Oro Verde (“Green Gold”) is a former U.S. Army transport ship that ran aground in 1976 on Grand Cayman’s reef. The wreck sat on the reef until 1980 when the local dive communities moved it into shallow water and turned it into an artificial reef. It is now one of the most popular wrecks in Grand Cayman.
Oro Verde now lies in just 18 meters/60 feet of water off Seven Mile Beach. Divers can reach the wreck right from the shore. The wreck is also commonly done as a second dive of the day.
Due to the various hurricanes and storms that hit the coat over the years, the wreck has seen quite a “beating”. The ship is dispersed, with engines, pistons, and other parts laying around. Penetration is possible. Several discarded mountain bikes can also be seen on the seabed here.
The wreck is teeming with marine life of all sorts: parrotfish, horse-eye jacks, grunts, angelfish, goatfish, snappers, blue tangs, barracudas, eels, crabs, lobsters, sea turtles, and rays.
With water temperatures of 24 to 28 C/76-82 F, Grand Cayman can be explored year-round. Hurricane season runs from June to November. Rough waters can be encountered in October and November.
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