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December to April is also the busiest time of year for tourism, so it's important to book your dive trips in advance. In general, the tourism industry in the Cayman Islands is designed with divers in mind. You will see many sea creatures such as octopus and arrow crabs. As well as healthy coral and large pelagic species, you can expect to catch sight of Nassau groupers, stingrays, angelfish, snappers, horse-eye jacks, and turtles. 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 . Head to around 30m/98ft for some of the best wall views. The 5 Best Dive Sites In Grand Cayman - DesertDivers Hurricanes rarely hit Grand Cayman directly. 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. Moray eels and angelfish move among the coral, and turtles are often seen cruising over the reef. It was then sunk in Grand Cayman in 1980 to make a new dive site. These Florida Keys resorts are ideal for family getaways and romantic retreats. While at first the Oro Verde was a complete ship, rough seas and tumultuous weather have dispersed the wreckage. Sea temperature varies little, from a high of 86F/30C in August/September to a low of 80F/26.5C in February. Our review team always considers durability, price, quality, and value in their reviews. 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. Resident Nassau groupers often keep divers company and if you look closely, you may be rewarded with seahorses and lettuce-leaf slugs. 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. The worst time is September during the hurricane season. Stingray City offers divers the opportunity to fully interact with these amazing creatures. Great diving. I am the father of the best two children in the world and husband to the most patient woman on this planet. 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. This site is well-known and popular with divers, snorkelers, and glass-bottom boaters alike. Grand Cayman Island probably has the best diving as it has the North Wall deep drop-off dive and the USS Kittiwake wreck dive. If you enjoy diving, then you need to visit the USS Kittiwake during your vacation to Grand Cayman. Cayman Islands Scuba Liveaboards - Here's What to Know Cayman Brac offers a good mix of wall, wreck and reef diving for all experience levels. Located near a popular resort is a vertical drop off that is filled with all sorts of marine life the North Wall. I am a scuba diving newbie, a Project Manager by profession, and an entrepreneur at heart. Top 12 Beautiful Places to Visit in the Cayman Islands 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. This is currently number 20 on the 100 Best Dives list.. Our reviews: We can make the world a little bit better with great in-depth reviews. Top 20 Best Dive Sites In Cayman Islands In 2023, The Best Starboard Paddle Boards: A Brand Guide, The Best iRocker Paddle Boards: A Brand Guide, Blackfin Paddle Boards: The Best Paddle boards from Blackfin, Top All-inclusive Resorts You Need To Visit, How To Choose a Kayak Paddle? Get certified to scuba dive. Though scuba diving in the Cayman Islands is mostly known for close encounters with stingrays, it has much more to offer. I stayed at an all inclusive where the food was exceptional, prepared by a world class chef. Cayman Islands Diving - Caribbean Sea - Dive The World Stingrays and turtles are known to swim here. 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. Generally, the off-season is the cheapest time to visit Grand Cayman, from May through November. With 365 named dive sites, the enchanting Cayman Islands is a year-round underwater paradise. 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. The water clarity is typically amazingly clear. Please Sign-in or Register to save My Ideas for later, Our social channels There is a reason you won't find under a 5-star review for Silver Thatch, they are the best. The wreck was specifically set up for safe penetration, giving divers many interior rooms to explore. See and be seen at these stunning natural wonders. 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. Phone +1 345-949-7111. 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. 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 . Address. If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. However, as we just mentioned, diving in the Cayman Islands is possible all year round. 4. Hotel prices are sourced from a sample of U.S. News Best Hotels rates through 2015-2016. Seven Mile Beach 4. Even if they are stingrays and have the potential to inflict painful wounds via their tail, do not panic as they are not in their aggressive or defensive mode. The Cayman Islands is a world-class diving destination famous for its reefs, wrecks and rum. The best part about the dive is the . Bloody Bay Wall is located in Little Cayman. From Rolex watches to Caymanite earrings to a shell necklace. There's much to discover beyond theme parks in this Southeastern state. You will find the Cayman Islands to be very diverse, from quiet Little Cayman, to bustling Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman. Bloody Bay Wall is considered the epicenter of scuba diving in this marine park. While accessible from shore, it is a long surface swim so diving the Oro Verde by boat is recommended. After exploring the area, here are some of the best dive sites in the Cayman Islands: 1. This is a wall that drops 2000 meters to the sea floor. This is a shore dive, meaning that you enter the water from the shore, and then swim to Cheeseburger Reef. We highly advise you ask your local dive shop on the dos and donts in diving a particular dive site. Once you decide which route you want to go, it's time to get in the water! Stingrays, stingrays, and more stingrays is what draws divers to this Cayman site. When diving through the cut itself, look under and in crevices, plenty of little critters make homes for themselves here. Little Cayman was first discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1503. Cheeseburger Reef is located in George Town, Grand Cayman. 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. Otherwise, it is clear that December through April are the best months of the year to visit Grand Cayman, especially early April. Occasionally, a nurse shark rest on the sand. We rarely boast about our service but we believe it's what sets us apart and makes us truly original, so please forgive this moment of unabashed self-promotion. Wilderness Wall starts at 15 meters (50ft) before plunging down into the depths. 