They look dark brown without light but the first time my strobes lit one up I was amazed at the super bright rich red color. Cayman Islands Liveaboard Diving | Scuba Diving Earth From these locations, I was able to dive the west end and also the North Wall. The islands' location in the western part of the Caribbean shields them from being hit too hard by the annual hurricane season, which lasts from June to November. Diving Season: The best time to dive Cuba's Jardines de la Reina is during the dry season, from November to late April, as this time has the most ideal visibility and sea conditions. Press the question mark key to get the keyboard shortcuts for changing dates. If wall diving is your thing, check out diving in Turks & Caicos. Rum Point Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned diver, Grand Cayman has a dive site for you. U.S. News rates the cheapest travel insurance options, considering expert and consumer recommendations. Click the link below to read our article about the USS Kittiwake: Wilderness Wall is located on the south-side of Cayman Brac. Dive Courses | Learning to Dive in Grand Cayman | Cayman Resident The Cayman Islands hosts one of the best dives in the World: Bloody Bay Wall on Little Cayman. Here is a list of some of the marine animals you can likely spot when diving the Cayman Islands: There are over 300 dive sites in the Cayman Islands. Best Time To Visit Cayman Islands - Travel Tips For Every Season A highlight dive is the Tibbets wreck with great structure and lots of life. The flight and hotel fares are discounted up to 50 percent this time of year. Little Cayman GoPro Video Workshop: April 2023, Best Liveaboard Destinations for Beginners, shifted the Kittiwake from her original position. Were a free review guide run by passionate Divers, Sports, and Outdoor fanatics. Along the wall you'll spot black coral bushes, barrel sponges and sea fans where barracudas, turtles, eagle rays and parrotfish like to show up. Discover these empowering women's history destinations selected by the U.S. News travel editors. Cayman Islands Reservations Phone: (345)-947-0000 Our Reservations Office is located on site at the Dive Shop & Resort in the Cayman Islands. Also, check out our article where we review the top 25 things to do in Grand Cayman. Top 12 Beautiful Places to Visit in the Cayman Islands You may see hammerhead sharks if you are lucky. Three Fathom Wall is a popular night dive when eels, lobsters, and reef squid make an appearance. Another top option for divers, Cayman Brac Beach Resort is, as its name implies, located on the third island in the Cayman Islands: 15-square-mile Cayman Brac. Most of them are located around the Grand Cayman but a little over sixty sites stay around Cayman Brac and the Little Cayman. Cayman Brac Beach Resort. The water clarity is typically amazingly clear. On Grand Cayman, I stayed at hotels on the west end along Seven Mile beach. The Cayman Islands dollar is legal tender in these islands. Sidetrip: Visit Little Caymans Booby Pond Nature Reserve. Dive N Stay Vacation Packages - Compass Point Dive Resort - Cayman Islands (1st January 2023 - 31st December 2023) We offer pre-set Dive & Stay Vacation Packages for 3, 5 or 7 nights, and can also customize your package for any number of nights and for various group sizes. divemasters and lovers of all things underwater, know the best time Bloody Bay Wall is considered the epicenter of scuba diving in this marine park. For beginners or those who get nervous in enclosed spaces, there are plenty of decks around the exterior to check out. It should not be a surprise that January through April also happen to be popular months to visit the islands via western Caribbean cruises because of their ideal combination of cooler temperatures and low rainfall. Along the drop-off, crevices and canyons cut through the reefs face. The best time to see whitetip reef sharks in the Cayman Islands is from May to August. Diving the Cayman Islands - SCUBA Travel Cayman Brac is the last of the islands and also much less traveld than Grand Caymen. MV Captain Keith Tibbetts is an ex-Soviet Union ship that was built in 1984 for the Cuban Navy. Which Cayman Island Is The Best? - Fly & Sea Dive Adventures This is one of the top island destinations in the United Kingdom. I am the father of the best two children in the world and husband to the most patient woman on this planet. Cayman Brac offers a good mix of wall, wreck and reef diving for all experience levels. Scuba Divers can experience the world's best 12ft dive site at Stingray City, the beautiful Starfish Point and Bloody Bay . This wreck is the only Russian warship that can