Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
    Head of Barkers - Flats (Grand Cayman)

    Bear’s Paw

    Best months: Dec–Mar

    Protected Area

    Head of Barkers - Flats (Grand Cayman)

    Why dive here

    With 327+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, bull sharks, oceanic whitetip sharks, orcas and sea turtles - Bear’s Paw offers some of Grand Cayman's richest reef diving. Water ranges 27-31°C, warmest August, September, October.

    Best timeDec–Mar
    WetsuitA 3mm shorty or thin full wetsuit
    Marine lifeBarracuda, Bull Sharks, Oceanic Whitetip Sharks, Orcas and Sea Turtles · 327+ species recorded
    Water27-31°C · warmest August, September, October
    CharacterReef dive
    StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

    Bear's Paw often gets overlooked for the bigger, deeper walls, but that's a mistake in our book. This site, with its quirky mini-wall that really does resemble a paw print if you squint right, is where we head when we want to slow down and really look. At a maximum depth of 18 meters, it’s a comfortable cruise for pretty much anyone. The mini wall itself is riddled with hiding spots. We've spent entire dives just hovering, picking out juvenile Nassau groupers tucked into crevices, or spotting the brilliant purple of a Grape-cluster nudibranch making its slow journey across the coral. Trumpetfish are usually out in force, often hanging vertically, perfectly camouflaged against the gorgonians. Keep an eye out for those tiny blennies – the Longfin and Dusky varieties are regulars here, often perching on sponges. Visibility here is consistently good, usually around 23 meters, making for easy navigation around the coral heads and through the sandy patches. It’s a site that rewards patience, perfect for photographers or anyone who just loves to discover the smaller wonders.

    Today06:1918:0711h 48m daylightGolden hour 17:38

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    Conditions

    Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Bear’s Paw

    Bear’s Paw Ocean Conditions

    Monthly averages for Bear’s Paw, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU) - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (19.38, -81.32) (5km away)

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    October Averages

    Sea Temperature

    30°C

    87°F · Range: 29.1–31.8°C

    Current Speed

    4.47 cm/s

    Direction: NW (296.6°)

    Chlorophyll-a

    0.045 mg/m³

    Very clear (oligotrophic)

    Salinity

    36.14 PSU

    Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU)

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