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There is decent shore diving from their dock. With virtually no currents and outstanding underwater visibility, Cayman has amazing wall dives, coral reefs and wrecks for you to explore and discover. Jacques Costeau loved diving in the Caymans and its easy to see why. Topside, the community is expanding with ongoing construction. . Seahorses - While the Cayman Islands are best known for their stunning coral reefs and diverse marine life, don't forget about the amazing small critters that call these waters home . Scott S. Bateman is a professional journalist who has traveled widely throughout the Caribbean and the Americas. Phone +1 345-949-7111. 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. A few great choices are the Sunset House Hotel in Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac Beach Resort and the Little Cayman Beach Resort. For deep divers, we highly suggest you explore the elephant-ear sponge laden reef of the Orange Canyon or go cave diving in Bonnies Arch. . Best Time to Dive Cayman Islands Diving is available year-round. Grand Cayman also offers accessible shore diving on great coral reefs with little to no current. If you enjoy diving, then you need to visit the USS Kittiwake during your vacation to Grand Cayman. 6. A 50% deposit is required at the time of booking with the final 50% . The waters here are 15 to 25 meters deep. Photographers can make the worst dive buddies. Head to the turret guns for a superb photo opportunity and keep your eyes peeled for barracuda, bright sponges, and schooling reef fish. The wreck was specifically set up for safe penetration, giving divers many interior rooms to explore. With over 365 dive sites, clear waters, coral reefs and abundant marine life, the Cayman Islands are one of the best diving spots in the world. The worst time is September during the hurricane season. It was quite crowded with dive and snorkel boats when we got there, but it was no big deal once we got in the water. Best Diving in the Caribbean - Top 12 - Bluewater Dive Travel Apart from the elephant ear sponges, keep your eyes peeled for blacktip Carribean reef sharks in the blue. 10 Best Dive Sites in Caribbean Islands in 2023 Usually you will see at least a few tarpon at this spot. The ship was originally built for the US Army Transportation Corps over 70-years ago. 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. 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. In general, the best time to dive in the Cayman Islands is between January and April, when the water temperature is warm and visibility is excellent. "High Season" at the hotels is mid-December to mid-April, so rates will be higher then. June to October brings . Our review team always considers durability, price, quality, and value in their reviews. You may see hammerhead sharks if you are lucky. A highlight dive is the Tibbets wreck with great structure and lots of life. Water temperatures are usually low 80's F. Marine life is plentiful and varied. This is a must-do dive for people vacationing in Grand Cayman. I have lived in the corporate world for a few years now with very little excitement in my life. 5. Diving in the Cayman Islands - Bluewater Dive Travel but the best time to visit is between May and October. This is a shore dive, meaning that you enter the water from the shore, and then swim to Cheeseburger Reef. 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 have put together a comprehensive collection of packages to suit your needs. 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! Both are wonderful underwater. Average rainfall jumps to more than five inches in May, June and July. Sidetrip: Grand Cayman is the biggest island and it is where most accommodations and restaurants are located. 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. Head to around 30m/98ft for some of the best wall views. But Little Cayman also has good diving including Bloody Bay Wall dive, which means a Caymans Island liveaboard is the best way to experience all the best Cayman's diving. While you can get some rain, it's not as common as during the summer. Recommended Level: Beginner Intermediate Advanced Dive Type: Boat Reef Wall Macro Wreck Canyon Shore Night Shallow Shark Cave Stingray Swim-Through Drift Liveboard Deep Great Wall East and West Little Cayman Great Wall West - Turtle Watch on Take your camera and get a snap with one of the abandoned bicycles that have also found a home here. an enquiry. Having done a lot of dives in Florida, one thing we did notice was that there were not as many fishes on the reefs in Grand Cayman as in south Florida, but after looking at my pictures after this trip I did notice many small fishes and critters. You will find the Cayman Islands to be very diverse, from quiet Little Cayman, to bustling Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman. 