explore in the Western hemisphere. This British overseas island is home to mystical caves, unscaled escarpments, tropical forests, diverse wildlife and a plethora of other unique experiences. I have been diving in Grand Cayman several times. Best Time To Dive The Cayman Island During winter, temperatures can drop down to the low 70s. This 82 hectare (200 acres) protected area is the refuge of the largest red-footed booby population in the Caribbean and is a popular bird-watching site. The entire experience is about 3 hours long from the time we pick you up from your hotel or condo along Seven Mile Beach to drop off. The best time to visit Grand Cayman is March and April. Navigate backward to interact with the calendar and select a date. Swim throughs, ledges, overhangs, and an average depth of 12 meters (40ft) make this a Cayman dive site for all experience levels to explore. 4. The Cayman Islands-- Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac--have been attracting scuba divers for decades, including beginners! Grand Cayman has dives for all experience levels, and our on-site dive shop Ocean Frontiers Diving Adventures offers a range of PADI dive courses and signature dive adventures. Around the coral fingers, stingrays, eagle rays and yellowhead jawfish rest on the sandy patches. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Look along the ledge by the mooring for crabs and check out the four massive barrel sponges. Best Time to Dive in Little Cayman - Original Diving The top is at 15m/50ft but the bottom is around 90m/200ft so diver ought to watch their depth gauges carefully as they circle the mountain. Look out for the big groupers who sometimes get inside the huge barrel sponges, turtle, the occasional shark, plenty of reef fish, and the macro life at the cleaning stations. North Wall 2. stingray city 3. Live like a local and get under the skin of a destination with our in-country concierges. Cayman Islands Seasonal Dive Planner The Caymans' hottest period is from May to November. June to October brings higher topside temperatures (up to 33C, 91F). Both of these sites are accessible from shore. Over 200 permanent boat moorings are installed to avoid damaging corals with the dropping of boat anchors. info@bluewaterdivetravel.com, Visited on 04/2018 - Submitted on 02/04/2020, Visited on 03/2013 - Submitted on 08/31/2014, Visited on 02/2014 - Submitted on 04/19/2014, Visited on 02/2014 - Submitted on 03/01/2014, Visited on 08/2013 - Submitted on 02/21/2014, Big savings on 7-night group stays at Little Cayman, Cayman Brac and Cobalt Coast Resorts, live availability of some of the best liveaboards in the Cayman Islands. Among the dive sites in Scuba Cayman Brac, the remains of a 100meter (330feet) long Russian Koni class frigate is considered one of the best underwater attraction in the Cayman Islands. Here are a few of our favourite dive sites in Grand Cayman: 1. Explore the top-rated styles for every type of trip to the beach. The Cayman Islands has also designated four special areas for protection such as marine park zones, replenishment zones, environmental zones, and no diving zones. Generally, the off-season is the cheapest time to visit Grand Cayman, from May through November. We did not make it to Stingray city, but did get to the other must do dive in Grand Cayman - the USS Kittiwake, a submarine rescue vessel. Aside from corals, barrel sponges are sprawling in this vibrant reef that is also filled with tropical reef fish like groupers, butterflyfish, angelfish, moray eels and lionfish which is believed to be an invasive species. The Cayman Islands boasts world-class beaches, luxurious properties, worldwide culinary influences, high-end shops, local stores, and everything in between. Divers can observe the bow guns and go along the rails to make some great photos. Theres plenty to do if you are not diving. Find & Book Liveaboards Choose from a selection of more than 250 vessels and 18,000 trips worldwide. Which Cayman island has the best diving? | ZuBlu 4 of the Best Places to Go Shore Diving in Grand Cayman. Bert Brothers Boulders is also a great spot to see flying gurnards at around 5.5 meters (18ft). Northerners also want to get away from the cold and snow of winter. The main gateway to the Cayman Islands is through Grand Cayman. Devil's Grotto- Suitable for both beginners and advanced, it's a great shallow shore dive that features massive swim-throughs, chimneys and coral formations. Stingray City- You can thank the local fishermen for this dive site as they used to clean their catch here that attracted the rays to the site. Grand Caymans North Wall plunges deeper than 1800 metres/6000 feet and offers beautiful wall diving with opportunities to see spotted eagle rays and sea turtles. The Cayman Islands is a land of breath-taking experiences. However, there are large coral canyons that provide exciting swim-throughs for divers. While at first the Oro Verde was a complete ship, rough seas and tumultuous weather have dispersed the wreckage. You will also notice that this tunnel system has a healthy population of whip corals and sponges that are all tall in size.