This dive site features the Oro Verde, a historic U.S. Army transport ship that later served as a banana carrier between Ecuador and Miami. In 1976, its journey ended when it ran aground on the reef off Grand Cayman's renowned Seven Mile Beach. Resting at a maximum depth of 17 meters with an average depth of 8 meters, the wreck has transformed into a vibrant artificial reef, offering easy navigation and exploration for divers.
The Oro Verde is teeming with marine life, including frequent sightings of nurse and reef sharks, which can often be found resting in or around the wreck. Divers may also encounter graceful eagle rays, various species of sea turtles, and an abundance of fish such as snapper, angelfish, grunts, and grouper. Anemones also add to the colorful diversity found within this thriving ecosystem.
Grand Cayman generally offers excellent diving conditions year-round, with high visibility being a consistent feature. The shallow depth of the Oro Verde makes it particularly attractive for beginner divers, snorkelers, and freedivers alike, providing ample bottom time and a relaxed atmosphere to observe its rich marine inhabitants and explore the structure of the wreck. It's an ideal spot for wide-angle photography capturing both the wreck and the larger marine animals.
