A collaborative piece by Emma, TJ, Lisa, Lin, Maria & Grace – The Sunset House Dive Family
At Sunset House, our tagline says it all — Grand Cayman’s hotel for divers, by divers. With Sunset Divers onsite providing unforgettable diving trips in Grand Cayman, we have adventures for divers of all skill and experience levels. But the sheer amount of dive sites around the Cayman Islands certainly helps!
Did you know there are 365 dive sites across the three Cayman Islands? That means you can find a new dive experience for each day of the year! The Dive 365 initiative, from the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, has highlighted the Cayman Islands’ dedication to providing divers with more opportunities. The initiative aims to alleviate the environmental impact of recreational diving at more popular sites while providing divers the opportunity to explore new spaces.
Just take a look a look at the incredible choice of dive sites around Grand Cayman alone in the image below!
Diving is a Shared Passion in the Sunset House Family
Throughout the resort, not only at Sunset Divers, there are many of the ‘Sunset family’ who love to dive. From the dive team at Cathy Church Photo and Video, we have Maria, Lin, and Lisa. Of course, the Sunset Divers crew loves getting in the water too, so we asked Tanuj (TJ) to contribute on their behalf. Emma from sales and marketing is also an instructor who loves to join guests on dives when she needs an escape from the office. And last but not least, we have the one and only diver from My Bar & Sea Harvest Restaurant, Grace.
Below, we have shared a collection of our favorite dive sites around Grand Cayman, the island we love and all call home.
The Sunset Divers Team’s Favorite Dive Sites in Grand Cayman
LA MESA – Reef Site – West Coast
Chosen by Tanuj – Dive Instructor at Sunset Divers
La Mesa is Spanish for The Table, although some dive professionals would see it as a mushroom-shaped coral head carved out from a thousand-plus-year-old coral structure. It is one of the shallow sites along Seven Mile Beach, suitable for divers of all levels. The currents from the relatively close, deep wall, bring in plenty of nutrients. The site hosts a variety of juvenile and small fish, which attracts schools of horse-eyed jacks, barracuda, and snappers.
A large crack along the side of the La Mesa coral structure is one of the first things you will notice. Here, you often find spotted Caribbean lobsters hiding in the corals. Dive staff at Sunset Divers have confirmed sightings of turtles, nurse sharks, eagle rays, stingrays, and green morays at this site, which is why it has become a popular spot to tick off many diver’s lists of dive sites around Grand Cayman.
If you’re planning your own trip to our home island, be sure to read our Grand Cayman travel guide to help in the planning process!
SUNSET HOUSE REEF – Home Sweet Home
Chosen by Grace – Diver and Server at My Bar
Sunset House Reef is one of my favorite dive sites. There is an opportunity to see a huge variety of sea creatures. The dive site starts with a hard-pan bottom which leads to a shallow mini wall that can be reached with easy access from shore by ladder or through the sea pool. By following the channels in the hard-pan from the sea pool you can easily reach the famous & beautiful mermaid statue ‘Amphitrite’ that makes the Sunset House reef so popular.
Beyond the mini wall, the site is split with a large patch of sand with coral fingers leading to the main wall drop-off. On the way, you will see garden eels and different colored sea slugs scattered in the sand. Just before you reach the main wall ridge you will find Sunset House Reef’s other attraction, the wreck of the Nicholson. This wreck is decorated with multi-colored soft corals with a beautiful array of dancing reef fish. Here you will find my friend Frederick, a friendly snapper who will follow you anywhere.
There are so many inhabitants on the reef but some of my favorite sightings are the huge green moray eels that rest in the corals. Gorgeous spotted drums, grey, French, and queen angel fish all call this place home too. I often encounter large turtles, both hawksbill and green, inside the wreck and a giant king crab too….it’s so cool.
Check out this video of a Sunset House Reef dive to see some of the beauty for yourself!
There is even a coral nursery where I witnessed the coral spawning, that really is amazing! If you enjoy diving this site by day then you are going to love diving at night too! I had many firsts on night dives on the Sunset Reef including encounters with a large octopus and my first-ever seahorse (yes, they are out there). I do not have the words to explain how happy I was to see it.
Other usual reef inhabitants include colorful schooling fish, barracuda, stingrays, eagle rays, grouper, and reef squid. The occasional sighting of pelagic sea life including nurse, reef, and hammerhead sharks, and, if you are lucky, a chance sighting of a Manta Ray is also possible. Sunset House reef is just so magical once you dive down you will be in another world. Keep blowing bubbles!
BONNIE’S ARCH – Shallow Reef – NW Point
Chosen by Emma – Sales and Marketing at Sunset House
Bonnie’s Arch can be found on the northwest tip of the island, all the way up in West Bay. The site earns its name from the beautiful and impressive coral arch found here. A giant stride off the dive boat and you will descend right over the archway. While it looks solid, it is very fragile with a large collection of soft corals including purple gorgonians and colorful sponges along its ridge. The shape of the arch makes this dive site one of the most photographed in Grand Cayman.
As you pass under the arch you are met with a cathedral-style topography. The sandy bottom here makes way for a strange find in Cayman; what you think might be a marine reptile or a lost iguana, is actually a very realistic crocodile statue. Always a good story to add to the dive briefing!