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'scubadivegeek_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_0',126,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-scubadivegeek_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); Scuba diving in Grand Cayman is not just only about wall diving. Best and Worst Times to Visit Grand Cayman - Caribeez.com Scuba diving in Little Cayman and Cayman Brac | ZuBlu Marine Life & Environment - Top Dive Spots - Diving Conditions, How to Get There-How to Dive Cayman Islands-Best Time to Dive, NEW! Our reviews: We can make the world a little bit better with great in-depth reviews. Diving in the Caymans offers something for everyone, whether divers are taking their very first fin stokes or have years of experience under their weight belts. 7. Because great in-depth gear reviews will help you select the right products for your specific needs, budget, and interests. Macro photographers should keep an eye out for the neck and decorator crabs who make their homes here. Take a walk along the coast line or rent a bicycle and ride around the island. Grand Cayman Monthly Weather: Rain, Temperatures, Grand Cayman Vacation Tips: Hotels, Attractions, Weather, Cayman Islands overnight visitor statistics; Caribeez.com. This is a fun dive spot that you can access from shore. In addition, you're more likely to snag a hotel deal during these months. Grand Cayman, the main island, is often one of the most popular destinations in the Caribbean, especially with western Caribbean cruises. These hot temperatures start in May and last into November. Originally coined 356, this wreck is now called the M/V Captain Keith Tibbetts after a well-known Cayman Brac politician. The best time to dive is between December and April when the water is at its warmest and the visibility is at its best. Most people see flights, accommodations, and activities far cheaper during this time since fewer tourists are visiting. Enjoy the comfort of an airport lounge with free drinks and snacks, even if you're flying economy. This island is very small and there is little to do, other than dive. Bloody Bay Coral Reef Wall - one of the most beautiful dive sites in the Cayman Islands It's time to head back underwater for another jaw-dropping location: the Bloody Bay Wall. Closely packed ridges form huge coral heads between the shore and the reef wall. Plenty of schooling reef fish call Ghost Mountain home and the pinnacle is also carpeted in deep, bloody-red finger sponges. View thelive availability of some of the best liveaboards in the Cayman Islandsand book online at the best price or check out our sidebar for land-based options! The winter and early spring months are the most popular time in the Cayman Islands. As for temperature and weather, the Cayman Islands are tropical, meaning it's warm 365 days a year. From 5 star restaurants to fish frys at the local gas station. They make a difference for anyone visiting the Caymans by cruise who plans to spend more time shopping, dining and visiting attractions than spend time on the beaches. Water temperatures are usually low 80's F. Marine life is plentiful and varied. Don't forget to visit Stingray City before leaving Grand Cayman. 10 Best Scuba Diving Companies In Grand Cayman (2023) This is one of the best dive sites in Cayman Brac, and is a must-do experience. Find the best and most popular products and review them. This is currently number 20 on the 100 Best Dives list. . Great views, amazing stay - Review of Ocean Cabanas Dive Resort, West The 6 Best Dive Sites in the Cayman Islands Cecily Russell 3 April, 2022 The trio of Cayman Islands is a British Overseas Territory situated in the western Caribbean Sea. Grand Cayman Dive Resorts I Packages I Wyndham Reef Resort This pristine wall on the south side of Cayman Brac features an abundance of hard corals, gorgonians, and massive red, orange, green, and purple sponges. Aside from tourism promotion, marine conservation is in place in all the dive sites in the Cayman Islands. This is a shore dive, meaning that you enter the water from the shore, and then swim to Cheeseburger Reef. There is decent shore diving from their dock. Diving