Diving Information

Gateway To Cayman's North Wall

by Geri Murphy

Dive Cayman's Great North
Eagle Ray Pass is best known for its abundance of spotted eagle rays as well as a family of tarpon that hang just under a ledge near the lip of the drop-off. Tarpon Alley is regarded as the North Wall's premier location for large schools of tarpon that hang almost motionless in the long canyon ways that lead from the sand flat to the drop-off.

Gale's Mountain features a large hump of coral that rises up from the edge of the drop-off and has black coral trees growing at Grand Cayman's shallowest depth. White Stroke consistently offers the best visibility, often more than 120 feet. Hammerhead Hill is appropriately named for a resident hammerhead that frequents this area.

Afternoon dives are usually one-tank excursions to North Sound, a shallow region separated from the open ocean by a coral barrier reef. This is the home of two of Grand Cayman's most famous diving and snorkeling sites - Stingray City and Sandbar. With depths ranging from 7 to 15 feet, visitors are entertained by family groups of congregating stingrays, often 15 to 20 stingrays in a group.

Every day, experienced divemasters demonstrate the feeding technique for these creatures and explain the natural history of the animals. This trip can be the highlight of a week's vacation and can be enjoyed by the entire family as the depth is ideal for both snorkelers and scuba divers. There are a variety of other residents besides stingrays, including several large green moray eels, an inquisitive porcupinefish and a band of yellowtail rascals.

Red Sail Sports offers a selection of scuba vacation packages that include a stay at the Holiday Inn Grand Cayman, two-tank morning dives and many other amenities.

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