Scuba Diving Operators on Little Cayman - Little Cayman Forum Diving Cayman Islands: Best Wall Dives in the World Cayman Islands Reservations Phone: (345)-947-0000 Our Reservations Office is located on site at the Dive Shop & Resort in the 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. Plus, the water temperature ranges between 78-82F (26-28C). Its also the historical rainfall patterns. 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. Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman house over 300 dive sites, making up the breathtaking Cayman dive map. ASK US HERE! Water Temperatures: Ranges from around 22C (72F) in December to 29C (84F) in July. The months of January and February are the coldest, with average lows in the low 60s. When shopping and eating out, be sure to identify which currency prices . Sea temperature varies little, from a high of 86F/30C in August/September to a low of 80F/26.5C in February. Over a 30-year history, the islands have averaged less than two inches of rain from January through April and a little more than two inches in December, according to the Cayman Islands National Weather Service. 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). 5 of the Best Scuba Diving Sites in the Cayman Islands The most interesting topside activities for us were exploring the island in a rental car and driving on the left side of the road. Just south of Seven Mile Beach and approximately 46 feet below the surface are Eden Rock and Devil's Grotto, two of the most popular diving spots on Grand Cayman. From our 24hr helpline to our expert local guides and selection of handpicked reading lists. Find & Book PADI Adventures App If you are vacationing in Cayman Brac, then you need to visit this spot. Please Sign-in or Register I would like to mention 2 points though, one that it is a bit expensive, both the accommodations and the diving, and secondly, it looks like they allow open water divers to do the deeper wall dives, where you can be as deep as 100 feet, just an FYI, in case youre not comfortable at that depth. The best part about the dive is the . Its land area is slightly bigger than Little Cayman with a measurement of 19 x 2 kilometers (12miles x 1.2miles). The best time to visit the Cayman Islands is between March and April. Over 200 permanent boat moorings are installed to avoid damaging corals with the dropping of boat anchors. 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. Located south-east of the Gulf of Mexico and close to Jamaica, Cuba, and Haiti, diving in the Caymans offers classic Carribean underwater scenes and the chance to spot both large and small marine life. September can bring rougher waters if there is a tropical storm, and that is also the month with a higher chance of a hurricane, although hurricanes are not common. With virtually no currents and outstanding underwater visibility, Cayman has amazing wall dives, coral reefs and wrecks for you to explore and discover. Head to the turret guns for a superb photo opportunity and keep your eyes peeled for barracuda, bright sponges, and schooling reef fish. . Wakatobi Dive Resort, a private island south of Sulawesi, understands thisand that shooters trek to this country, one of the most biodiverse hotspots on the planet, to capture images of every critter possible. There are lots of other fish and coral. The 6 Best Dive Sites in the Cayman Islands - PADI Blog If you have time, you should also take a flight to Little Cayman from Grand Cayman, and dive at Bloody Bay Wall. I guess thats one drawback of guided dives, everyone is constantly on the move, not ideal for photography, especially macro photography. They have ladders that you can use to enter and exit the water safely. Out in the open, expect schools of Nassau groupers, turtles, and snappers. When diving the Cayman Islands you can see a lot of large sponges, some good macro, and some tiny fish. Bloody Bay Marine Park is a particularly popular diving destination as it is home to 12 different dive sites, gorgeous coral, and diverse marine life. A 2.75 meter (9ft) bronze statue of Amphitrite (the wife of the mythological god Poseidon) rises up from the base of the reef. Below are our recommendations for the best months to dive in Everything here is very low key and there is a small local population. In the 2019 Scuba Diving Magazine Readers Choice Awards, the Islands were named one of the Best Overall Dive Destination in the Caribbean/Atlantic and scored first place for Best Advanced Diving and Underwater Photography. 6. It is common to see barracudas and schools of horse-eye jacks in this area. This is a deep wall that drops several hundred feet into the abyss. PrivacyPolicy, 2023 Original Diving | Web Design by D3R. Cayman Islands Snorkeling: Discover The Best Spots in this Complete Guide The Cayman Islands dollar is legal tender in these islands. You can go hiking in the Mastic Trail where it has really nice views from the harbors and the beaches. that the underwater world (and overwater, if you plan on surfacing Sign up to get the latest updates, offers and more. This world-class scuba destination is colorful, bright, and teeming with life. Little Caymans Bloody Bay is home to some of the most dramatic and spectacular drop-offs and swim-throughs in the Carribean. 