in the Cayman Islands | Cayman Resident 5. While many visitors come here to scuba dive, snorkel, or relax and soak up the sun on the beach, those looking for something more adventurous can try . There is a reason you won't find under a 5-star review for Silver Thatch, they are the best. If you want to enjoy these five dive sites . As said earlier, Grand Cayman has over 50 dive sites and we will not leave this section without mentioning other noted dive spots. It is easily possible to visit all 3 of the Cayman Islands in a single dive trip and be able to enjoy the diversity they provide. Continue with Recommended Cookies. You can dive from shore because they have ladders that you can use to enter and exit the water. Tieneke, Joe, and Kevin went out of their way to accommodate our dive group and show us a really great time. A First Timer's Guide to Grand Cayman Island - AFAR Media Located south-east of the Gulf of Mexico and close to Jamaica, Cuba, and Haiti, diving in the Caymans offers classic Carribean underwater scenes and the chance to spot both large and small marine life. September can bring rougher waters if there is a tropical storm, and that is also the month with a higher chance of a hurricane, although hurricanes are not common. September and October are the riskiest months to visit Grand Cayman because of the higher than normal amounts of rain. September can bring rougher waters if there is a tropical storm, and that is also the month with a higher chance of a hurricane, although hurricanes are not common. There are lots of options for great photography and for posing for memorable photos, such as by the Kittiwake sign, swimming by the prop, or pretending to steer the helm on the bridge. The rainiest months in Grand Cayman are September and October during the height of the annual hurricane season. For example, let's look at one airline flying from Miami to Grand Cayman. The prices of hotels and short excursions that would normally be prohibitively expensive fall to more reasonable levels during this time. January and February are the coolest months with average lows in the high 60s. I have traveled to the Cayman islands many times. Grand Cayman has beautiful beaches and probably the most topside activities or restaurants anyone would want. Out in the open, expect schools of Nassau groupers, turtles, and snappers. So, what are you waiting for? They have ladders that you can use to enter and exit the water safely. Each time has been a wonderful underwater adventure. Cayman gives both the novice and the experienced some of the best diving in the world, as environmentally protected reefs surround each of our three islands. Best Liveaboard Destinations in the World, Vaccines recommended: Hep A; Typhoid if you will travel to rural areas, Visa: None needed for US citizens or European Union, Safety: Generally safe but petty theft can occur. You can dive along this wall and explore the different entrances. 3. 1. Cayman Islands Diving | Silver Thatch Water Sports | Breakers We highly advise you ask your local dive shop on the dos and donts in diving a particular dive site. December and July are good times for families because children are out of school for the holidays and summer. Hotel prices are sourced from a sample of U.S. News Best Hotels rates through 2015-2016. For scuba diving, the best time to dive the Cayman Islands is pretty much any time except peak hurricane season. Cheeseburger Reef is located in George Town, Grand Cayman. You will need little more (and some prefer less) than a 3 mm full length wetsuit. December through April are especially popular times to go because of low risk of rainfall and more moderate temperatures. This is a deep wall that drops several hundred feet into the abyss. I thought it might be too touristy, but it was a lot of fun. I quickly learned that if I poked at an area with my stick, the groupers would go right there, a great tool to get them to pose right where i wanted them in my reef scenes. The dives are shallow and you can closely observe them swimming around or above you. A huge pinnacle branches out, creating a corridor-like passageway that is used by large pelagics cruising up from the abyss. A 2018 poll listed Bonaire as the best dive spot for beginners, conservation, freediving, macro diving, shore diving, and snorkeling. This world-class scuba destination is colorful, bright, and teeming with life. #6 inBest Cheap Destination Wedding Locations, #4 inBest Places to Visit in January 2023. Besides the thick black corals, keep an eye out for tarpon, large yellow tube sponges, and ginormous barrel sponges. I guess thats one drawback of guided dives, everyone is constantly