Theres also Little Cayman thats the least developed of the 3 islands. If you enjoy diving, then you need to visit the USS Kittiwake during your vacation to Grand Cayman. And when you have the right product, youre a little bit happier which affects the people around you! 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. This is one of the best dive sites in Cayman Brac, and is a must-do experience. Income disclosure: We are reader supported, and earn affiliate commissions when you buy via links found on DIVEIN.com: If you find a good deal on our site, you click to the retailer and you buy the product, we get a commission of the sale. For water sports lovers, there are great spots for snorkeling including night snorkeling with bioluminescence, options to go sailing or on a catamaran cruise. Dive Shop and Front desk is open 7 days per week | 7am to 6pm and can be reached directly on (345)-640-7500 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. 6. Located in Little Cayman, the Bloody Bay Wall dive site is noted for its high visibility, rich marine life, and the presence of a sheer wall that drops 2000 meters into the deep ocean. There is also a dive shop and restaurant. Theres good diving, with great Walls and of course stingray city, where you can see and feed stingrays. Perhaps because of this, the coral isnt looking a healthy as it could. 10 Best Dive Destinations in the Caribbean Best diving in the Caribbean 10 Best Dive Destinations in the Caribbean Cecily Russell 25 February, 2022 Vast blue waters, plummeting wall dives and pelagic life are just a few reasons why you'll find some of the world's best diving in the Caribbean. A favourite stop for those diving and snorkeling lovers, the Bay Islands' important three islands are Roatan, Utila and Guanaja. Diving in Little Cayman | PADI 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. Best Times To Visit Cayman Islands The best time to visit the Cayman Islands is between March and June when the hotel rates drop. Furthermore, the islands are home to some of the world's best beaches, making them an ideal vacation destination. With 365 named dive sites, the enchanting Cayman Islands is a year-round underwater paradise. Click here to learn more. I make money by sharing links to services that I personally use and recommend. This is one of the deepest sea-walls in the world. While the upper part of the reef is already teeming with corals, it becomes denser as you traverse the vertical limestone where it is now intermixed with sponges and sea fans. Although the rays who made this site their home permanently have moved on, there is still a good chance of spotting them here. Interested in diving the Cayman Islands? This is one of the top island destinations in the United Kingdom. Little Cayman GoPro Video Workshop: April 2023, Best Liveaboard Destinations for Beginners, shifted the Kittiwake from her original position. Navigate forward to interact with the calendar and select a date. The Seven Mile Beach area and the main city, Georgetown, are very developed with large hotels and resorts, restaurants, shops, etc. The Cayman Islands has also designated four special areas for protection such as marine park zones, replenishment zones, environmental zones, and no diving zones. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Founder of Georges Watersports & Thingstodocayman.net. Situated not far from the north point on Grand Cayman, Ghost Mountain is probably named for the behemoth mushroom-like pinnacle that suddenly emerges from the blue as divers near it. From Rolex watches to Caymanite earrings to a shell necklace. This is one of the deepest sea-walls in the world. 0 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. This spot is about 20-feet deep, and has a lot of coral. Grand Cayman Monthly Weather: Rain, Temperatures, Grand Cayman Vacation Tips: Hotels, Attractions, Weather, Cayman Islands overnight visitor statistics; Caribeez.com. Theres plenty to do if you are not diving. The Cayman Islands are a premier diving destination, boasting 365 dive sites, as well as the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame . Roberts Wall is located on the North Wall in Grand Cayman. Lionfish have become an invasive species and some of the dive operators offer culling excursions. The water depth here is around 18-meters. It is because of the sometimes extreme temperatures and rainfall that the Caymans have distinct spikes and dips in the number of tourists who visit each month. We did see some nurse sharks, sea turtles and a few rays. It does not make the product pricier for you. It lays at 60 ft (20 m) and scuba divers are able to explore all five levels of this 250 ft (75 m) vessel. It is because of the sometimes extreme temperatures and rainfall that the Caymans have distinct spikes and dips in the number of tourists who visit each month. Cayman Islands | Maduro Dive | Exclusive Scuba Diving Packages To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. 