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. Diving is available year-round. Cayman Islands Diving | Silver Thatch Water Sports | Breakers In the shallows, flamingo tongues cling onto sea fans while lobsters, eels, and jewfish can be found hiding in the ridges and gullies. Erwin Poliakoff, Baton Rouge, Louisiana USA Nikon D7000, Tokina 10-17 zoom, Nikkor 60mm, 85mm, and 105mm macros, Nauticam housing Its a very easy and fun dive, we saw some angelfish and eagle rays. While the visibility here is often a little clouded, thats thanks to the nutrient-rich flow of water which enriches the corals on the pinnacle. Now large groups of southern stingrays are lurking around daily. Why? 11 Dive Resorts in the Cayman Islands | PADI Travel The Cayman Islands are one of the Best Liveaboard Destinations in the World. U.S. News rates the cheapest travel insurance options, considering expert and consumer recommendations. In the Cayman Islands, spring is in full force. Besides scuba diving, there are plenty of other things to do on the Cayman Islands. Youtube+ We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. The Cayman Islands is a world-class diving destination famous for its reefs, wrecks and rum. Booming and sprawling are not just words describing the tourism facilities in Little Cayman, but it can also be used to describe its world-class dive sites. September and October are the riskiest months to visit Grand Cayman because of the higher than normal amounts of rain. It is worth noting however that from June until October is the hurricane season in the Caribbean. The 5 Best Dive Sites In Grand Cayman - DesertDivers Best time to dive When to dive in the Cayman Islands entirely depends on your own personal preferences. Divers can observe the bow guns and go along the rails to make some great photos. Which Cayman island has the best diving? | ZuBlu Click the link below to read our article about the USS Kittiwake: Wilderness Wall is located on the south-side of Cayman Brac. While Grand Cayman receives the most publicity and visitors, all three Cayman Islands - Cayman Brac and Little Cayman being the other two -- offer outstanding scuba diving. The prices of hotels and short excursions that would normally be prohibitively expensive fall to more reasonable levels during this time. 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. When we talk about Fiji, what immediately comes into our mind is a tropical dream holiday. The units are privately owned and furnished, but they have 21 accommodations available for rental use. Please Sign-in or Register if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,100],'scubadivegeek_com-leader-1','ezslot_4',120,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-scubadivegeek_com-leader-1-0'); By descending down to 15 meters (50 feet) deep, you will arrive at what divers call the hanging garden which is a vertical limestone wall filled with black corals, barrel sponges, and purple sea fans. 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. They were all guided dives. Naturally, this is also the most expensive season, and reservations must be made at least three months in advance. Along the drop-off, crevices and canyons cut through the reefs face. 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;}. The shore diving was really easy to access with actual ladders or stairs and even showers at some sites. Also, check out our article where we review the top 25 things to do in Grand Cayman. 4. . Family Traveller Excellence Awards 2019 Winner. Lionfish have become an invasive species and some of the dive operators offer culling excursions. The protected Bloody Bay Marine Park lies in Little Cayman and offers magnificent marine life, great visibility, and spectacular bioluminescent corals. Diving the Cayman Islands - SCUBA Travel A 2.75 meter (9ft) bronze statue of Amphitrite (the wife of the mythological god Poseidon) rises up from the base of the reef. Watch your buoyancy and head out into the blue, look back to really appreciate the Great Walls sheer size and impressive drop-off. The flight and hotel fares are discounted up to 50 percent this time of year. 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. Everything most divers want. Around the coral fingers, stingrays, eagle rays and yellowhead jawfish rest on the sandy patches. The 20 Best Scuba Dive Sites In The Cayman Islands (2023) Penetration is encouraged but to get the most out of the experience, take a torch. Grand Cayman is a sophisticated Caribbean island with great nightlife, great resort options, and the wonderful attraction of stingray city, and very good wall diving. Grand Cayman scuba diving is also more popular than on the other islands due to the stingray population there. Seven Mile Beach is considered the most popular tourist area in the Cayman Islands, thanks to its stunning white sand beaches and crystal-clear waters. Cayman Islands Liveaboard Diving | Scuba Diving Earth 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. Please Sign-in or Register to save My Ideas for later, Our social channels iFrameResize({log:true, enablePublicMethods:true}); Having a less touristic crowd, Cayman Brac still has several tourism facilities like Cayman Brac Dive Resorts that are scattered along its narrow coast. This is really a divers paradise. Best Time to Dive in Little Cayman. The amazing strawberry sponges were in abundance there. Dive Shop and Front desk is open 7 days per week | 7am to 6pm and can be reached directly on (345)-640-7500 But which Cayman Island has the best diving? Our Original Diving experts, made up of marine biologists, This is the most famous dive site in the Cayman Islands - and with good reason. Some resorts offer "Hurricane protection". Generally, the off-season is the cheapest time to visit Grand Cayman, from May through November. MV Captain Keith Tibbetts is an ex-Soviet Union ship that was built in 1984 for the Cuban Navy. 