on the move, not ideal for photography, especially macro photography. A 2.75 meter (9ft) bronze statue of Amphitrite (the wife of the mythological god Poseidon) rises up from the base of the reef. Eden Rock has lots of coral and fish, and Devils Grotto has underwater caves that you can explore. The Kittiwake wreck as well as other wrecks in the close vicinity add variety and interesting structure which I really enjoyed. You can hand-feed wild Southern stingrays. While you can get some rain, it's not as common as during the summer. Little Cayman, Cayman Islands. Cracks in the ceilings let in plenty of natural light making it easy to search the nooks and crannies for the many crustaceans and other marine creatures that occupy the tunnels. Diving in the Cayman Islands - Bluewater Dive Travel The Cayman Islands dollar is issued in units of $100, $50, $25, $10, $5 and $1 with coins of 25 cents, 10, 5 and one cent. Beginners can enjoy another smaller chimney instead. Diving Cayman Islands: Best Wall Dives in the World Head to around 30m/98ft for some of the best wall views. Intermediate divers can begin their dive at the chimney, a narrow tunnel starting at 12m/40ft and ending at 24m/80ft. There is a lot of soft coral here, which makes for an interesting experience. The North Wall is one of the most visited diving sites and plunges to a depth of 6000 feet (1800 meters). PADI Dive Resorts for all budgets, in the best dive locations around the world. While diving is a year-round activity in the Cayman Islands, June to August is considered to be the best time of year to dive Grand Cayman and the nearby islands of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. Grand Cayman has more dive sites than Little Cayman. Located in the Bloody Bay marine park on Little Caymans north side, Marilyns Cut is largely unspoiled and offers up pristine soft and hard corals. You can even make a side trip to "Hell", a small area with black volcanic rocks, a few curio shops, and an actual post office you can send mail from with a postmark from Hell. Black groupers, sergeant majors, yellowtail snapper, and moray eels are just a few of the species you can expect to see. 1. The Cayman dollar is exchanged at a rate fixed to the US dollar (CI $1 equals US $1.25). Diving is available year-round. It does not make the product pricier for you. Diving in the Cayman Islands | PADI Why? 10 Best Dive Sites in Caribbean Islands in 2023 Average rainfall jumps to more than five inches in May, June and July. If youre thinking Cheeseburger is an odd name for a dive site, you probably wont be surprised that this shore dive probably took its name after the Burger King that was located across the road! Your dive profile in Stingray City is relatively shallow since your maximum depth is just only 6 meters (20 feet) when you reach the sandy seafloor. Three long, wide tunnels, accessible to the majority of divers, extend from the sand flats to open out onto the reef wall. They became my favorite focus on the reef. It seems the dive guides hunt the lionfish and then feed the groupers, so they joined us right away each dive. The 20 Best Dive sites in Caymans? From Grand Cayman, you can transfer to Little Cayman or Cayman Brac. Great Wall is the kind of dive that makes you feel like a tiny speck in the ocean as you hang near a wall that drops dramatically to more than 1,800 meters (6,000ft). Named for a historical anchorage, Anchor Point features a tight chimney-like descent at the beginning of the dive. . When diving the Cayman Islands you can see a lot of large sponges, some good macro, and some tiny fish. It exceeds six inches in August and jumps again to more than eight inches in September and October. Just be prepared for a rain shower or two, as this is the start of the region's wet season. The most striking and common marine life for me were the brightly yellow colored tube sponges. The USS Kittiwake is an ex-US Navy ship that was purposely sunk in Grand Cayman to create a new dive site. Live a life others only dream about. Roberts Wall is located on the North Wall in Grand Cayman. Best Time to Dive in Cayman Islands - Original Diving Sunset Reef is a popular shore dive just 60 meters (200ft) off the Sunset House Resorts pier. That's is how we pay ourselves. Matt Hampton was a guest of the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism (visitcaymanislands.com), British Airways, which has London returns from 688 (ba.com), and the Westin Seven Mile Beach, which . There is slightly more rain during the summer months. Both Grand Cayman and Little Cayman have great diving. The water is about 100 feet deep, and there is a good variety of soft and hard corals. If you're looking for great diving and hotel prices, the best time is between March and June when the rates all drop. Grand Cayman is a beautiful dive destination with many options for accommodations and for diving. Trinity Caves is a popular dive site that is located off the coast of West Bay in Grand Cayman. The non-divers with us were content to lounge by the pool, visit the spa, ride bikes, and go for walks. From Rolex watches to Caymanite earrings to a shell necklace. This is really a divers paradise. The seven mile beach area is beautiful for walking and photo opportunities. 