Cayman Salvager
Conditions & tides
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Marine forecast via Copernicus Marine. Score is a rule-based guide from swell/wind vs. the site's exposure — always dive your own assessment.
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About this site
The Cayman Salvager is a wreck about 7 miles (11 km) southeast of Key West, upright in about 90 ft (27 m) of water. The 187 ft (57 m) steel buoy tender was sunk on purpose in 1985 as an artificial reef, after a tow cable snapped before she reached her planned destination. The ship is largely intact, covered in corals, sponges and other growth, and cable equipment and other remnants of her working life remain.
Her position near the Gulf Stream often gives exceptional visibility, but stronger currents make the dive best for advanced or experienced divers.
Giant grouper, moray eels, barracuda, schools of permit, silversides, bar jacks and octopus live around the wreck, and loggerhead sea turtles cruise past.
Marine life here
Confirmed by our research team, reported by independent divers, or observed nearby via iNaturalist — each entry is labelled with its source.
GrouperGrouperReported here · unconfirmed
BarracudaBarracudaReported here · unconfirmed
OctopusOctopusReported here · unconfirmed
Caribbean Bluehead WrasseThalassoma bifasciatumReported here · unconfirmed
Bicolor DamselfishStegastes partitusReported here · unconfirmed
Striped ParrotfishScarus iseriReported here · unconfirmed
Yellowhead WrasseHalichoeres garnotiReported here · unconfirmed
Redband ParrotfishSparisoma aurofrenatumReported here · unconfirmed
Yellowtail SnapperOcyurus chrysurusReported here · unconfirmed
White GruntHaemulon plumieriiReported here · unconfirmed
Slippery DickHalichoeres bivittatusReported here · unconfirmed
Brazilian Ocean SurgeonfishAcanthurus bahianusReported here · unconfirmed
Atlantic Blue TangAcanthurus coeruleusReported here · unconfirmed
Durable tips from divers — access, hazards, marine life, facilities. For day-of conditions, use the report tool in the conditions card above.
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