Nothing compares to the thrill of discovering a wreck, and when that wreck is in clear blue water so warm that you can simply relax and explore, it’s even better. Wreck diving in the Cayman Islands is an incomparable experience. With great visibility, perfect conditions for underwater photography, and a wealth of marine life and history to uncover, you won’t soon forget these incredible dives! Let’s take a sneak peek at some of the top picks.
Oro Verde
One of the most popular wreck dives in the Cayman Islands, the Oro Verde, which is an 84 foot cargo ship, is an amazing sight to behold, night or day. The wreck was deployed as an artificial reef in 1980, and now, after more than 30 years beneath 50 feet of water, she is completely covered in lush coral and sponge growth. The ship was intact, lying on her starboard side when she was first sunk, but today, the superstructure has completely collapsed.
The wreck is home to an incredible variety of marine life, including yellowtail snappers, angel fish, and a 300 pound jewfish named George. He and the rest of the fish living in and around the Oro Verde are accustomed to being hand fed, and will follow divers, looking for a handout. Other permanent residents include a green moray eel named Kermit, who can sometimes be seen being cleaned by the banded shrimp that live here, as well as a spotted moray that usually hides in a pipe just forward of the wheelhouse area.
While novice divers will need to stay outside the wreck, those with more experience will enjoy the fact that Oro Verde’s steel hull is still intact, and can be carefully penetrated via a large square hatch in the deck. Inside, some inner compartments can be explored at about 25 feet or so. There are also a series of portholes which you can look through.
Doc Paulson
The Doc Paulson, which is sometimes referred to as the Doc Poulson, is a 70 foot cable layer, which was deployed as an artificial reef in 1981. Like Oro Verde, this is a simple wreck to explore, and as the ship sits beneath just 50 feet of water, and is suitable for all divers. Those with experience can penetrate the wreck with ease, as she was carefully prepared for exploration prior to being sunk.
Doc Paulson is home to green and spotted moray eels, lots of wrasse, snappers and angelfish, some very large lobsters, and quite a few banded shrimp. The abundance of crustacean and invertebrate life here makes this site extremely popular for night dives, and the beautiful brain coral, sea fans, and sponges that cover the wreck create the ideal backdrop for magnificent underwater photos.
The wreck is situated next to Mitch Miller’s Reef, so it is possible to find just about any kind of tropical marine life here, including some big groupers and schooling jacks that tend to wander back and forth from one place to another.
Callie
Another very easy wreck to dive, sitting in just 20 feet of water, the Callie was a 220 foot steel schooner, originally built as a sailing schooner in 1900, and refitted with an engine later. The ship sank in 1944, after she began taking on water. The load of grain she was carrying absorbed the water, causing the ship to sink like a stone. In 1957, after being declared a navigational hazard, Callie was blown up and now lies in pieces about 20 feet from shore.
Chunks of the Callie, including a big triangular section of her bow, plus a heap of anchor chain and massive pieces of deck plating with winches still attached are located right next to a very beautiful reef. The site is easily accessed from shore, though it is also visited by charter boats. Popular with snorkelers and divers alike, Callie can be very busy at times. Look for all sorts of fish and other creatures as you explore, including some smallish moray eels, plenty of yellowtail snappers, puffer fish, trumpet fish, and even barracuda and groupers.
Balboa
Located very near the wreck of the Callie, in just 30 to 35 feet of water, the Balboa was a massive 375 foot freighter which sunk November 10th, 1932, during a hurricane. Her hull split open after she bounced off the ocean floor in high waves, and her cargo of wood ended up on shore, where islanders used some of it to add a steeple to a nearby church.
The Balboa remained fairly intact until 1957, when the Army Corps of Engineers blew her up, as she was becoming a navigational hazard. Unlike the Callie, Balboa still has some sections which are intact enough to be swum through. Her massive propeller makes an excellent focal point for photography, and the boiler and other equipment can be easily identified.
Look for tiger groupers and green moray eels, spotted morays, large lobsters and shrimp, and the ever-present yellowtail snappers and angelfish, as well as lots of wrasse, trumpetfish, and others.
Soto Trader
If you want to get away from the crowds and explore an exceptional wreck, then a trip to the Soto Trader is definitely in order. This ship is located on the far side of the island, away from all the most popular dive sites. 120 feet long, and with a 30 foot beam, this steel freighter caught on fire after some diesel, which was being pumped into drums for transport off the ship, leaked and was ignited by a spark. The ship went up in flames immediately. One crew member died in the fire, and a second passed away at the hospital two hours later. The rest of the men on board were not injured.
The fire was too intense to be extinguished, and Soto Trader burned until the following morning, when she finally settled to the bottom of the ocean, beneath 60 feet of water.
Today, she sits upright and mostly intact on the sandy bottom, with three large cargo doors that are wide open, allowing for easy penetration. The ship’s load of cement mixers is still there, along with a Jeep chassis, all of which are home to moray eels, groupers, and yellowtail snappers. Clouds of fish swirl around the skeletal remains of the superstructure, followed by barracudas looking for lunch. You may also encounter eagle rays and puffer fish, plus parrotfish, wrasse, and others.
Keith Tibbetts
In 1996, Patrol Vessel 356, a Russian Brigadier Type II destroyer built in 1984, was renamed Keith Tibbetts in honor of a Cayman Islands dive operator who had recently passed away. The ship, which had been purchased by the Cayman Islands from the Russian government, was deployed as an artificial reef after being thoroughly cleaned and opened up for divers. The 330 foot wreck now sits on a lovely sand plateau off Cayman Brac’s northeast side, with her conning tower accessible at just 25 feet.
The ship still has her forward missile launcher, as well as 5 inch cannons fore and aft. You can explore the ship’s bridge, as well as her holds and her decks, where moray eels, scorpionfish, groupers, blennies, and even hawksbill turtles can be seen on a regular basis.
Keith Tibbetts sits on a slight incline, with the bottom of her stern at 60 feet and the bottom of her bow at 85 feet. As visibility here is routinely 100 feet or better, it is often possible to see the entire wreck from the surface, before you even step off the boat. This same visibility makes this ship a photographer’s dream! Though she is still a relatively new wreck, she is slowly acquiring a fantastic coating of coral and sponge growth, plus there are plenty of little creatures, such as cushion starfish and thorny sea cucumbers that add their own hints of color to the wreck.
These are but a handful of the fantastic wreck dives the Cayman Islands has to offer. The islands are home to several wonderful dive operators that offer trips to these sites both day and night, and equipment rentals are available as well. Be sure to book your own tours well in advance if you plan to dive these popular wrecks – particularly if you plan to visit during the busiest seasons. Charters fill up fast!