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. The best dive site is either Bloody Bay Wall in Little Cayman or the USS Kittiwake in Grand Cayman. Penetration is encouraged but to get the most out of the experience, take a torch. Drop us a comment below and tell us your favorite site! dive in each month of the year. I guess thats one drawback of guided dives, everyone is constantly on the move, not ideal for photography, especially macro photography. Although this is a wall dive, the cut in the sites name comes from the swim-through many divers use upon descent. Eden Rock Dive Center. Questions about Cayman Island Diving | FAQs | Cayman Turtle Divers I have been diving in Grand Cayman several times. Bert Brothers Boulders is one of the most beautiful dive sites on Cayman Brac. Jacques Costeau loved diving in the Caymans and its easy to see why. Here youll find more than 50 dives sites including the famous Bloody Bay. This site is my attempt to live the adrenaline my life is missing and be able to live real-life storybook stories with my wife and children. Diving is available year-round. East End 5. Aside from the coral laden walls of Babylon, your divemaster will usually lead you to a pinnacle where its towering structures are dominated by whip corals. Stingray City is in only 12ft (4m) of water and is a huge draw for divers and underwater photographers. The Best Time to Visit the Cayman Islands in 2023 | Travellers Eden Rock & Devils Grotto are two dive sites that are next to each other. Most of them are located around the Grand Cayman but a little over sixty sites stay around Cayman Brac and the Little Cayman. Diving the Cayman Islands - SCUBA Travel Now large groups of southern stingrays are lurking around daily. They became my favorite focus on the reef. Devilishly deep drop-offs, wicked wreck dives and some of the coolest coral in the Caribbean have made the Cayman Islands a world-class dive destination. Both Grand Cayman and Little Cayman have great diving. However, there are large coral canyons that provide exciting swim-throughs for divers. The USS Kittiwake is an ex-US Navy ship that was purposely sunk in Grand Cayman to create a new dive site. In general, the tourism industry in the Cayman Islands is designed with divers in mind. Out in the open, spotted eagle rays are often seen swimming in groups of at least 5 individuals and their passing by is often correlated to the flyby of fighter jets in low altitude. StingRay City on scuba with a small group was so much fun feeding the rays. In the shallows, flamingo tongues cling onto sea fans while lobsters, eels, and jewfish can be found hiding in the ridges and gullies. Beginners can enjoy another smaller chimney instead. There are lots of beautiful beaches to visit and to relax. The main gateway to the Cayman Islands is through Grand Cayman. but the best time to visit is between May and October. The best time to see whitetip reef sharks in the Cayman Islands is from May to August. Three long, wide tunnels, accessible to the majority of divers, extend from the sand flats to open out onto the reef wall. ScubaDiveGeek.com also participates in other affiliate programs and Google Adwords and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these and other companies. Click the link below to read our article about the USS Kittiwake: Wilderness Wall is located on the south-side of Cayman Brac. The Cayman Islands are widely regarded as the birthplace of recreational scuba diving, thanks to some pioneering efforts by local operators in the 1980s. Please Sign-in or Register to save My Ideas for later, Our social channels Booming in the sense that Little Cayman has over 15 dive sites that have attracted divers from all parts of the globe, and sprawling since all the dive sites are teeming with marine life. This is currently number 20 on the 100 Best Dives list.. Divers of all levels can explore the engines, pistons, and pieces of the wreck that are scattered at 18m/60ft. 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. July has a jump in visits for families in part because school children are out for the summer. Through this site,my intent is to be able to sponsor the new chapter in my life as a scuba diver. Closer to the reef, turtles, groupers, horse-eyed jacks, and an over-abundance of lionfish make this colorful site even more interesting. I have worked in the corporate world and had little time for adventure. to save My Ideas for later. Cactus coral, sea fans, great star coral, and tube sponges blanket the reef and provide refuge for a variety of sea creatures. My poker stick resembled the dive guides spears, so they followed me closely and would even "show" me where the lion fish were, confused when I didn't feed them. U.S. News rates the cheapest travel insurance options, considering expert and consumer recommendations. Settle on the sand at just 3.7 meters (12ft) and have hordes of southern stingrays glide gracefully around you. Diving in the Cayman Islands - Bluewater Dive Travel Head to the turret guns for a superb photo opportunity and keep your eyes peeled for barracuda, bright sponges, and schooling reef fish. Black coral and colorful sponges decorate the near-vertical face and the shallows are dotted with large coral heads teeming with marine life. They can offer up their first-hand knowledge to ensure you know when to dive to enjoy the very best marine life, be it the tiny critters or bigger beasts of . #6 inBest Cheap Destination Wedding Locations, #4 inBest Places to Visit in January 2023. Web Visit website. Lighthouse Point is located in West Bay in Grand Cayman. The primary reason why scuba divers frequently visit the Cayman Islands is to do a different kind of investment: definitely not monetary, but instead fun, enjoyment and great underwater adventures. This is an especiallygreat time to visit clear, calm waters are perfect for snorkeling, diving, sailing and fishing. 