Cayman Brac

Diving and Snorkeling

Cayman Brac's waters are celebrated for their rich diversity of sea life, from hammerhead and reef sharks to stingrays to seahorses. Divers and snorkelers alike will find towering coral heads, impressive walls, and fascinating wrecks. The snorkeling and shore diving off the north coast are spectacular, particularly at West End, where nearby coral formations attract all kinds of critters. The walls feature remarkable topography with natural gullies, caves, and fissures blanketed with Technicolor sponges, black coral, gorgonians, and sea fans. Some of the famed sites are the West Chute, Cemetery Wall, Airport Wall, and Garden Eel Wall.

The South Wall is a wonderland of sheer drop-offs carved with a maze of vertical swim-throughs, tunnels, arches, and grottoes that divers nickname Cayman's Grand Canyon. Notable sites include Anchor Wall, Rock Monster Chimney, and the Wilderness.

Notable diving attractions around the island include the 330-foot MV Capt. Keith Tibbetts, a Russian frigate purchased from Cuba and deliberately scuttled in 1996 within swimming distance of the northwest shore, accessible to divers of all levels. Many fish have colonized the Russian frigate—now broken in two and encrusted with magnificent orange and yellow sponges. Other underwater wrecks include the Cayman Mariner, a steel tugboat, and the Prince Frederick, a wooden-hulled twin-masted schooner that allegedly sank in the 19th century.

Oceanic Voyagers, a 7-foot-tall bronze statue created by world-renowned marine sculptor Dale Evers, depicts spotted dolphins cavorting with southern stingrays and was sunk off the Brac's coast near Stake Bay in January 2003 as part of the Cayman Islands' year-long quincentennial celebration. An artist named Foots has created an amazing underwater Atlantis off Radar Reef.

Other top snorkeling/shore diving spots include the south coast's Pillar Coral Reef, Tarpon Reef, and Lighthouse Reef; the north shore counters with Greenhouse Reef, Snapper Reef, and Jan's Reef.

Reef Divers. Pluses here include five boats, valet service, and enthusiastic, experienced staff. Certified divers can purchase à la carte dive packages even if they aren't guests of the hotel. Brac Reef Beach Resort, West End, Cayman Brac, KY2-2001. 345/948-1642 or 345/948-1323. www.bracreef.com.

More Sports and Outdoors

• Bird-watching
• Diving and Snorkeling
• Fishing

• Hiking
• Rock Climbing
• Spelunking