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. It was named Orange Canyon because of the large orange Elephant Ear Sponges that can be found here. Macro photographers should seek the banded coral shrimp and divers licensed to 30m/98ft will enjoy the gorgonian fans in the cavern at this depth. Twitter 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. Pinterest marine life, be it the tiny critters or bigger beasts of the ocean. I have traveled to the Cayman islands many times. Unfortunately, the tarpons that gave this site its name have moved on, but you may be lucky and catch a glimpse of these silver kings. Trinity Caves is one Cayman dive site that never disappoints. But they are sometimes the cheapest months to visit. Courtesy of Sunset House Resort, Grand Cayman. Cruise lines can reduce the number of ships that visit Grand Cayman in the fall, but hotels and resorts cant reduce the number of rooms. . Theyre not timid and as they surround you, these rays seem happy to receive a gentle stroke or two. Bloody Bay Wall is located in Little Cayman. During this time, you can expect to see a variety of marine life, including turtles, rays, and a wide array of tropical fish. I stayed at an all inclusive where the food was exceptional, prepared by a world class chef. 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. Cayman Islands Diving - Caribbean Sea - Dive The World The wall drop is not for the light-hearted as it can reach over 6500ft (2000 m), but along the drop, you can see yellow tube sponges, black and wire corals and waving sea fans. It is rich with tunnels, chutes, cervices, and beautiful reefs. The Cayman Islands are a premier diving destination, boasting 365 dive sites, as well as the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame . Plus, along the wall, you can meet triggerfish, eagle rays, turtles, lobsters and many more! Lighthouse Point is located in West Bay in Grand Cayman. Located 2.5 kilometers (1.6 miles) northwest of the Capital City of George Town is one of the most popular dive sites, not just in the Cayman Islands, but in the Caribbean the Stingray City which is classified as a sandbar that has been naturally aggregated with southern stingrays that have been accustomed to human presence because of feeding. Keith Tibbets- This Soviet-built Frigate that was owned by the Cuban navy was given to the Cayman Islands to purposefully sink it. Honduras coast hosts the Bay Islands which is a compilation of eight islands and 53 small cays and these islands are one of the best scuba diving places in the world. 310-915-6677 Crabs and lobsters are among the critters hiding in the crevices. Grand Cayman is the most commercial island, with cruise ships visiting, but it has some wrecks and the wall dives are close boat rides. Best Time to Dive in Little Cayman. 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. 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. 6. The dive resorts are more expensive than places like Roatan or Belize, but given the reputation of the islands and the quality and ease of the diving, we find the prices reasonable. All the information you need to plan your dive vacations anywhere in the world. Nature lovers are lured to diverse hiking trails, caves, and a variety of flora and fauna around the island. Best Diving Destination in the Carribean: The Cayman Islands The famous diver and explorer Jacques Cousteau said that Bloody Bay Wall is one of the top dive sites in the world. Besides the thick black corals, keep an eye out for tarpon, large yellow tube sponges, and ginormous barrel sponges. Water Temperatures: Ranges from around 22C (72F) in December to 29C (84F) in July. Over 200 permanent boat moorings are installed to avoid damaging corals with the dropping of boat anchors. Canyons and drop-offs provide a varied topography making the site a firm favorite with photographers. This is an especiallygreat time to visit clear, calm waters are perfect for snorkeling, diving, sailing and fishing. Sign up to get the latest updates, offers and more. For this reason, wreck junkies and aficionados often have the Keith on their to-dive lists. Sharks and turtles are frequent visitors as are snappers, groupers, and grunts. While the gazebo itself is actually an arch, this small dive site never fails to please. They became my favorite focus on the reef. Elkhorn corals adorn the tops of the ridges while large gorgonians, tube sponges, and hard corals occupy the gullies. For water sports lovers, there are great spots for snorkeling including night snorkeling with bioluminescence, options to go sailing or on a catamaran cruise. 20 Best Dive Sites In The Cayman Islands (2023) In this article, we review the top 20 scuba dive sites in the Cayman Islands. 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. Answer 1 of 11: Does anyone have firsthand experience with any of the dive operators on Little Cayman that they will share? 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. A shallow dive site, the colors here really pop making it a good choice for photographers. Best Time To Dive The Cayman Island 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 . When diving through the cut itself, look under and in crevices, plenty of little critters make homes for themselves here. Now it has become a beautiful artificial reef and home for colorful sponges, groupers, barracudas and other marine life. The Cayman Islands is a land of breath-taking experiences. 