Grand Cayman · Cayman Islands · Wreck · Night
Doc Poulson
Sponge-crusted cable winches on a ship named for the island's chamber doctor
Photo: Dan Schofield · CC BY 4.0
The Doc Poulson is a 24 m (80 ft) former Japanese cable-laying ship sunk in 1982 as an artificial reef off the western side of Grand Cayman. It sits on white sand in 18 m (60 ft) close to a shallow reef, a compact wreck that suits photography by day and works well as a night dive.
Also known as Doc Poulson Wreck.
Where it is and how deep
19.3605° N, 81.3991° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The wreck rests on a bed of white sand in 18 m (60 ft), not far from a shallow reef. Its whole length, and particularly the cable winches on deck, is encrusted with colourful sponges, sea fans and coral, the obvious subjects for photographers working the hull.
Blue and stoplight parrotfish cross the sand to visit the wreck, and a school of jacks passes by in the blue. It is a fun wreck to dive by day and a great night dive.
The wreck
- Vessel
- Doc Poulson
- Type
- Japanese cable-laying ship
- Length
- 24 m (79 ft)
- Sunk
- 1982
- Cause
- Sunk on purpose as an artificial reef for visiting divers
- Lies
- On white sand at 18 m (60 ft), close to a shallow reef
Marine life and season
- Trevally & jacks
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Prime |
Season follows Grand Cayman: December to April is drier and calm enough for the exposed south side; August to October is hurricane season, and the rain peaks in October.
Dive videos
Scuba Diving Grand Cayman Island's Doc Poulson Wreck · Stanley Scuba, Sailing & Adventures on YouTube
Sources
- The Doc Poulson, Grand Cayman — DreamWrecks
- Doc Poulson (Wreck) — ScubaGo
- Doc Poulson Wreck, Grand Cayman — Dive Planner Pro
Photo credits
- A long silver barracuda with dark blotches swims in blue water above a reef, with small fish below. by Dan Schofield, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
More dive sites in Grand Cayman
Reef
Massive sponges on the drop at 21 m (70 ft)
Wall
A pinnacle rising off the North Wall into the Cayman Trench
Cave & cavern
Two long tunnels that empty out onto the open blue
Wall
A coral arch on the wall, named for a Cayman photographer
Ladder off the dock, then a long critter hunt to a coral-topped mini wall
Cave & cavern
Coral chimneys that fill with silversides in high summer
Wall
An elephant sculpture on a ledge at 26 m (85 ft)
Cave & cavern
Long tunnels full of tarpon, straight off the shore
Similar dives elsewhere
Wreck
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At least eight turtles counted asleep on one night dive
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