Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
    Old Pageant Beach - Sand Cay Apartments (Grand Cayman)

    Mermaid Reef

    Best months: Dec–Mar

    Protected Area

    Old Pageant Beach - Sand Cay Apartments (Grand Cayman)

    Why dive here

    With 327+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, bull sharks, oceanic whitetip sharks, orcas and sea turtles - Mermaid Reef 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

    Mermaid Reef, right off Sunset House, often gets tagged as just "the mermaid statue site." And sure, the bronze figure of Amphitrite is a nice photo op, but we reckon the real draw here is the sheer density of small, interesting critters. It’s a shallow spot, maxing out at 19 metres, making it ideal for longer bottom times and a slower pace. You’ll want to bring a macro lens. We’ve spent whole dives in a couple of square metres of coral, spotting Goldline Blennies peeking from crevices, tiny Emerald Clingfish tucked into sponges, and the surprisingly camouflaged Diamond Lizardfish on the sand. Look closely at the coral heads, especially in the sun-dappled fingers that extend from shore; you’ll often find juvenile Nassau Grouper or a curious Coney observing you. Our favourite tip? Head out early, before the dive classes arrive. The reef is calmer, and the blennies are more active, darting in and out. Visibility averages 20 metres, so you’ll have plenty of light to explore every nook and cranny.

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

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    Conditions

    Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Mermaid Reef

    Mermaid Reef Ocean Conditions

    Monthly averages for Mermaid Reef, 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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