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. There is also a restaurant, bar and dive shop at Macabuca. This is how we pay ourselves. We did see some nurse sharks, sea turtles and a few rays. Enquire 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. Everything here is very low key and there is a small local population. Seven Mile Beach 4. But the main reason for diving here are the sharks, especially hammerheads. You need to protect your fingers from the eager snappers though. Stingray City has very large, friendly stingrays. Though Kittiwake is a very popular diving site on Grand Island, the shallow and crystal-clear waters of the site make it an equally amazing snorkeling spot as well. Cruise ships visit here, so expect everything you would find in most international cruise ship ports. The Best Scuba Diving Experiences On Grand Cayman Located just a short walk from George Town, the Sunset House Hotel is home to Sunset Divers, and both resort and dive center are favorites of divers. View Map. Sharp-eyed divers can find leopard flatworms and the tunnels are also popular hangouts for rays and green moray eels. Top 12 Beautiful Places to Visit in the Cayman Islands Grand Cayman Diving - Scuba Diving in the Cayman Islands There are lots of beautiful beaches to visit and to relax. Grand Cayman has beautiful beaches and probably the most topside activities or restaurants anyone would want. StingRay City on scuba with a small group was so much fun feeding the rays. 4 of the Best Places to Go Shore Diving in Grand Cayman. Away from the stingray action, there are a number of coral heads with a variety of life to check out. But these arent the only good and bad times. Situated on a wide beach on the island's West End, the property offers 40 air-conditioned rooms (renovated in late 2015 and featuring soothing Caribbean . 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. at any point on your diving holiday) has to offer. Grand Cayman Monthly Weather: Rain, Temperatures, Grand Cayman Vacation Tips: Hotels, Attractions, Weather, Cayman Islands overnight visitor statistics; Caribeez.com. You can also go wreck diving as there are some shipwrecks that can be explored like the remains of USS Kittiwake. This spot is about 20-feet deep, and has a lot of coral. 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. If you plan to do some land-based explorations on your trip, you'll have to choose between the busier warmer months (like April and November) or the cooler, but generally cheaper, months in between. They pickup from the Westin, Ritz and Kimpton Seafire beaches for their West Dives, which is one of their standout features. 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. The highlight of the dive is the photo opportunity with this Cayman reefs most famous resident. Macro photographers should keep an eye out for the neck and decorator crabs who make their homes here. And as you might imagine, the coral-encrusted archway makes for a fantastic photo opportunity. Tourism volume is estimated based on in-market destination search query interest from Google and on travel.usnews.com in 2015-2016. This is a wreck worth a dive or two. Facebook The Cayman dollar is exchanged at a rate fixed to the US dollar (CI $1 equals US $1.25). December rainfall drops back down to about three inches. Cayman Islands | Maduro Dive | Exclusive Scuba Diving Packages Live a life others only dream about. The Cayman Islands continues to receive global recognition and top the charts for diving. The Eden Rock Dive Center has everything you need for an unforgettable day underwater 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. 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. 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. The people of the island are friendly and culturally diverse. Look in the blue off the wall for passing sharks, rays, and turtles. Even though July is a popular month, it is not necessarily a good time to go because of the reasons below. If wall diving is your thing, check out diving in Turks & Caicos. Best Resorts in the Cayman Islands | Islands 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. But its not just the heat that matters when visiting the Cayman Islands. 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.. Below are our recommendations for the best months to dive in Cayman Islands, as well as our suggestions for the best places to dive in each month of the year. divemasters and lovers of all things underwater, know the best time Click the link below to read our article about Cheeseburger Reef: Sunset House is located on the south-side of Grand Cayman, near George Town. The main gateway to the Cayman Islands is through Grand Cayman. Dive vacations in the Cayman Islands are a good choice for underwater photographers with their many opportunities to capture the beauty of the place and wonderful visibility, and also for travellers looking for deep dives - you can find many along the Cayman walls. This site is well-known and popular with divers, snorkelers, and glass-bottom boaters alike. Because great in-depth gear reviews will help you select the right products for your specific needs, budget, and interests. Best Times to Visit Cayman Islands | U.S. News Travel The water depth here is around 18-meters. A huge pinnacle branches out, creating a corridor-like passageway that is used by large pelagics cruising up from the abyss. 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. You can dive along this wall and explore the different entrances. Instead, they pass through the vicinity and bring heavy rains and wind to the island. Our DSD is $99 USD per person and includes all equipment needed and a fantastic shallow dive to a max depth of 40ft. Great views, amazing stay - Review of Ocean Cabanas Dive Resort, West If you want to go a little more remote, try Little Cayman. for even more in-depth travel advice. Learn to Dive in Cayman - Beginners and Refresher Courses 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. The best diving depth at this Cayman site, between 30 and 40 meters (98-130ft) means its best for deep certified advanced divers. Closely packed ridges form huge coral heads between the shore and the reef wall. Its also the historical rainfall patterns. While at first the Oro Verde was a complete ship, rough seas and tumultuous weather have dispersed the wreckage. The Best Time to Visit Grand Cayman in 2023 | Travellers
best time to dive cayman islands
best time to dive cayman islands