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. The non-divers with us were content to lounge by the pool, visit the spa, ride bikes, and go for walks. From the mooring, divers often descend through a cut in the reef and out onto the wall. ASK US HERE! 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. 6. As the name suggests, this Cayman dive site is known for eagle rays. If you are vacationing in Cayman Brac, then you need to visit this spot. Grand Cayman Island probably has the best diving as it has the North Wall deep drop-off dive and the USS Kittiwake wreck dive. Visibility in the Cayman Islands is wonderful, averaging between 60 and 100 feet (18-30 meters). There is also a small restaurant and dive resort. The best time to see whitetip reef sharks in the Cayman Islands is from May to August. Although this is a wall dive, the cut in the sites name comes from the swim-through many divers use upon descent. Eagle rays glide past in the blue water, triggerfish, Nassau groupers, electric yellow sponges and much make this site popular with divers in the Caymans. Continue with Recommended Cookies. For this reason, wreck junkies and aficionados often have the Keith on their to-dive lists. It exceeds six inches in August and jumps again to more than eight inches in September and October. December through April are especially popular times to go because of low risk of rainfall and more moderate temperatures. This is a must-do dive for people vacationing in Grand Cayman. It seems the dive guides hunt the lionfish and then feed the groupers, so they joined us right away each dive. 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. 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. Theres also Little Cayman thats the least developed of the 3 islands. 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. Courtesy of IreneCorti/Getty Images/iStockphoto. The waters here are 15 to 25 meters deep. Best Time to Dive Cayman Islands. 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. Photographers can make the worst dive buddies. Just be prepared for a rain shower or two, as this is the start of the region's wet season. Topside, the community is expanding with ongoing construction. Rum Point Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned diver, Grand Cayman has a dive site for you. Located in popular Bloody Bay, Donnas Delight is home to some classic Cayman wall diving: Giant barrel sponges, arching sea fans, and bright corals. Macro photographers should keep an eye out for the neck and decorator crabs who make their homes here. The flight and hotel fares are discounted up to 50 percent this time of year. The USS Kittiwake is an ex-US Navy ship that was purposely sunk in Grand Cayman to create a new dive site. Plus, along the wall, you can meet triggerfish, eagle rays, turtles, lobsters and many more! My favorite were the groupers who followed us like pets. Schools of bright snappers brightened the reefs among colorful sponges. I like the idea of being able to dive off both islands while staying on one. December rainfall drops back down to about three inches. 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. You will find Nassau gropers, triggerfish, and other unique marine life at the Bloody Bay Wall. Use Add to ideas + to collect your trip ideas, share with friends or make Also, check out our article where we review the top 25 things to do in Grand Cayman. Access to tools and resources at your fingertips, curated to enhance your diving experience. The resident goliath grouper is a popular dive buddy at this Cayman dive site. January and February are the coolest months with average lows in the high 60s. It is possible to go scuba diving in Little Cayman all year round and the water temperature only varies from 21-27 degrees. Here are a few of our favourite dive sites in Grand Cayman: 1. Indonesia. You will find the Cayman Islands to be very diverse, from quiet Little Cayman, to bustling Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman. And as you might imagine, the coral-encrusted archway makes for a fantastic photo opportunity. 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. While accessible from shore, it is a long surface swim so diving the Oro Verde by boat is recommended. No worries, the diving is world class on Bloody Bay Wall. Purposely sunk in 2011, she now sits upright in the sand at 18 meters (60ft) and is a teeming artificial reef encrusted with coral. A 2018 poll listed Bonaire as the best dive spot for beginners, conservation, freediving, macro diving, shore diving, and snorkeling. December and July are good times for families because children are out of school for the holidays and summer. Away from the reef, divers can look around the LCM David Nicholson wreck. Jacques Costeau loved diving in the Caymans and its easy to see why. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a country in Western Asia located at the northeast end of the Arabian Peninsula in the Persian Gulf. 1-800-652-1972. The Cayman Islands certainly offer diversity without a long trip from the states. Fiji: Dive the Soft Coral Capital of the World. Both are wonderful underwater. The shore diving was really easy to access with actual ladders or stairs and even showers at some sites. Three Fathom Wall is a popular night dive when eels, lobsters, and reef squid make an appearance. The best time to go to the Cayman Islands is in March and April because there is spring break from school and April has a combination of warm temperatures and a low risk of rain. We dived 3 days in February 2014, and they were all excellent and memorable dives. For big animals - you can find a good number of turtles and groupers, tarpon, nurse sharks, great barracuda, and stingrays. to save My Ideas for later. Naturally, this is also the most expensive season, and reservations must be made at least three months in advance. Nature lovers are lured to diverse hiking trails, caves, and a variety of flora and fauna around the island. 