1. 2. Another great wall diving site in Little Cayman is Joys Joy. Aside from taking photos at the solid bronze emblem at one of its 5 decks or at the stern with the propeller, penetration can be done with the USS Kittiwake courtesy from multiple sunlit entries and exit points. Best Times to Visit Cayman Islands | U.S. News Travel The largest among the three islands, Grand Cayman is highly popular among SCUBA divers from all over the world. I am Dan, this site is my blog where I document my research on the best diving spots in the world. Babylon- Grand Cayman Island is surrounded by a wall, but what makes the Babylon site special is the pinnacle with a canyon cutting the north wall. The 5 Best Dive Sites In Grand Cayman - DesertDivers If you want to go a little more remote, try Little Cayman. The sea is always warm in the Cayman Islands, with surface temperatures never dropping below around 25 o C (78 o F). Everything most divers want. We could easily get to reefs and wrecks by ourselves from shore and take as much time as our tanks allowed. 11 Dive Resorts in the Cayman Islands | PADI Travel Trinity Caves is one Cayman dive site that never disappoints. I created this website to help answer common questions about vacationing in the Cayman Islands, and to help tourists find the best things to do. Although this is a wall dive, the cut in the sites name comes from the swim-through many divers use upon descent. There are over 15 PADI 5-Star Centers in the Cayman Islands, ready to teach you everything you want to know about diving. With world class conditions and a robust dive industry, the Cayman Islands is one of the best places to learn how to dive. Choose from private or single rates, we will find you the best possible option to help you enjoy the famous Cayman Stingray City. Megan Johnson|Sharael KolbergMarch 3, 2023, Holly Johnson|Erin EvansFebruary 28, 2023, U.S. News Travel EditorsFebruary 28, 2023, Kyle McCarthy|Catriona KendallFebruary 22, 2023. for even more in-depth travel advice. Plus, along the wall, you can meet triggerfish, eagle rays, turtles, lobsters and many more! Jacques Costeau loved diving in the Caymans and its easy to see why. The highlight of the dive is the photo opportunity with this Cayman reefs most famous resident. There is shopping, bars to hang out in, and live music. As you enter the cave, you will realize that it is not totally dark as it is illuminated by streaking sunlight streaming from overhead cracks and crevices. This is a wall that drops 2000 meters to the sea floor. From spotting blue iguanas to kayaking in a bioluminescent bay to diving through intricate shipwrecks, here is a guide to making the most out of a first-time visit to Grand Cayman. Babylon is located on the North Wall in Grand Cayman. Boat rides were no longer than 15 minutes, with most being around 5 minutes. The best time to visit the Cayman Islands is any time of year, but hotel rates drop in March and June and temperatures rise to around 80 degrees. The ship was originally built for the US Army Transportation Corps over 70-years ago. The Eden Rock Dive Center has everything you need for an unforgettable day underwater in the Cayman Islands. 20 Best Dive Sites In The Cayman Islands (2023) In this article, we review the top 20 scuba dive sites in the Cayman Islands. 390 S Church St, George Town KY1-1106, Cayman Islands. The Cayman Islands are home to some of the best spots for scuba diving and snorkeling in the world. This area is an international tourist destination and can be crowded. However, as we just mentioned, diving in the Cayman Islands is possible all year round. Named for the bright orange elephant ear sponges that characterize this site, Orange Canyon doesnt contain a closed canyon per se, but an open channel with lively reef on either side. There is also a small restaurant and dive resort. 10 Things To Do At Cayman Islands Besides Scuba Diving This is an especiallygreat time to visit clear, calm waters are perfect for snorkeling, diving, sailing and fishing.
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