East End, Grand Cayman, Ilhas Cayman

Old Wreck Head

Old Wreck Head is an East End Grand Cayman dive named for the antique anchors and scattered metal debris from old sailing ship wrecks lost on the surrounding fringing reef during the 18th and 19th centuries. The site sits on the reef shelf seaward of the East End barrier reef and features a series of coral-walled mini-canyons and chimneys in 12 to 18 metres, with the main reef face dropping into the wall further out. Divers can find encrusted anchor pieces, ballast stones and chain wedged among the corals, all softened by decades of growth into sponges and gorgonians. Resident wildlife includes green moray eels, spotted moray eels, hawksbill turtles, southern stingrays, schools of yellowtail snapper, schoolmaster, blue tangs, queen and French angelfish, midnight parrotfish, and large lobsters tucked under ledges. Visibility on East End reefs commonly exceeds 25 metres in the dry season from December to May. The site is sheltered from prevailing trade winds by the reef and operates as a calm intermediate dive.