Dive into the Cayman Islands

With 365 dive sites to discover and dozens of world-class resorts set on three idyllic tropical islands, the Cayman Islands are the Caribbean's number one choice for underwater adventures and beachfront relaxation. There's nothing like being there, but until then, you can take a virtual dive with these video previews, which showcase six of the underwater attractions that await.

And when you are ready, we can help you see these sites in person — plus 359 more.

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This is where the stingray encounter was born. It's been nearly four decades since humans and rays first connected in the sandy shallows of Grand Cayman's North Sound. Today, the world's original Stingray City is still the best. In the bright waters of the sound, snorkelers and divers enter the water to be greeted by a school of southern stingrays that are unafraid of humans, and quite willing to make contact.

Just off the north shore of Cayman Brac, a former Russian warship lies in the sand. This 330-foot former frigate was purchased from the Cuban Navy and put down in 1996 to become the island's signature shipwreck. A passing hurricane split the ship in two but left gun turrets and other features intact. Divers can explore the wreckage at depths anywhere from 30 to 100 feet. This combination of accessible depths and clear water make it a wreck that is suitable for divers of all experience levels.

It's called Trinity for the trio of canyon-like swim throughs that carve through the towering reef. Divers can easily navigate these twilight-filled grottoes to discover an arched gateway opening to the sheer face of a mile-deep wall. Schooling snapper, Nassau grouper, and hawksbill turtles swirl around the reef, and a menagerie of crustaceans hide in the nooks and crevices. This site was famously featured in the movie The Firm.

The starting point of Little Cayman's world-famous Bloody Bay Wall, this site mixes the sheer vertical faces of the wall with maze-like coral fingers riddled with caverns and swim-throughs. The reef rises to depths of 20 feet, allowing ample sunlight to reach brilliant growths of purple, red, yellow and orange sponges. Divers can swim among swirling schools of chromis, grunts and snappers, and explore a maze of swim throughs that lead to the wall.

Just off the northwest point of Grand Cayman lies one of the Caribbean's best-known famous underwater formations. Divers often pose for a selfie as they swim through this natural archway, where they may be surrounded by the site's resident school of horse-eye jacks. After spending a few minutes taking in the colorful groves of barrel and tube sponges that decorate the reef, divers can extend their bottom time by moving up into the intricate coral fingers inshore of the arch, which are filled with interesting macro life.

This is one of the favorite sites on Little Cayman's Bloody Bay Wall. Here, a protruding section of the wall is cut by two deep clefts in the face of the reef. Divers can follow these narrow, overhanging canyons out onto the edge of the wall, which is covered in a dense coating of sea fans, black coral, elephant ears and colorful rope sponges. Bring a flashlight to discover the small creatures that lurk in the crevices, and keep an eye out for sleeping nurse sharks tucked into the ledges.