6. We'll whisk you through the security queues (where available). The Kittiwake is a 76.5 meter (250ft) former submarine support ship. Divers of all levels can explore the engines, pistons, and pieces of the wreck that are scattered at 18m/60ft. I have worked in the corporate world and had little time for adventure. So, either way, the experience is well worth the money. It lays at 60 ft (20 m) and scuba divers are able to explore all five levels of this 250 ft (75 m) vessel. This is one of the best dive sites in Cayman Brac, and is a must-do experience. From Rolex watches to Caymanite earrings to a shell necklace. Dive Shop and Front desk is open 7 days per week | 7am to 6pm and can be reached directly on (345)-640-7500 There are plenty of great dive resorts available, but liveaboard is the best option if you want to dive around all three islands. Hurricanes rarely hit Grand Cayman directly. Exploring its underwater habitats allows you to see an incredible reef that starts at 6 meters (20 feet) deep and slowly slopes down towards a vertical limestone wall that drops down up to 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) deep. There are actually around two dozen dive sites within the bay, with Bloody Bay Wall top of the list. July has a jump in visits for families in part because school children are out for the summer. 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. Penetration can be done in this wreck courtesy from its numerous entry and exit points that were made before it was intentionally sunk to become an artificial reef. Best Time to Dive in Little Cayman. If you enjoy snorkeling, then check out our article where we discuss the top 25 snorkel spots in Grand Cayman. Settle on the sand at just 3.7 meters (12ft) and have hordes of southern stingrays glide gracefully around you. Other highlights include barracudas, yellowtail snappers, hawksbill turtles, and stingrays that sleep in the sand. May through November, and especially September and October, are the riskiest months to visit. Cayman Brac offered multiple relaxed dive spots on reefs all along the edge of the island. 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. Despite the name, there arent actually caves here. 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. When diving the Cayman Islands you can see a lot of large sponges, some good macro, and some tiny fish. Turtles munched on big sponges with no worries about divers hanging about. "High Season" at the hotels is mid-December to mid-April, so rates will be higher then. 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. 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). 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. 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. 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 winter and early spring months are the most popular time in the Cayman Islands. Most of the units for rent are 2-bedroom and 2-bathroons units. Our Original Diving experts, made up of marine biologists, A 50% deposit is required at the time of booking with the final 50% . The highlight of the dive is the photo opportunity with this Cayman reefs most famous resident. The islands are warm year-round with average highs. There is also an air pocket in a decompression chamber that you can pop into and chat with your buddy!! It is rich with tunnels, chutes, cervices, and beautiful reefs. 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. 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. See and be seen at these stunning natural wonders. This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content. Cathy Church has a shop at Sunset House where you can often meet her and see her beautiful underwater photos from the area. 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. MV Capt. Moray eels and angelfish move among the coral, and turtles are often seen cruising over the reef. Devilishly deep drop-offs, wicked wreck dives and some of the coolest coral in the Caribbean have made the Cayman Islands a world-class dive destination. that the underwater world (and overwater, if you plan on surfacing After being intentionally sunk to become an artificial reef, this former 76 meter (251 feet) long naval vessel now rests at 18 meters (60 feet) deep near the world-renowned Seven Mile Beach. The sea is always warm in the Cayman Islands, with surface temperatures never dropping below around 25 o C (78 o F). Kittiwake- Though this wreck has been sunken rather recently and has not developed much coral yet, it is still a fantastic dive site for all levels. 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. While you can get some rain, it's not as common as during the summer. Wonderful restaurants nearby. Little Cayman was first discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1503. Closely packed ridges form huge coral heads between the shore and the reef wall. Originally coined 356, this wreck is now called the M/V Captain Keith Tibbetts after a well-known Cayman Brac politician. As a diver, with a PADI account you can access your eLearning along with many more tools to help you on your adventures. The Cayman Islands dollar is legal tender in these islands. This is also where you will board your liveaboard. Theres plenty to do if you are not diving. When diving through the cut itself, look under and in crevices, plenty of little critters make homes for themselves here. For water sports lovers, there are great spots for snorkeling including night snorkeling with bioluminescence, options to go sailing or on a catamaran cruise. 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. 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. 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. Generally, the off-season is the cheapest time to visit Grand Cayman, from May through November. Cayman Brac Beach Resort. In 2017, Tropical Storm Nate shifted the Kittiwake from her original position. Here, you can take diving lessons, go on a guided dive, or rent tanks and gear. Click the link below to read our article about Macabuca: Tarpon Alley is located at the North Wall in Grand Cayman. Tarpon Alley is part of the North Wall with depths between 15 to 25 meters (50-80ft). If you want to enjoy these five dive sites . Web Visit website. While Grand Cayman, the most popular island, has a mix of accessible shore and boat diving. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. 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. 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. Enjoy 20% OFF select PADI eLearning programs, FREE ReActivate online refresher, subscription to Scuba Diving magazine + so much more when you join PADI Club. The rainiest months in Grand Cayman are September and October during the height of the annual hurricane season. 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. All the information you need to plan your dive vacations anywhere in the world. 4 of the Best Places to Go Shore Diving in Grand Cayman. In general, the tourism industry in the Cayman Islands is designed with divers in mind. Family Traveller Excellence Awards 2019 Winner. However, there are large coral canyons that provide exciting swim-throughs for divers. It is Batabano, the countrys biggest festival, which is scheduled for early May each year. Little Cayman, Cayman Islands. You can also go wreck diving as there are some shipwrecks that can be explored like the remains of USS Kittiwake. 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. These hot temperatures start in May and last into November. Water Temperatures: Ranges from around 22C (72F) in December to 29C (84F) in July. Frugal travel planners can look for good deals during these months while keeping an eye on the 10-day weather forecast. 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. The wreck of the Captain Keith is unusual it is the only Soviet-made warship that divers can visit in the western hemisphere. 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. You can see Spotted Eagle Rays flying passed this area from depths of about 30 to 100 feet. Lighthouse Point is located in West Bay in Grand Cayman. It is 330-feet in length, and was sunk in Cayman Brac in 1996. The Pedro St. James National Historic Site is a great place for photography, or you can visit Rum Point for a true Caribbean beach experience. Some of those services give me a small percentage of what you pay as commission for my referral. Along with the vertical structures of the wall are small cracks and crevices that have become the refuge of marine critters like crabs, lobsters, moray eels and octopus. Resident Nassau groupers often keep divers company and if you look closely, you may be rewarded with seahorses and lettuce-leaf slugs. From our 24hr helpline to our expert local guides and selection of handpicked reading lists. I've stayed at hotels and used independent dive operators and I have stayed at dive resorts with on-site dive operations. Cayman Islands Seasonal Dive Planner The Caymans' hottest period is from May to November. This is a wall that drops 2000 meters to the sea floor. . Aside from being outside the high season which means that Grand Cayman dive resorts all-inclusive hotel prices and Caribbean dive packages are cheaper, this is also the months that the diving parameters are at its best. 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. A favourite stop for those diving and snorkeling lovers, the Bay Islands' important three islands are Roatan, Utila and Guanaja. Grand Cayman scuba diving is also more popular than on the other islands due to the stingray population there. In effect, there are more registered businesses in Cayman Island as compared to its local population. 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. This is a must do dive. The visibility at Donnas Delight on Little Cayman is typically good and the relaxed and easy diving here is suitable for all levels. Even though July is a popular month, it is not necessarily a good time to go because of the reasons below. They have ladders that you can use to enter and exit the water safely. 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. Little Cayman GoPro Video Workshop: April 2023, Best Liveaboard Destinations for Beginners, shifted the Kittiwake from her original position. It was named after the famous free-diver Penny Ventura. For example, let's look at one airline flying from Miami to Grand Cayman. There are also lots of tarpon and small silver sprats in this area. Exploring this site requires you to descend to a depth of 18 meters (60 feet) where the entrance of this elaborate tunnel system starts. For us divers, the financial self-sufficiency of the Cayman Islands is only the icing on the cake. Eden Rock has lots of coral and fish, and Devils Grotto has underwater caves that you can explore. Lemon Reef is a mini-wall dive site located on the North Wall in Grand Cayman. In the Cayman Islands, spring is in full force. Cruise ships visit here, so expect everything you would find in most international cruise ship ports. Grand Cayman has more dive sites than Little Cayman. There are also usually direct flights from Boston, Chicago, and New York. Located near a popular resort is a vertical drop off that is filled with all sorts of marine life the North Wall. 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. Three long, wide tunnels, accessible to the majority of divers, extend from the sand flats to open out onto the reef wall. Take your camera and get a snap with one of the abandoned bicycles that have also found a home here. Live like a local and get under the skin of a destination with our in-country concierges. Grand Cayman is the most visited island in the Cayman Islands by Scuba Divers. Bert Brothers Boulders is one of the most beautiful dive sites on Cayman Brac. You need to protect your fingers from the eager snappers though. Cactus coral, sea fans, great star coral, and tube sponges blanket the reef and provide refuge for a variety of sea creatures. Founder of Georges Watersports & Thingstodocayman.net. If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. December to April is also the busiest time of year for tourism, so it's important to book your dive trips in advance. Do you love diving in the Caymans? Live a life others only dream about. Drift dives are possible here depending on your operator. 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 .
What Happened To Richard Ramirez Shoes, Ben Stiller Teeth Something About Mary, Articles B