10 Reasons to Go Scuba Diving in Little Cayman
We've got 10 reasons you should plan your next scuba diving vacation in Little Cayman, Cayman Islands. From some of the most beautiful walls in the Caribbean to Nassau grouper — both of which will remind you why you fell in love with the ocean and diving in the first place — Little Cayman is a gem waiting to be discovered.
Scott JohnsonNassau grouper are protected in the waters off Little Cayman; you're likely to make friends with at least one.
1 | BLOODY BAY WALL
Few drop-offs are equal to Little Cayman’s 90-degree north-shore slope. Inside Bloody Bay Marine Park, at sites such as Marilyn’s Cut and Donna’s Delight, reef sharks, eagle rays and hawksbill turtles are all regulars.
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2 | PET GROUPER
Nassau grouper here are so friendly that they follow divers like puppies. Several dive guides have logged countless hours with them, so stay close to see truly incredible behavior.
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Scott JohnsonA yellowhead jawfish mouth-brooding its eggs.
3 | DIVE TALK
Casinos, nightclubs, movie theaters — these are three things you won’t find here. What you will find is fellow divers. The island is one of the best places to talk diving because nearly everybody came for the same reason.
4 | SID VICIOUS
There’s a damselfish at Marilyn’s Cut that’s so well-known for aggressive behavior that the dive crew named it Sid Vicious — which speaks to how attentive this lighthearted, tightly knit bunch is to its reef residents.
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IStockPhotoLittle Cayman is home to the Western Hemisphere's largest breeding colony of red-footed boobies.
5 | BOOBIES GALORE
Where development has yet to take hold, nature still reigns. The island has its own endemic species of iguana called the Little Cayman rock iguana. The island is also home to the Western Hemisphere’s largest breeding colony of red-footed boobies.
6 | VIEWS FOR DAYS
This island packs the same visibility that made Grand Cayman famous: 100 feet or more. Conditions like that make it easier to swim away from the wall for a wicked wide-angle perspective.
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Courtesy CIDOTBorrow a kayak to reach Owen Island, off Little Cayman's southwest side.
7 | PRIVATE SHOWS
You need only borrow a kayak to reach Owen Island, off Little Cayman’s southwest side. The beach’s white powder gives as easily as soft serve. Plus, it’s along the cruising route of stingrays. Unlike Grand Cayman’s star attraction, here you can have the show all to yourself.
IStockPhotoBlue tangs and other reef tropicals abound on Little Cayman's reefs.
8 | GO SLOW Macro divers can spy tons of sea slugs, flapping dingbats and at least one yellowhead jawfish with a mouth full of babies.
Courtesy CIDOTRock iguanas have the right of way on Little Cayman.
9 | COUNTING STARS
It’s getting harder and harder to escape light pollution, but on this outpost island, the night sky lights up. Resorts feature good Wi-Fi, so use an app like Star Chart to check out the stars.
IStockPhotoLook for shy trumpetfish hanging vertical in the water, imitating a nearby coral such as a sea rod.
10 | CORAL CREATORS
Drop by the Little Cayman Research Center one afternoon to learn how to keep coral alive and regrow cuttings, and how the area weathers storms.
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IStockPhotoSea turtles are found on Bloody Bay Wall.
Elizabeth FleenerThere's spectacular diving off Little Cayman.
Divers Guide to Little Cayman
>>Average water temp Winter low of 77°F, summer high of 84°F
>> What to wear Full 3 mm or 5 mm wetsuit in winter, 3 mm shorty in summer
>> Average viz 60 to 100 feet
>> When to go Year-round
>> More info sportdiver.com/caymanislands
Discover both Cayman sister islands, Cayman Little and Cayman Brac, in our travel feature.