This area is usually popular with tarpon, just one of the many aquatic animals you will encounter in Grand Cayman, who have become accustomed to divers and love to pose for a photo. To me they always look sad, so I always try and brighten their day with a smile and a wave.
There are massive barrel sponges to be explored, some up to 8ft in diameter! Just imagine how long it has taken them to reach this size… it’s mind-boggling!
Bonnie’s Arch is great for beginner divers, but because of its location, there can sometimes be a current. The Sunset Divers crew will always check first before we enter the water. As it is so shallow, it is great for snorkelers to enjoy too. Moving away from the arch, there is a mini wall with tongue and groove fingers leading out into the sand, and eventually the main wall drop-off. Always remember to look in the sand for graceful eagle rays foraging for their next meal. I also love to look for macro life, especially decorator crabs on the soft corals trying so hard to stay disguised.
Next time you are on the Sunset Divers boat, ask your captain for a trip to Bonnie’s Arch. It will not disappoint.
THE DOC POULSON – Shallow Wreck and Reef – West Coast
Chosen by Lisa – Professional Underwater Photographer at Cathy Church Photo Center
A Japanese cable-laying ship, the Doc Poulson was intentionally sunk in 1981 in the western part of Grand Cayman to create an artificial reef. Sitting upright on the white sand at 60ft, the wreck can be very easily explored and is a great place for underwater photography. Because of the relatively shallow depth and with usually little current and clear water the whole wreck can be explored at length during a dive.
The wreck is covered with different types of hard coral, yellow tube sponges, purple sea fans, and soft corals. Fish life is prolific. The hatches have been removed so the wheelhouse and hold can be penetrated easily. Schools of fish inhabit the wheelhouse, which has a lot of sea fans and sponges growing on its exterior. The cable winches on the deck are encrusted with coral and make an interesting area to explore.
Inside the hold, sand has penetrated and formed a layer on the bottom of the wreck where sand dollars can be found partially buried.
The wreck is a haven for macro as well as larger fish life. Shrimp, gobies, crabs, flamingo tongues, Christmas tree worms, and feather dusters to name a few.
In the sand surrounding the wreck, stingrays are sometimes found searching for food, and large conch wend their way over the sand leaving trails. The reef is a short distance from the wreck and can be explored during the same dive.
Check out our Guide to Coral Reef Diving in Grand Cayman to learn even more about exploring these incredible formations.
ARMCHAIR REEF – Shallow Reef – South Coast
Chosen by Maria – Professional Underwater Photographer at Cathy Church Photo Center
This reef is located on the southwest part of Grand Cayman with a depth range of 50-60 feet. It can be accessed by boat or from the shore. I learned that this dive site is called Armchair Reef because of the contour of the reef that looks like a horseshoe or an armchair. However, there is another story, but it is a sad one.
There used to be a huge beautiful sponge that adorned this site that was somewhat shaped like an armchair. Divers used to sit on the sponge and pose for photos. We have to remember that every time we touch any marine life, we place damage on it. However small, the cumulative and repetitive damage on any marine life places a heavy toll on them. The ‘armchair’ sponge no longer exists today but the name stuck. We must be mindful and responsible as divers. It is our duty to respect and never touch any marine life, safe or venomous, friendly or feisty.
Our blog What is Reef-Safe Sunscreen and What is its Importance? is another essential resource when it comes to protecting our fragile underwater world.
The first time I dived this site I found this strange, funny-looking sponge that I would search for and visit every time I had the opportunity. When I finally mastered underwater photography, I took a photo of it and called this beautiful sponge “Grumpy Gramps”. It reminded me of a spectacled grumpy old grandpa. What do you think?
The overhanging ledge is a joy to explore, sometimes you will find a nurse shark or a stingray relaxing underneath. You will also find some very large gorgonians jutting out of the ledge. Expect schooling fish like jacks and lots of macro life, shrimps and small crabs in the shelter of an anemone can be seen if you look close enough.
EAGLE RAY PASS – Wall – North Coast
Chosen by Lin – Professional Underwater Photographer at Cathy Church Photo Center
Accessible only by boat, this is a great and popular North Wall dive site. More often than not, just a few seconds after descent, you will see an eagle ray (more if you are lucky) or stingrays gliding across the sand heading out to the blue, towards the wall.
The mooring buoy is over a sand chute that leads to the main wall drop-off. There is also a large crack in the reef that you can pass through and exit at depth onto the vertical wall. The first time I dived through the “pass”, I was super excited and forgot to take in what was all around me. Remember to take notice, as there are lobsters, groupers, and other critters hiding in the gap.
When you exit the pass, you will see the bluest of blue that you will ever have seen… well, at least for me. It is an amazing experience to witness a fever of Eagle Rays “fly” into the blue. After cruising the wall, remember to check your air and head back towards the pin.
Sunset House and Sunset Divers offer Grand Cayman dive trips every day, so the next time you visit, make sure you ask for one of our Sunset Family favorites. And if you have any questions for us before your dive, please don’t hesitate to get in touch for the answers you need!
Thank you to all the wonderful photographers who contributed to this blog post. Please check out their links below.
Maria: @mariadelasalas
Lisa: @lisacollinsinonuk
Mateusz: @mateusz_wrc
Susannah H Snowden-Smith Photography
And be sure to follow Sunset House and Sunset Divers on Instagram!