3. Elkhorn corals adorn the tops of the ridges while large gorgonians, tube sponges, and hard corals occupy the gullies. Most of the units for rent are 2-bedroom and 2-bathroons units. Which Cayman island has the best diving? | ZuBlu There is also an air pocket in a decompression chamber that you can pop into and chat with your buddy!! They can offer up their first-hand Once you decide which route you want to go, it's time to get in the water! Wonderful restaurants nearby. Grand Cayman's North Wall plunges deeper than 1800 metres/6000 feet and offers beautiful wall diving with opportunities to see spotted eagle rays and sea turtles. You need to protect your fingers from the eager snappers though. Best time to dive When to dive in the Cayman Islands entirely depends on your own personal preferences. Babylon is located on the North Wall in Grand Cayman. Cathy Church has a shop at Sunset House where you can often meet her and see her beautiful underwater photos from the area. Get certified to scuba dive. All the information you need to plan your dive vacations anywhere in the world. They became my favorite focus on the reef. 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. Wilderness Wall starts at 15 meters (50ft) before plunging down into the depths. From Grand Cayman, you can transfer to Little Cayman or Cayman Brac. 7. The Best Time to Visit the Cayman Islands in 2023 | Travellers After exploring the area, here are some of the best dive sites in the Cayman Islands: 1. 6. Best Diving Destination in the Carribean: The Cayman Islands Live a life others only dream about. Moray eels and angelfish move among the coral, and turtles are often seen cruising over the reef. 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. [] Best Diving sites in Cayman Islands - Scuba dive reviews by Divezone The Cayman Islands certainly offer diversity without a long trip from the states. Rainfall starts to climb in May. Here, you can take diving lessons, go on a guided dive, or rent tanks and gear. Both are wonderful underwater. For water sports lovers, there are great spots for snorkeling including night snorkeling with bioluminescence, options to go sailing or on a catamaran cruise. There is shopping, bars to hang out in, and live music. Do you love diving in the Caymans? Watch your buoyancy and head out into the blue, look back to really appreciate the Great Walls sheer size and impressive drop-off. Because the site is prone to strong currents, it isnt frequently dived which makes a trip to this very healthy reef even more special. We did not make it to Stingray city, but did get to the other must do dive in Grand Cayman - the USS Kittiwake, a submarine rescue vessel. The water clarity is typically amazingly clear. But they are sometimes the cheapest months to visit. Best 5 Dive Resorts In Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands - Trip101 11 Dive Resorts in the Cayman Islands | PADI Travel This is one of the best dive sites in Cayman Brac, and is a must-do experience. Black coral and colorful sponges decorate the near-vertical face and the shallows are dotted with large coral heads teeming with marine life. It is possible to go scuba diving in Little Cayman all year round and the water temperature only varies from 21-27 degrees. Drop us a comment below and tell us your favorite site! Princess Pennies Pinnacle is located on the North Wall in Grand Cayman. Grand Cayman is a beautiful dive destination with many options for accommodations and for diving. 10 Best Dive Destinations in the Caribbean 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. The Cayman dollar is exchanged at a rate fixed to the US dollar (CI $1 equals US $1.25). 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. Don't forget to visit Stingray City before leaving Grand Cayman. Water temperatures are usually low 80's F. Marine life is plentiful and varied. For shark diving, we suggest the Maze, Scuba Bowl and the Grouper Grotto which is also filled with lots of good-size groupers. While the gazebo itself is actually an arch, this small dive site never fails to please. // Cayman Islands | Maduro Dive | Exclusive Scuba Diving Packages 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. Cayman Islands Travel Guide - Cayman Islands Travel Tips & Attractions Best Time to Dive in Cayman Islands - Original Diving Cayman Islands has an average water temperature ranging from 26 29C (78 84F). 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. As for temperature and weather, the Cayman Islands are tropical, meaning it's warm 365 days a year. Aside from tourism promotion, marine conservation is in place in all the dive sites in the Cayman Islands. 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. Having a less touristic crowd, Cayman Brac still has several tourism facilities like Cayman Brac Dive Resorts that are scattered along its narrow coast. Theres good diving, with great Walls and of course stingray city, where you can see and feed stingrays. The reef slopes gradually from 5 to 17 meters (17-55ft), and is covered in hard corals, sea whips, small sponges and gorgonians. The best time to visit Grand Cayman is March and April. Get forecasts each morning for every major island. We understand that diving the best Grand Cayman Dives is the primary goal of your Grand Cayman Dive vacation. Apart from the elephant ear sponges, keep your eyes peeled for blacktip Carribean reef sharks in the blue. you are in the right place at the right time to see the very best 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. Clearly Cayman Group Specials - Big savings on 7-night stays! 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. There is a reason you won't find under a 5-star review for Silver Thatch, they are the best. On top of being generally warm, the waters are clear with underwater visibility running from 18 30 meters (60 100 feet). U.S. News rates the cheapest travel insurance options, considering expert and consumer recommendations. Most people see flights, accommodations, and activities far cheaper during this time since fewer tourists are visiting. The 6 Best Dive Sites in the Cayman Islands Cecily Russell 3 April, 2022 The trio of Cayman Islands is a British Overseas Territory situated in the western Caribbean Sea. Best Scuba Diving Destinations in the World - The Cayman Islands A highlight dive is the Tibbets wreck with great structure and lots of life. 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. And when it comes to marine life, there is lots to see! 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. 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. Intermediate divers can begin their dive at the chimney, a narrow tunnel starting at 12m/40ft and ending at 24m/80ft. 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. Generally, the off-season is the cheapest time to visit Grand Cayman, from May through November. It does not make the product pricier for you. Click the link below to read our article about Macabuca: Tarpon Alley is located at the North Wall in Grand Cayman. 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. Jackson's Bight- Located also in the Bloody Bay Marine Park, it does not fail to provide scuba divers with an amazing dive. Navigate backward to interact with the calendar and select a date. iFrameResize({log:true, enablePublicMethods:true}); 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. 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 wreck can be penetrated in some parts but speak for your guide or instructor beforehand. The islands are warm year-round with average highs holding steady in the 80s. If you want to escape the crowds of cruise ship passengers, the East End is the place to go. While Grand Cayman, the most popular island, has a mix of accessible shore and boat diving. Get in touch with our specialists Twitter 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. Grand Cayman is the most visited island in the Cayman Islands by Scuba Divers. Best Time to Dive Cayman Islands Diving is available year-round. Another top option for divers, Cayman Brac Beach Resort is, as its name implies, located on the third island in the Cayman Islands: 15-square-mile Cayman Brac. View Map. 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. 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 Dive Into the Cayman Islands | Cond Nast Traveler 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. Hotels, resorts and cruise ships dont like unsold rooms and cabins, so they are more likely to offer discounts to attract customers. Enjoy 20% OFF select PADI eLearning programs, FREE ReActivate online refresher, subscription to Scuba Diving magazine + so much more when you join PADI Club. Turtles munched on big sponges with no worries about divers hanging about. Overall it is a place worth seeing. Along the drop-off, crevices and canyons cut through the reefs face. Before she was decommissioned in 1994, the USS Kittiwake was a Navy Chanticleer-class submarine rescue vessel. I have traveled to the Cayman islands many times. Sharp-eyed divers can find leopard flatworms and the tunnels are also popular hangouts for rays and green moray eels. This is a wall that drops 2000 meters to the sea floor. Also known as the Mixing Bowl, Three Fathom Wall is the point where Jacksons Bight and the Bloody Bay diving areas meet. 4 Places to Go Shore Diving in Grand Cayman | The Residences marine life, be it the tiny critters or bigger beasts of the ocean. While the tropical vacation destination does see fewer crowds, this is the rainiest season in the Cayman Islands so you may have to contend with some showers. Average rainfall jumps to more than five inches in May, June and July. link to Fiji: Dive the Soft Coral Capital of the World, link to United Arab Emirates: Unspoiled Dive Sites, Wall diving, drift diving, cave diving, shore diving, boat diving, deep diving, and wreck diving, 100 different species of hard and soft corals plus over 500 species of tropical fish like the South-Atlantic stingrays, eagle rays, manta rays, nurse sharks, Caribbean reef sharks, flying gurnards, Nassau groupers, tarpon fish, Grand Cayman: Snorkeling at Stingray City, visit Dolphin Cove, hiking in the Mastic Trail, Pedro St. James National Historic Site, Cayman Islands National Museum, and the Cayman Turtle Farm. For diving, the reefs are easy to reach from many dive operators and offer a diversity of schooling fish, sponges, turtles, rays, and even sharks. With over 40 operators and 365 sites marked with moorings, thrill-seekers from all over take the plunge here. In the shallows, flamingo tongues cling onto sea fans while lobsters, eels, and jewfish can be found hiding in the ridges and gullies. We dived 3 days in February 2014, and they were all excellent and memorable dives. When we talk about Fiji, what immediately comes into our mind is a tropical dream holiday. Our mission has been to do this with the best crew, using the best equipment while offering the most competing Cayman Islands dive packages. I am a scuba diving newbie, a Project Manager by profession, and an entrepreneur at heart. The Cayman Islands dollar is issued in units of $100, $50, $25, $10, $5 and $1 with coins of 25 cents, 10, 5 and one cent. Still great for diving with great walls for all levels of divers and the walls and the Russian destroyer 356 aka Russian destroyer. This is the most famous dive site in the Cayman Islands - and