Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
    Radio Mast - Sand Bluff (Grand Cayman)

    Sunset Reef

    Best months: Dec–Mar

    Protected Area

    Radio Mast - Sand Bluff (Grand Cayman)

    Why dive here

    With 327+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, bull sharks, oceanic whitetip sharks, orcas and sea turtles - Sunset Reef offers some of Grand Cayman's richest cave 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
    CharacterCave dive
    StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

    Sunset Reef, just a five-minute hop from Compass Point Dock, is one of our go-to shallow dives when we’re looking for something easy and rewarding. It’s a proper lagoon site, sheltered nicely from the big swells by the barrier reef, which makes for consistently calm conditions. The reef itself kicks off around seven metres and comes right up to a couple of metres, perfect for a long, relaxed bottom time. What we love about Sunset is how much life packs into such a small, shallow space. The coral heads are an oasis; we've spent ages just watching the Goldline Blennies darting about, or spotting an Island Frillfin tucked away. Keep an eye out for the old Spanish anchor resting in the sand, it's a great photo op. We’ve seen Barracuda hanging lazily, schools of grunts and snappers, and even a few hefty Cubera Snappers cruising by. Visibility averages a solid 16 metres, often better on a calm morning. For an easy, long dive with plenty to see without going deep, Sunset Reef is our pick. It’s brilliant for photographers wanting good light, or anyone just wanting to chill out and observe without the pressure of depth or currents.

    Safety Notes

    Overhead environment - never enter without proper cave/cavern training, redundant equipment, and a guideline.

    Today06:1818:0611h 48m daylightGolden hour 17:37

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    Conditions

    Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Sunset Reef

    Sunset Reef Ocean Conditions

    Monthly averages for Sunset 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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