11 Dive Resorts in the Cayman Islands | PADI Travel Bloody Bay Marine Park is one of Cayman's best known dive sites and is named after the battles that took place between the British navy and its privateers following the outlaw of piracy. Its a very easy and fun dive, we saw some angelfish and eagle rays. Still great for diving with great walls for all levels of divers and the walls and the Russian destroyer 356 aka Russian destroyer. Pelagics are attracted to the wall while schools of reef fish populate the shallows, swimming around the many purple, red, and yellow sponges. You need to protect your fingers from the eager snappers though. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Give the perfect gift for your favorite ocean lover and explorer. Cayman Brac offers a good mix of wall, wreck and reef diving for all experience levels. The wreck can be penetrated in some parts but speak for your guide or instructor beforehand. Eels, rays, sharks, and turtles are frequently seen. DIVEMASTER AND INSTRUCTOR TRAINING SPECIALTY AND TECHNICAL COURSE KIDS DISABLED DIVERS SAFETY The Cayman Islands boasts state-of-the-art medical facilities including a hyperbaric chamber (located on Grand Cayman) and, in the event of an emergency, quality care can be provided in minutes. Before the USS Kittiwake was sunk, the Oro Verde was the wreck dive of choice in the Caymans. Cayman Islands Seasonal Dive Planner The Caymans' hottest period is from May to November. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'scubadivegeek_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_14',101,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-scubadivegeek_com-medrectangle-4-0');The Cayman Islands has a tropical marine climate with two pronounced seasons: a rainy season that runs from May to October and a dry season from November to April. As said earlier, Grand Cayman has over 50 dive sites and we will not leave this section without mentioning other noted dive spots. you are in the right place at the right time to see the very best You need to take a boat to reach this wreck. Even though July is a popular month, it is not necessarily a good time to go because of the reasons below. Flamingo tongues can be found on the sea fans, while arrow crabs, bristle worms, and long-spined sea urchins hide in the cracks and grooves. Around the coral fingers, stingrays, eagle rays and yellowhead jawfish rest on the sandy patches. For this reason, wreck junkies and aficionados often have the Keith on their to-dive lists. The ridges are carpeted in a variety of hard and soft coral, barrel and tube sponges, and purple sea fans that house a vast array of miniature sea creatures. If you are into grottos or swim-throughs, then you must head out to the west side of Grand Cayman and explore the three long tunnel swim-throughs of the Trinity Caves. There's much to discover beyond theme parks in this Southeastern state. Cheeseburger Reef is located in George Town, Grand Cayman. Apart from the elephant ear sponges, keep your eyes peeled for blacktip Carribean reef sharks in the blue. Click the link below to read our article about Eden Rock: Deep Stingray City is located in Grand Cayman. Grand Cayman is the most commercial island, with cruise ships visiting, but it has some wrecks and the wall dives are close boat rides. Diving in the Cayman Islands - Bluewater Dive Travel Get in touch with our specialists for even more in-depth travel advice. The Cayman Islands are one of the Best Liveaboard Destinations in the World. Scuba diving in the Cayman Islands: an experience of a lifetime Frugal travel planners can look for good deals during these months while keeping an eye on the 10-day weather forecast. As for temperature and weather, the Cayman Islands are tropical, meaning it's warm 365 days a year. The depths start at around 12m/40ft and end at 30m/98ft. [] The wreck of the Captain Keith is unusual it is the only Soviet-made warship that divers can visit in the western hemisphere. 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. Hurricane Ivan in 2004 cleaved the 100m/328ft ship in half but divers can still explore both sections of the wreckage. an enquiry. The best time to visit the Cayman Islands is between March and April. Many divers who have been diving in this area said that this is really an up close and personal experience with stingrays as they are literally touching and surrounding you. Three Fathom Wall is a popular night dive when eels, lobsters, and reef squid make an appearance. 