The Mystery Site is “Grouper Grotto” on Grand Cayman

Diving Grouper Grotto

This is a relatively shallow dive (40-50 feet) that takes place over a flat, table-like structure off Grand Cayman's East End. Here the diver will encounter thick stands of coral, especially elkhorn, which rise up to within just 6m of the surface. Sea fans, sea whips and boulders of brain coral surround the base of the coral stands while just off to the ledge there is some canyon like terrain with large cuts and coral buttresses. Schools of silversides gather here, as do their predators the tarpon. The tarpon occasionally herd the baitfish up towards the surface, before cutting through the school to see what they can get for a meal. Barracuda are also found here and they can be easily confused with the tarpon. It is easy to distinguish between the two because the tarpon have much bigger eyes, forked tails and they don't show their teeth!

Diving in the Cayman Islands

These legendary islands — Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman — are popular among newbies and veteran divers, techies and snorkelers. From wrecks, deep walls and big-animal encounters to shallow reefs and little critters, there's something for you. As people search for authentic experiences in the far reaches of our world, divers come to Grand Cayman for the wide variety of reefs that wrap around the island like a jeweled garland. Many of the dive sites off Grand Cayman come with the descriptor "world-famous": There is the world-famous Stingray City and Sandbar, world-famous North Wall and Tarpon Alley, and world-famous Seven Mile Beach. There's a reason the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame is headquartered in Grand Cayman — the island is the big dog of the dive world. Why? Walls that reach almost to the center of the Earth. Intricate mazes of swim-throughs. Vibrant, fish-filled coral gardens. Mysterious wrecks. Pinnacles. Glassy-clear, warm water. Sharks, rays, sea turtles, tarpon and caverns stuffed with silversides. Deep dives, shallow dives, technical dives and everything in between. And it's only an hour-and-15-minute flight from Miami. Grand Cayman's sister islands — Cayman Brac and Little Cayman — also offer spectacular diving, including the wreck of the M/V Capt. Keith Tibbetts and Bloody Bay Wall. If you've never been to Cayman, it's time to see why divers return to these waters year after year. Find out more and book your next trip to the Cayman Islands at www.divecayman.ky/deals

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