Cali Ship Wreck - Grand Cayman

The Cali Wreck, a four-masted schooner that ran aground in 1944, sits just offshore from George Town, Grand Cayman. It’s a shallow dive, barely reaching 7 metres, which means plenty of bottom time and lots of light penetration – perfect for photographers. We love it because it's so accessible and surprisingly atmospheric for such a broken-up wreck. What remains are scattered timbers and metal frames, now completely encrusted with corals. You'll find a thick carpet of Star Coral and Finger Coral forming ledges and overhangs, creating hideouts for the resident fish. Keep an eye out for the tiny, camouflaged Goosehead Scorpionfish nestled among the growth, or a shy Shark nose goby peeking from a crevice. We’ve even spotted the elusive Conchfish here, hovering near its host. The Cali is an easygoing dive, ideal for those new to wreck diving or anyone who appreciates a relaxed potter through history and nature. You can spend a good hour exploring the debris field, watching Yellow Jacks cruise by, or trying to spot the well-hidden Warteye Stargazer in the sand nearby.

Location
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, Caribbean
Coordinates
19.298525, -81.382850
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
10-30m

Wreck History - Cali Ship Wreck

Year Sunk
1944
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
storm

The Cali was a 244-foot, steel-hulled freighter, often described as a four-masted schooner, built in the early 1900s. Her final voyage in 1944 saw her loaded with an unusual cargo: thousands of bags of rice. Caught in a storm off Grand Cayman, the ship's engines failed, and she was driven aground just yards from the shore of George Town harbour. As seawater flooded the holds, the rice began to swell, its immense expansionary force helping to burst the ship's hull plates and seal her fate.

Deemed a hazard to navigation in the busy harbour, the wreck was later dynamited by the Army Corps of Engineers. This transformed the Cali from an intact ship into the scattered, sprawling debris field that divers explore today. The silver lining of this destruction is that it created a perfect, complex habitat for marine life.

Now resting in just 8-10 metres of water, the Cali is one of Grand Cayman's most popular and beloved shallow dives, easily accessible to divers and snorkelers of all levels. The site is a playground of twisted metal plates, massive ribs, and machinery, all heavily encrusted with coral. It is famous for its large resident population of silversides and the huge, curious tarpon that hunt them. Exploring the wreckage, swimming through clouds of shimmering fish, and coming face-to-face with a giant tarpon makes the Cali an unforgettable Caribbean dive.

Marine Protected Area: Old Pageant Beach - Sand Cay Apartments (Grand Cayman)

Best Time to Dive in Grand Cayman

The warmest water temperatures in Grand Cayman occur in September, averaging 30.4°C. The coolest conditions are in February at 26.9°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 27.3°C
  • February: 26.9°C
  • March: 27.0°C
  • April: 27.7°C
  • May: 28.7°C
  • June: 29.2°C
  • July: 29.8°C
  • August: 30.3°C
  • September: 30.4°C
  • October: 30.0°C
  • November: 29.0°C
  • December: 28.0°C

Nearby Dive Sites in Grand Cayman

Nearest Dive Centres to Cali Ship Wreck

Marine Life in Grand Cayman

Home to 332 recorded species including 276 reef fish, 30 hard corals, 5 other, 5 seagrass & algae, 4 whales & dolphins, 4 sharks & rays.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for Cali Ship Wreck

Based on average water temperature of 28.7°C, currents 9 cm/s.

  • Shorty or Rashguard - warm 29°C water needs minimal exposure protection
  • Mask - essential for every dive
  • Fins
  • BCD - buoyancy compensator
  • Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
  • Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
  • Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
  • Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
  • Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories