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. Exploring this site requires you to initially descend to 18 meters (60 feet) deep where the wall starts. Best Time to Dive Cayman Islands. 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. Although this is a wall dive, the cut in the sites name comes from the swim-through many divers use upon descent. The waters here are 15 to 25 meters deep. This site is a firm favorite among local dive masters, most likely because of the intriguing geological features but there is plenty of marine life here too. Courtesy of Sunset House Resort, Grand Cayman. Located near a popular resort is a vertical drop off that is filled with all sorts of marine life the North Wall. Bloody Bay Wall Bloody Bay Wall is located in Little Cayman. Located in the western Caribbean, just 480 miles south of Miami, Cayman is perfect for scuba diving and snorkelling, boasting some of the Caribbean's best excursions. Why? 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 . Grand Cayman is the most visited island in the Cayman Islands by Scuba Divers. 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;}. It is worth noting however that from June until October is the hurricane season in the Caribbean. With a PADI Travel account, you can favourite dive operators to come back to later on any device or computer. Out in the open, expect schools of Nassau groupers, turtles, and snappers. 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. 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. September is the worst month of the Caribbean hurricane season, which officially goes from June through November. 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. On top of being generally warm, the waters are clear with underwater visibility running from 18 30 meters (60 100 feet). Wheres the best place(s) to stay when looking into a diving trip in the Caymans? Cruise ships visit here, so expect everything you would find in most international cruise ship ports. Eels, rays, sharks, and turtles are frequently seen. Press the question mark key to get the keyboard shortcuts for changing dates. Apart from the elephant ear sponges, keep your eyes peeled for blacktip Carribean reef sharks in the blue. Even though July is a popular month, it is not necessarily a good time to go because of the reasons below. They pickup from the Westin, Ritz and Kimpton Seafire beaches for their West Dives, which is one of their standout features. The ship has been opened up with large access holes so that you can swim through the interior of the ship. The majority of travel agents will advise you that the best time to visit Grand Cayman in order to get the most bang for your buck on a vacation to the Cayman Islands is between the months of March and June. Our mission has been to do this with the best crew, using the best equipment while offering the most competing Cayman Islands dive packages. for even more in-depth travel advice. Originally coined 356, this wreck is now called the M/V Captain Keith Tibbetts after a well-known Cayman Brac politician. The people of the island are friendly and culturally diverse. Nature lovers are lured to diverse hiking trails, caves, and a variety of flora and fauna around the island. Each time has been a wonderful underwater adventure. With world class conditions and a robust dive industry, the Cayman Islands is one of the best places to learn how to dive. For beginners or those who get nervous in enclosed spaces, there are plenty of decks around the exterior to check out. 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. 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. In this article, we review the top 20 scuba dive sites in the Cayman Islands. Head to around 30m/98ft for some of the best wall views. 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. Find a Liveaboard -Practical Information - Book a Trip. East End 5. For example, let's look at one airline flying from Miami to Grand Cayman. Perhaps because of this, the coral isnt looking a healthy as it could. If you are vacationing in Cayman Brac, then you need to visit this spot. I have lived in the corporate world for a few years now with very little excitement in my life. They have ladders that you can use to enter and exit the water safely. Divers in the Caymans visit Kittiwake for the wreck itself. The winter and early spring months are the most popular time in the Cayman Islands. Choose from a selection of more than 250 vessels and 18,000 trips worldwide. All the information you need to plan your dive vacations anywhere in the world. In a nutshell, its an island full of land and water adventures. My wife and I are traveling there in February 2015 and are PADI AOW and Nitrox certified with ten years of recreational experience diving. 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. The protected Bloody Bay Marine Park lies in Little Cayman and offers magnificent marine life, great visibility, and spectacular bioluminescent corals. Grand Cayman is the most commercial island, with cruise ships visiting, but it has some wrecks and the wall dives are close boat rides. Our reviews: We can make the world a little bit better with great in-depth reviews. 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. It is common to see barracudas and schools of horse-eye jacks in this area. You may see hammerhead sharks if you are lucky. Grab your gear and dive into the crystal clear waters of Grand Cayman! Below are our recommendations for the best months to dive in Take a walk along the coast line or rent a bicycle and ride around the island. Over 200 permanent boat moorings are installed to avoid damaging corals with the dropping of boat anchors. A 2018 poll listed Bonaire as the best dive spot for beginners, conservation, freediving, macro diving, shore diving, and snorkeling. Turtles munched on big sponges with no worries about divers hanging about. We are proud to off-set 100% of the carbon generated by our clients' flights. During the day rays, turtles, the occasional barracuda and plenty of reef fish mean theres a lot to keep divers engaged. You will find Nassau gropers, triggerfish, and other unique marine life at the Bloody Bay Wall. 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. It is possible to go scuba diving in Little Cayman all year round and the water temperature only varies from 21-27 degrees. You can go hiking in the Mastic Trail where it has really nice views from the harbors and the beaches. The dive boat did make the excursion across to Little Cayman's Bloody Bay wall one day which is very achievable from Cayman Brac. 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. 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. Babylon is located on the North Wall in Grand Cayman. You can spot eagle rays, reef sharks, sailfin blennies, tilefish, peacock flounders, garden eels, or yellow-headed jawfish. Find & Book PADI Adventures App We'll whisk you through the security queues (where available). Swim throughs, ledges, overhangs, and an average depth of 12 meters (40ft) make this a Cayman dive site for all experience levels to explore. 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. A 50% deposit is required at the time of booking with the final 50% . Intermediate divers can begin their dive at the chimney, a narrow tunnel starting at 12m/40ft and ending at 24m/80ft. When to go Best time Low season Off season Where to go when September and October are clearly the least popular months to go because of a high risk of heavy rains along with hot temperatures. GOT QUESTIONS ABOUT DIVING IN CAYMANS? 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. Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman house over 300 dive sites, making up the breathtaking Cayman dive map. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Grand Cayman is the most commercial island, with a lot of resorts, great nightlife, and more tourist attractions. Rainfall starts to climb in May. In addition, you're more likely to snag a hotel deal during these months. 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. Because great in-depth gear reviews will help you select the right products for your specific needs, budget, and interests. 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. Best time to dive in Cayman Islands The diving is great year round in the Caribbean, something that is promoted with the dive 365 program. There are over 15 PADI 5-Star Centers in the Cayman Islands, ready to teach you everything you want to know about diving. Cayman Islands, as well as our suggestions for the best places to The sea is always warm in the Cayman Islands, with surface temperatures never dropping below around 25 o C (78 o F). 1. Now large groups of southern stingrays are lurking around daily. Sharks and turtles are frequent visitors as are snappers, groupers, and grunts. If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. The Cayman Islands has also designated four special areas for protection such as marine park zones, replenishment zones, environmental zones, and no diving zones. This is one of the top island destinations in the United Kingdom. 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. So, either way, the experience is well worth the money. The famous diver and explorer Jacques Cousteau said that Bloody Bay Wall is one of the top dive sites in the world. 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. If you're looking for great diving and hotel prices, the best time is between March and June when the rates all drop. There is also an air pocket in a decompression chamber that you can pop into and chat with your buddy!! The dives are shallow and you can closely observe them swimming around or above you. U.S. News rates the cheapest travel insurance options, considering expert and consumer recommendations. From our 24hr helpline to our expert local guides and selection of handpicked reading lists. Address. Photographers can make the worst dive buddies. Grand Cayman and Little Cayman are the main diving areas in the Cayman Islands which are recognized as having one of the best wall dives in the world. As a diver, with a PADI account you can access your eLearning along with many more tools to help you on your adventures. Orange Canyon is a popular dive site on the west-side of Grand Cayman. As of 2023, you can renew your passport online. Purposely sunk in 2011, she now sits upright in the sand at 18 meters (60ft) and is a teeming artificial reef encrusted with coral. [What You Need to Know]. Grand Cayman, the main island, is often one of the most popular destinations in the Caribbean, especially with western Caribbean cruises. You need to protect your fingers from the eager snappers though. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Wilderness Wall starts at 15 meters (50ft) before plunging down into the depths. There are also lots of tarpon and small silver sprats in this area. Welcome to my scuba diving bucket list. Elkhorn corals adorn the tops of the ridges while large gorgonians, tube sponges, and hard corals occupy the gullies. Theres good diving, with great Walls and of course stingray city, where you can see and feed stingrays. You need to take a boat to reach this wreck. 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. Book your next cruise vacation on one of these floating megaresorts. 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. 5. Our team will meet you at the airport and fast-track you through. If you love nature, you can go hiking or explore some caverns and caves. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Look in the blue off the wall for passing sharks, rays, and turtles. A direct flight from Miami to Grand Cayman takes only 70 minutes. Bloody Bay Wall is considered the epicenter of scuba diving in this marine park. December and July are good times for families because children are out of school for the holidays and summer. Grand Cayman makes a good dive vacation, but for us it was a great stop with plenty of good diving over 3 days on the way home from Cayman Brac. 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. This island is very small and there is little to do, other than dive. 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. Boat rides were no longer than 15 minutes, with most being around 5 minutes. Still great for diving with great walls for all levels of divers and the walls and the Russian destroyer 356 aka Russian destroyer. Once you decide which route you want to go, it's time to get in the water! 4 of the Best Places to Go Shore Diving in Grand Cayman. Stingray City has very large, friendly stingrays. Generally, the off-season is the cheapest time to visit Grand Cayman, from May through November. . Northerners also want to get away from the cold and snow of winter. Despite the name, there arent actually caves here. Diving is available year-round. It is Batabano, the countrys biggest festival, which is scheduled for early May each year. Scuba Divers can experience the world's best 12ft dive site at Stingray City, the beautiful Starfish Point and Bloody Bay . Lemon Reef is a mini-wall dive site located on the North Wall in Grand Cayman. 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. The best time to see whitetip reef sharks in the Cayman Islands is from May to August. The water depth here is around 18-meters. Closer to the reef, turtles, groupers, horse-eyed jacks, and an over-abundance of lionfish make this colorful site even more interesting. The wreck was specifically set up for safe penetration, giving divers many interior rooms to explore. Click the link below to read our article about the USS Kittiwake: Wilderness Wall is located on the south-side of Cayman Brac. The Eden Rock Dive Center has everything you need for an unforgettable day underwater in the Cayman Islands. North Wall 2. stingray city 3. It exceeds six inches in August and jumps again to more than eight inches in September and October. From these locations, I was able to dive the west end and also the North Wall. Stingrays and turtles are known to swim here. From full scuba certification courses to one-day experiences for those who've never breathed off a regulator, the Cayman Islands qualify as an scuba diving shrine. Now it has become a beautiful artificial reef and home for colorful sponges, groupers, barracudas and other marine life. The course includes a 2-hour pool and theory session, and an . It was named after the famous free-diver Penny Ventura. Grandview Condominiums are located on the south end of 7 Mile Beach in George Town on the scuba diving island of Grand Cayman. There are 365 dive sites throughout the islands, offering something for all levels of experience. While accessible from shore, it is a long surface swim so diving the Oro Verde by boat is recommended. Twitter Cayman Brac Beach Resort. Cayman Islands Reservations Phone: (345)-947-0000 Our Reservations Office is located on site at the Dive Shop & Resort in the Cayman Islands. In effect, there are more registered businesses in Cayman Island as compared to its local population. A favourite stop for those diving and snorkeling lovers, the Bay Islands' important three islands are Roatan, Utila and Guanaja. 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. Head to the turret guns for a superb photo opportunity and keep your eyes peeled for barracuda, bright sponges, and schooling reef fish. 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. December rainfall drops back down to about three inches. 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 . In general, the tourism industry in the Cayman Islands is designed with divers in mind. The Cayman Islands-- Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac--have been attracting scuba divers for decades, including beginners! A few great choices are the Sunset House Hotel in Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac Beach Resort and the Little Cayman Beach Resort. 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. It does not make the product pricier for you. 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. It was named Orange Canyon because of the large orange Elephant Ear Sponges that can be found here. Choose from private or single rates, we will find you the best possible option to help you enjoy the famous Cayman Stingray City. Cheeseburger Reef is located in George Town, Grand Cayman. 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). Both Grand Cayman and Little Cayman have great diving. September and October are the riskiest months to visit Grand Cayman because of the higher than normal amounts of rain. As a photographer, I never lacked for subjects both wide angle and macro and anything in between. 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. Roberts Wall is located on the North Wall in Grand Cayman. Its land area is slightly bigger than Little Cayman with a measurement of 19 x 2 kilometers (12miles x 1.2miles). The prices of hotels and short excursions that would normally be prohibitively expensive fall to more reasonable levels during this time. Hotel prices are sourced from a sample of U.S. News Best Hotels rates through 2015-2016. Only ten miles long and one mile wide, this is a place where you can truly focus on your opportunity to relax. 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. You could spend . The Cayman Islands is a world-class diving destination famous for its reefs, wrecks and rum. Theres also Little Cayman thats the least developed of the 3 islands. 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. You will then follow a sloping reef up to 25 meters (82 feet) deep where the wall starts and drops down up to 900 meters (2,950 feet) deep. There is also a small restaurant and dive resort. Our Original Diving experts, made up of marine biologists, divemasters and lovers of all things underwater, know the best time to dive in Little Cayman. Collect your trip ideas, share with friends or make an enquiry. And when it comes to marine life, there is lots to see! It now rests in an upright position at a depth of 27meters (89feet). There is also a restaurant, bar and dive shop at Macabuca. Please Sign-in or Register to save My Ideas for later, Our social channels 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. When shopping and eating out, be sure to identify which currency prices . 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. A huge pinnacle branches out, creating a corridor-like passageway that is used by large pelagics cruising up from the abyss. You will see many sea creatures such as octopus and arrow crabs. Grand Cayman Island probably has the best diving as it has the North Wall deep drop-off dive and the USS Kittiwake wreck dive. Stingray City is in only 12ft (4m) of water and is a huge draw for divers and underwater photographers. And, thanks to a keen focus on conservation, many of the country's famous underwater spectacles are still well worth a visit today. Use Add to ideas + to collect your trip ideas, share with friends or make Around the coral fingers, stingrays, eagle rays and yellowhead jawfish rest on the sandy patches. The Cayman Islands dollar is legal tender in these islands. 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. The highlight of the dive is the photo opportunity with this Cayman reefs most famous resident. Some of those services give me a small percentage of what you pay as commission for my referral. Manage Settings 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. Little Cayman was first discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1503. Average rainfall jumps to more than five inches in May, June and July. I have traveled to the Cayman islands many times. Great diving. Besides the thick black corals, keep an eye out for tarpon, large yellow tube sponges, and ginormous barrel sponges. Along the drop-off, crevices and canyons cut through the reefs face. We have put together a comprehensive collection of packages to suit your needs. You will need little more (and some prefer less) than a 3 mm full length wetsuit. 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. Give the perfect gift for your favorite ocean lover and explorer. Because the site is prone to strong currents, it isnt frequently dived which makes a trip to this very healthy reef even more special. The Cayman Turtle Farm is one of the most visited land attractions on the island.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'scubadivegeek_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_1',121,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-scubadivegeek_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'scubadivegeek_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_2',121,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-scubadivegeek_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0_1'); .large-mobile-banner-1-multi-121{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none !important;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:7px !important;margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-top:7px !important;max-width:100% !important;min-height:50px;padding:0;text-align:center !important;}.