
1
N
0
D
6

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

19 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
4
A
0
M
0
J
5
J
3
A
0
S
0
O
1
N
6
D
0

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

14 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
3
J
0
A
0
S
2
O
1
N
0
D
7
Moon Jellyfish

Moon Jellyfish

12 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
2
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
6
O
0
N
0
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

Scorpionfish

Scorpionfish

12 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
0
A
2
M
0
J
3
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
1
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.: 1500

Hard Corals

Hard Corals

9 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
5
A
2
M
0
J
2
J
0
A
0
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.: 3500

Soft Corals

Soft Corals

9 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
5
A
2
M
0
J
2
J
0
A
0
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.: 15

Garfish

Garfish

8 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
8
Whitetip Reef Shark

Whitetip Reef Shark

7 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
2
J
0
A
4
S
1
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

Emperor

Emperor

7 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
2
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
2
O
0
N
3
D
0

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

Total number of species approx.: 2000

Gobies

Gobies

7 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
5
A
2
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
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.: 250

Skate Fish

Skate Fish

5 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
3
J
2
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0
Common Seahorse

Common Seahorse

5 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
5
J
0
A
0
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.: 3000

Nudibranch

Nudibranch

5 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
5