with good reason. Jacques Costeau loved diving in the Caymans and its easy to see why. There are over 15 PADI 5-Star Centers in the Cayman Islands, ready to teach you everything you want to know about diving. However, as we just mentioned, diving in the Cayman Islands is possible all year round. The best dive site is either Bloody Bay Wall in Little Cayman or the USS Kittiwake in Grand Cayman. This is currently number 20 on the 100 Best Dives list. This site is well-known and popular with divers, snorkelers, and glass-bottom boaters alike. Reservations Office is open Monday-Friday | 8:30am-5:30pm Cayman Islands time. You get to enjoy some of the warm weather, which is especially nice if you live in the northern U.S., where it's still winter. If you like diving in caves and grottos, Trinity Caves on Grand Caymans west side is the site for you. Top dives include the famous 1000 Steps, the Hilmer Hooker wreck, and Bari Reef. 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. These Florida Keys resorts are ideal for family getaways and romantic retreats. It does not make the product pricier for you. It seems the dive guides hunt the lionfish and then feed the groupers, so they joined us right away each dive. Little Cayman, Cayman Islands. Little Cayman GoPro Video Workshop: April 2023, Best Liveaboard Destinations for Beginners, shifted the Kittiwake from her original position. I have been diving in Grand Cayman several times. No diving trip in Grand Cayman would be complete without a dive at the infamous Stingray City. 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 dives are shallow and you can closely observe them swimming around or above you. Photographers will love Greenhouse for its varied macro life. Lionfish have become an invasive species and some of the dive operators offer culling excursions. The best time to visit Grand Cayman is March and April. June to October brings . Crabs and lobsters are among the critters hiding in the crevices. Click here to learn more. There is a lot of marine life among the coral and resident angelfish and groupers are found at the stern of the ship. Just be prepared for a rain shower or two, as this is the start of the region's wet season. Some resorts offer "Hurricane protection". For beginners or those who get nervous in enclosed spaces, there are plenty of decks around the exterior to check out. Grab your gear and dive into the crystal clear waters of Grand Cayman! Both of these sites are accessible from shore. A huge pinnacle branches out, creating a corridor-like passageway that is used by large pelagics cruising up from the abyss. Diving in Little Cayman | PADI Corals and sponges are plentiful. Lighthouse Point is located in West Bay in Grand Cayman. We understand that annual leave is precious so we can ensure that 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. 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. The chart to the right using data from the Caribbean Tourism Organization shows that March is the most popular month of the year to visit followed by December and July. Best Time to Dive 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. The USS Kittiwake is an ex-US Navy ship that was purposely sunk in Grand Cayman to create a new dive site. Cayman Islands Diving - Everything You Need to Know She met her end on the reef in the late 70s, allegedly due to mutiny aboard. 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. 4. All content is copyright protected by either DIVEIN.com or respected copyright holders, Disclosure: We are reader supported, and earn. Bay Islands, Honduras. This is one of the top island destinations in the United Kingdom. The Cayman Islands are a premier diving destination, boasting 365 dive sites, as well as the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame . If you want to enjoy these five dive sites . Best Dive Sites in the Cayman Islands for a Magical - pickyourtrail Cayman Islands Diving - Caribbean Sea - Dive The World 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. If you don't want to sacrifice weather for a break on hotel prices, plan a trip for the region's dry season, which runs from November to April. 5. You can dive along this wall and explore the different entrances. You need to take a boat to reach this area. Though scuba diving in the Cayman Islands is mostly known for close encounters with stingrays, it has much more to offer. The dive boat did make the excursion across to Little Cayman's Bloody Bay wall one day which is very achievable from Cayman Brac. 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. December and July are good times for families because children are out of school for the holidays and summer. The three islands that make up the nation, Cayman Brac, Grand Cayman, and Little Cayman, are diverse and have distinct diving. 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. // ]]>, Call us today at+1-310-915-6677 or email us info@bluewaterdivetravel.com. So, either way, the experience is well worth the money. Scuba Divers can experience the world's best 12ft dive site at Stingray City, the beautiful Starfish Point and Bloody Bay . These hot temperatures start in May and last into November. Schools of bright snappers brightened the reefs among colorful sponges. The units are privately owned and furnished, but they have 21 accommodations available for rental use. Learn to dive in the Cayman Islands by Living the Dream Divers 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. "High Season" at the hotels is mid-December to mid-April, so rates will be higher then.