Gigglin' Marlin

Grand Cayman, Cayman Islandsreef17 m maxbeginner

Conditions & tides

Gigglin' MarlinGrand Cayman

Fair · 4/5

conditions visualisation

Fair4/5

Some chop right now — best window today 7 AM–5 PM.

Wind10 kn ENE

Current~0.8 kn SSW · model

Swell

0.3 m · 4s · E

Water

29 °C

Max depth

17 m

Conditions through the day

6 AM6 PM

Calmest current near slack — 02:15 AM & 03:15 PM local

Sunrise 06:28 AM · Sunset 05:48 PM local

Show details

Tide · local

Outlook — select a day for full conditions

On-face swell 0.4 m — the component of the swell aimed at this site’s exposed face. Current is a regional model value (Copernicus, ~9 km grid) — a guide to the area, not a precise reef measurement. Imagery © Esri · not depth or visibility.

Scored by DiveConnect's site-physics model

Marine forecast via Copernicus Marine. Score is a rule-based guide from swell/wind vs. the site's exposure — always dive your own assessment.

Dived here today? How were conditions vs. what we showed?

About this site

Gigglin' Marlin, also listed as Gigglin' Marlin Legacy, is a shallow reef on the East End of Grand Cayman, in Old Man Bay. Older East End divers know it as Parrot Fish Caves. The mooring pin is at 12 m (41 ft), the maximum depth is 17 m (55 ft), and it is snorkel friendly.

The main feature is a large cavern that is very wide but low, giving a letterbox effect. The most authentic way in is through a hole in the top of the ridge, which leads under a distinctive arch and out at the cavern entrance. Pass through the letterbox slowly and look into the dark recesses for marine life.

True to the old name, this is a good site for Parrotfish. Larger ones include the Midnight Parrotfish and the Rainbow Parrotfish, and you can often hear them grinding rock before you see them. On afternoon dives, smaller species spawn in large schools, with pairs breaking away and shooting upward before diving back down.

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