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. Bloody Bay Wall. Of course, the Soviets didnt call her Keith Tibbets, she was renamed for a local dive operator after the Cayman government purchased the wreck for dive tourism. 1. If wall diving is your thing, check out diving in Turks & Caicos. Black coral and colorful sponges decorate the near-vertical face and the shallows are dotted with large coral heads teeming with marine life. We understand that diving the best Grand Cayman Dives is the primary goal of your Grand Cayman Dive vacation. A direct flight from Miami to Grand Cayman takes only 70 minutes. knowledge to ensure you know when to dive to enjoy the very best Despite the name, you arent guaranteed to see tarpon here. Diving in the Cayman Islands | PADI While the gazebo itself is actually an arch, this small dive site never fails to please. If the forecast looks good, they should consider taking a last-minute trip to Grand Cayman if they also spot an attractive discount. If you want to get rid of the tourist crowd in Grand Cayman and explore a dive site that is remote and that the diver to fish ratio is 1 to a million, then we suggest you head out northwest of Grand Cayman via a Cayman Liveaboard vessel in a site called Babylon. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Best 5 Dive Resorts In Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands - Trip101 Divers can observe the bow guns and go along the rails to make some great photos. The ship has been opened up with large access holes so that you can swim through the interior of the ship. A favourite stop for those diving and snorkeling lovers, the Bay Islands' important three islands are Roatan, Utila and Guanaja. The best time to visit the Cayman Islands is between March and June when the hotel rates drop. Hotels, resorts and cruise ships dont like unsold rooms and cabins, so they are more likely to offer discounts to attract customers. Dive Shop and Front desk is open 7 days per week | 7am to 6pm and can be reached directly on (345)-640-7500 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. 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. 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. to dive in Cayman Islands. There is a separate fee to dive this wreck that goes towards conservation, and you also get a nice yellow diver medallion to keep. Despite the name, there arent actually caves here. 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. This is one of the best dive sites in Cayman Brac, and is a must-do experience. Nature lovers are lured to diverse hiking trails, caves, and a variety of flora and fauna around the island. Here, you can take diving lessons, go on a guided dive, or rent tanks and gear. Grand Cayman scuba diving is also more popular than on the other islands due to the stingray population there. StingrayCity. 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. They were all guided dives. 4. Cayman Islands Liveaboard Diving | Scuba Diving Earth Grand Cayman Diving - Scuba Diving in the Cayman Islands 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. But its not just the heat that matters when visiting the Cayman Islands. Aside from tourism promotion, marine conservation is in place in all the dive sites in the Cayman Islands. A shallow dive site, the colors here really pop making it a good choice for photographers. Best Time to Dive in Little Cayman. Choose from a selection of more than 250 vessels and 18,000 trips worldwide. Everything here is very low key and there is a small local population. Bert Brothers Boulders is also a great spot to see flying gurnards at around 5.5 meters (18ft). Diving is available year-round. 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. Tarpon Alley is part of the North Wall with depths between 15 to 25 meters (50-80ft). The depths start at around 12m/40ft and end at 30m/98ft. Best Diving sites in Cayman Islands - Scuba dive reviews by Divezone This spot is about 20-feet deep, and has a lot of coral. The islands are warm year-round with average highs holding steady in the 80s. From April to October water temperature are at least 27 o C (81 o F) and can reach over 30 o C (85 o F). View Map. Exploring this site requires you to descend to 10 meters (33 feet) deep where you will arrive at the top portion of the reef. For shark diving, we suggest the Maze, Scuba Bowl and the Grouper Grotto which is also filled with lots of good-size groupers. The ship was originally built for the US Army Transportation Corps over 70-years ago. Perhaps because of this, the coral isnt looking a healthy as it could. Cayman Islands Travel Guide - Cayman Islands Travel Tips & Attractions Not to be confused with the Anchor Point dive sites in Scotlands Loch Fyne, the Solomon Islands, or Sri Lanka, the Cayman dive site is located on Grand Cayman and is characterized by swathes of black coral. Also, check out our article where we review the top 25 things to do in Grand Cayman. I have lived in the corporate world for a few years now with very little excitement in my life. I have traveled to the Cayman islands many times. 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. The wreck of the Captain Keith is unusual it is the only Soviet-made warship that divers can visit in the western hemisphere. Visibility in the Cayman Islands is wonderful, averaging between 60 and 100 feet (18-30 meters). 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. 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. Both of these sites are accessible from shore. 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. 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. Best Time To Dive The Cayman Island Eden Rock has lots of coral and fish, and Devils Grotto has underwater caves that you can explore. Yes, that is true and get ready since the 333 islands of Fiji will take you into a quintessential South United Arab Emirates: Unspoiled Dive Sites. Ive been to Grand Cayman and Little 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. 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;}. This is one of the deepest sea-walls in the world. 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. I make money by sharing links to services that I personally use and recommend. There is a lot of soft coral here, which makes for an interesting experience. Tieneke, Joe, and Kevin went out of their way to accommodate our dive group and show us a really great time. Water Temperatures: Ranges from around 22C (72F) in December to 29C (84F) in July. 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. 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. Schools of bright snappers brightened the reefs among colorful sponges. 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.