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. During the day rays, turtles, the occasional barracuda and plenty of reef fish mean theres a lot to keep divers engaged. The Kittiwake is a 76.5 meter (250ft) former submarine support ship. Find & Book Adventures Book your fun dives, snorkelling trips and courses online with thousands of PADI Dive Centers. Welcome to my scuba diving bucket list. The wall dive also has several other topographical features including swim-throughs and tunnels. Replace or update your card, buy a Special Edition or Project AWARE version of your PADI certification card, or go digital with the purchase of a PADI eCard. When diving the Cayman Islands you can see a lot of large sponges, some good macro, and some tiny fish. Now it has become a beautiful artificial reef and home for colorful sponges, groupers, barracudas and other marine life. The 5 Best Dive Sites In Grand Cayman - DesertDivers North Wall 2. stingray city 3. There is also a small restaurant and dive resort. Out in the open, expect schools of Nassau groupers, turtles, and snappers. All content is copyright protected by either DIVEIN.com or respected copyright holders, Disclosure: We are reader supported, and earn. Trinity Caves is one Cayman dive site that never disappoints. The Cayman Islands-- Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac--have been attracting scuba divers for decades, including beginners! I hope my research also helps you make a decision on your next scuba diving vacation.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[120,600],'scubadivegeek_com-large-billboard-2','ezslot_9',102,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-scubadivegeek_com-large-billboard-2-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[120,600],'scubadivegeek_com-large-billboard-2','ezslot_10',102,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-scubadivegeek_com-large-billboard-2-0_1'); .large-billboard-2-multi-102{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none !important;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:15px !important;margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-top:15px !important;max-width:100% !important;min-height:600px;padding:0;text-align:center !important;}. Kittiwake Shipwreck and diver in Grand Cayman - photo from Canva. My wife and I are traveling there in February 2015 and are PADI AOW and Nitrox certified with ten years of recreational experience diving. However, as we just mentioned, diving in the Cayman Islands is possible all year round. Live a life others only dream about. 1. They were all guided dives. 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. While the Cayman Islands are famous for its encounters with stingrays in Stingray City where the rays are said to be almost tame, there are many more sites that the islands offer. Youtube+ But they are sometimes the cheapest months to visit. In effect, there are more registered businesses in Cayman Island as compared to its local population. Dive conditions could not have been more perfect, flat seas (the north side is supposed to be more choppy but the day we dived Eagle Ray pass, it was just 2 feet seas, the rest of the dives were on the west side, where the sea was flat both days), warm water (80 degrees for our stay), clear water with awesome 90-100+ feet visibility (great for wide angle photography). We were lucky enough to see the tail end of silversides on the wreck of the Balboa right in the Harbor too. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a country in Western Asia located at the northeast end of the Arabian Peninsula in the Persian Gulf. Both are wonderful underwater. (Closed Circuit Rebreathers/CCR) allows you to massively extend your dive time. Generally, the off-season is the cheapest time to visit Grand Cayman, from May through November. Located 133 kilometers (83 miles) northeast of Grand Cayman is its little sister island Little Cayman. It is possible to go scuba diving in Little Cayman all year round and the water temperature only varies from 21-27 degrees. 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. There is also a restaurant, bar and dive shop at Macabuca. If you have time, you should also take a flight to Little Cayman from Grand Cayman, and dive at Bloody Bay Wall. Great diving. We are proud to off-set 100% of the carbon generated by our clients' flights. See and be seen at these stunning natural wonders. Grand Cayman is somewhat unique among major Caribbean destinations because it is one of the few islands that has average daytime temperatures exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer and fall. Elkhorn corals adorn the tops of the ridges while large gorgonians, tube sponges, and hard corals occupy the gullies. Cathy Church has a shop at Sunset House where you can often meet her and see her beautiful underwater photos from the area. You could spend . He is the author of four books about cruising in the Caribbean, Alaska and Mexican Riviera. Best Time to Dive Cayman Islands. Wonderful restaurants nearby. PADI Dive Resorts for all budgets, in the best dive locations around the world. Everything most divers want. "High Season" at the hotels is mid-December to mid-April, so rates will be higher then. Some of the nicest dive resorts in the Caribbean are in the Cayman Islands, and many of them have great shore diving and boat diving. After being intentionally sunk to become an artificial reef, this former 76 meter (251 feet) long naval vessel now rests at 18 meters (60 feet) deep near the world-renowned Seven Mile Beach. Scuba Diving Operators on Little Cayman - Little Cayman Forum 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.
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