Little Cayman, which is only 10 miles long and a mile wide, and which rises to just 40 feet above sea level, is home to more iguanas and birds than people, yet it offers those who choose to stay here plenty of amenities. It is also famous for its spectacular wall dives, including those found at Bloody Bay Marine Park, which is located on the western half of the island’s north shore. With visibility that averages 100 feet or better, plus spectacular topography, Bloody Bay’s wall begins at 15 feet below the surface and plummets all the way to 6,000 feet. The wall is completely vertical, but it is punctuated by canyons and cuts that run toward shore. Here are just a handful of the sites you will want to explore at Bloody Bay.
Marilyn’s Cut
Home to a friendly grouper named Freddie, as well as brilliant flamingo tongues, trumpetfish, schooling snapper, and more, this site is located where Jackson Wall and Bloody Bay Wall converge. It is a U-shaped crevice with a massive pinnacle shaped like a mushroom, which is filled to the brim with colorful soft coral and sea fans. Tube and rope sponges, plus massive barrel sponges add even more color. The cut is named for the narrow swimthrough that takes you from the top of the wall at 35 feet to the edge of the wall, which drops away into the abyss. Watch for gray angelfish and blue tangs, hawksbill turtles, and even the occasional shark, as well as brilliant purple and yellow fairy basslets and red cardinalfish.
Randy’s Gazebo
Sea horses, whimsical porcupine fish, trumpetfish, and the ever present yellowtail and blue striped snappers, plus beautiful blue tangs and grey angelfish explore this fantastic series of chimneys with you. Covered in a lush coating of vase, tube and basket sponges, as well as colorful feather stars and soft corals, this reef cut is graced with a lovely archway which is a great spot to pose for photos.
Great Wall
The Great Wall is separated into two segments, aptly named Great Wall West and Great Wall East, as well as a third segment called Ringer’s Wall. The three sites can be visited one after another, or can be explored on their own, at a more leisurely pace. They each crest at only 25 feet, and are home to a splendid array of fish, including some very friendly Nassau Groupers, named Ralph, Lappy and Paddy after some dogs that live on the island.
The easternmost section of the Great Wall site is stunningly vertical, much like a skyscraper rising up out of the depths. Hammerhead sharks can sometimes be seen here, as can spotted eagle rays, tarpon, tuna and other large pelagics. On the wall’s west end, massive coral heads rise up from the reef’s top, providing a fun and safe place for newer divers to enjoy the endless parade of colorful fairy basslets, angelfish, tangs, and cardinalfish that inhabit the area.
Barracuda Bite
With many tunnels and small cuts to explore, Barracuda Bite is a jagged, topographically interesting dive site that is absolutely swarming with glassy sweepers, silversides, and other fish. It is also home to lots of lobsters and tiny crabs, plus you’ll find green and spotted morays hiding alongside colorful sponges and fantastic star corals. Like other sites nearby, this one begins in about 25 feet of water and extends all the way to 100 feet beneath the surface.
Mixing Bowl
Also known as Three Fathom Wall, the Mixing Bowl separates Bloody Bay from Jackson’s Bight. A steep, vertical wall on the left side drops to a sandy area at 45 feet, while to the right, a shallow, colorful reef is easy for anyone to explore, at only 18 feet beneath the surface. The entire area is covered in brilliant sponges, sea fans, and coral, and is home to an endless array of tropical fish in every color of the rainbow. The site is frequently explored at night, when all the soft coral and reef creatures come out to feed.
Whether you are brand new to the sport, or if you have been logging bottom time for decades, you are certain to enjoy your trip to Bloody Bay and the other fantastic dive sites Little Cayman has to offer. Bring your camera, and prepare to be amazed!