NEWTON - Grand Cayman

The Newton is one of those wrecks we keep coming back to, not for its grand size, but for its story and the life it now holds. She ran aground in a storm back in '77, a motor vessel that just couldn’t fight the weather any longer. What’s left is a fragmented hull, scattered across a shallow sandy bottom, which we think makes it perfect for longer dives where you can really slow down. You won’t find a grand superstructure here, but instead, an archaeological treasure hunt. We love poking around the twisted metal, finding little nooks where barracuda like to hang motionless, or watching the sergeant majors dart in and out of the broken plating. It’s also fantastic for macro life if you bring a keen eye; we’ve spotted some great nudibranchs and smaller crabs tucked away. The shallow depth means you get beautiful ambient light, painting the rust and the soft corals in a warm glow, and your bottom time feels almost endless. We’d suggest going in the morning before any wind picks up, when the water is often at its calmest, making those intricate explorations even easier. It’s a site that rewards patience and curiosity, a real favourite for photographers and anyone who appreciates a wreck with a genuine past.

Location: Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, Caribbean
Coordinates: 19.264612, -81.377920
Type: wreck
Maximum Depth: 0m

Marine Protected Area: Grand Cayman West

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 NEWTON

Atlantis Dive Center
Divers Down - PADI
Divers Supply
Divetech - PADI
Diving Center - SSI, PADI, CMAS, NAUI, FEDAS, ACUC
Don Foster's Dive Cayman, Ltd. - ["PADI"]

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

Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) - Hard Corals
Massive Starlet Coral (Siderastrea siderea) - Hard Corals
Mustard hill coral (Porites astreoides) - Hard Corals
Gutong (Scarus iseri) - Reef Fish
Dark Green Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) - Reef Fish
Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish
Gutong (Sparisoma aurofrenatum) - Reef Fish
French grunt (Haemulon flavolineatum) - Reef Fish
Great star coral (Montastraea cavernosa) - Hard Corals
Barber (Acanthurus bahianus) - Reef Fish
Finger Coral (Porites porites) - Hard Corals
Butterfly (Chaetodon capistratus) - Reef Fish
Schoolmaster (Lutjanus apodus) - Reef Fish
Grunt (Haemulon plumierii) - Reef Fish
Lettuce Coral (Agaricia agaricites) - Hard Corals
Bluestriped Grunt (Haemulon sciurus) - Reef Fish
Sheephead (Microspathodon chrysurus) - Reef Fish
Sammy Johnson (Scarus taeniopterus) - Reef Fish
Cola (Ocyurus chrysurus) - Reef Fish
Graysby (Cephalopholis cruentata) - Reef Fish

Recommended Packing List for NEWTON

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