Sunset Reef
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.
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.
Nearest Dive Centres to Sunset Reef
Dive shops near Sunset Reef
Ocean Frontiers
Tortuga Divers
Silver Thatch Watersports
OCTOPUS
Living the Dream Divers
Divers Down
Reviews for Sunset Reef
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)
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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