The Cayman Islands-- Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac--have been attracting scuba divers for decades, including beginners! 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. Most of them are located around the Grand Cayman but a little over sixty sites stay around Cayman Brac and the Little Cayman. I created this website to help answer common questions about vacationing in the Cayman Islands, and to help tourists find the best things to do. Click here to learn more. 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. Photographers will love Greenhouse for its varied macro life. Eden Rock has lots of coral and fish, and Devils Grotto has underwater caves that you can explore. She met her end on the reef in the late 70s, allegedly due to mutiny aboard. Sidetrip: Grand Cayman is the biggest island and it is where most accommodations and restaurants are located. So, what are you waiting for? at any point on your diving holiday) has to offer. We have put together a comprehensive collection of packages to suit your needs. The Cayman Islands are widely regarded as the birthplace of recreational scuba diving, thanks to some pioneering efforts by local operators in the 1980s. Best Times To Visit Cayman Islands The best time to visit the Cayman Islands is between March and June when the hotel rates drop. 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. Use Add to ideas + to collect your trip ideas, share with friends or make 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. Here youll find more than 50 dives sites including the famous Bloody Bay. 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.
Diving the Cayman Islands - SCUBA Travel This is one of the deepest sea-walls in the world.
You can spot eagle rays, reef sharks, sailfin blennies, tilefish, peacock flounders, garden eels, or yellow-headed jawfish. Find & Book Adventures Book your fun dives, snorkelling trips and courses online with thousands of PADI Dive Centers. Once you decide which route you want to go, it's time to get in the water! This is really a divers paradise. Generally, the off-season is the cheapest time to visit Grand Cayman, from May through November. Now it has become a beautiful artificial reef and home for colorful sponges, groupers, barracudas and other marine life.
The Best Scuba Diving Experiences On Grand Cayman Rum Point Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned diver, Grand Cayman has a dive site for you. Schools of bright snappers brightened the reefs among colorful sponges. Find & Book PADI Adventures App but the best time to visit is between May and October. 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. 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. Boat rides were no longer than 15 minutes, with most being around 5 minutes. The water is about 10 to 20 feet deep. Look in the blue off the wall for passing sharks, rays, and turtles. Located near a popular resort is a vertical drop off that is filled with all sorts of marine life the North Wall. you are in the right place at the right time to see the very best There is also a small restaurant and dive resort. 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. 1. 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. Its a very easy and fun dive, we saw some angelfish and eagle rays. Three Fathom Wall is a popular night dive when eels, lobsters, and reef squid make an appearance. The sea is always warm in the Cayman Islands, with surface temperatures never dropping below around 25 o C (78 o F). However, as we just mentioned, diving in the Cayman Islands is possible all year round. Grab your gear and dive into the crystal clear waters of Grand Cayman! I like the idea of being able to dive off both islands while staying on one. Tourism volume is estimated based on in-market destination search query interest from Google and on travel.usnews.com in 2015-2016. It seems the dive guides hunt the lionfish and then feed the groupers, so they joined us right away each dive. Bloody Bay Wall- Most scuba divers will say this is their favorite dive site in the Cayman Islands. Enjoy 20% OFF select PADI eLearning programs, FREE ReActivate online refresher, subscription to Scuba Diving magazine + so much more when you join PADI Club. It's the kind of peaceful place where you will make your own fun. Exploring this site requires you to descend to a depth of 18 meters (60 feet) where the entrance of this elaborate tunnel system starts.
The Best Time to Visit Grand Cayman in 2023 | Travellers 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. info@bluewaterdivetravel.com, Visited on 04/2018 - Submitted on 02/04/2020, Visited on 03/2013 - Submitted on 08/31/2014, Visited on 02/2014 - Submitted on 04/19/2014, Visited on 02/2014 - Submitted on 03/01/2014, Visited on 08/2013 - Submitted on 02/21/2014, Big savings on 7-night group stays at Little Cayman, Cayman Brac and Cobalt Coast Resorts, live availability of some of the best liveaboards in the Cayman Islands. Get certified to scuba dive. Cayman Brac is the last of the islands and also much less traveld than Grand Caymen.
Both Grand Cayman and Little Cayman have great diving. When diving the Cayman Islands you can see a lot of large sponges, some good macro, and some tiny fish. Despite the name, there arent actually caves here. Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman house over 300 dive sites, making up the breathtaking Cayman dive map. MV Capt. The ship was originally built for the US Army Transportation Corps over 70-years ago. 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 . The Cayman Islands dollar is legal tender in these islands.
5 of the Best Scuba Diving Sites in the Cayman Islands Eden Rock & Devils Grotto are two dive sites that are next to each other. PADI Dive Resorts for all budgets, in the best dive locations around the world. This island is very small and there is little to do, other than dive. Were a free review guide run by passionate Divers, Sports, and Outdoor fanatics. Another great wall diving site in Little Cayman is Joys Joy. In effect, there are more registered businesses in Cayman Island as compared to its local population.
Scuba diving in the Cayman Islands: an experience of a lifetime Dining can be pricey but the meals I have had have been wonderful. It sounds like the best time overall, based on the posts so far. 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 over 15 PADI 5-Star Centers in the Cayman Islands, ready to teach you everything you want to know about diving. April is an especially good choice because it has the warmest weather of the entire five-month dry season. 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. Apart from the elephant ear sponges, keep your eyes peeled for blacktip Carribean reef sharks in the blue. Find the best travel insurance for you with these U.S. News ratings, which factor in expert and consumer recommendations. 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. DIVEMASTER AND INSTRUCTOR TRAINING SPECIALTY AND TECHNICAL COURSE KIDS DISABLED DIVERS SAFETY The Cayman Islands boasts state-of-the-art medical facilities including a hyperbaric chamber (located on Grand Cayman) and, in the event of an emergency, quality care can be provided in minutes. 4 of the Best Places to Go Shore Diving in Grand Cayman. For macro subjects, you can see angelfish, morays, lettuce slug nudibranchs and many more. Instagram, My Ideas It is worth noting however that from June until October is the hurricane season in the Caribbean. The resident goliath grouper is a popular dive buddy at this Cayman dive site. There is a lot of marine life among the coral and resident angelfish and groupers are found at the stern of the ship.
Scuba Diving Operators on Little Cayman - Little Cayman Forum 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.
Which Cayman island has the best diving? | ZuBlu From Rolex watches to Caymanite earrings to a shell necklace. Butterflyfish, triggerfish, shrimp, snapper, and more hand out in and around the large coral heads that sit nor far from the waters surface. Yes, that is the Cayman Islands and this is due in part of the tax holiday being implemented that has attracted businesses worldwide. Located 8 kilometers (5 miles) east of Little Cayman is another elongated island that is popular with anglers and scuba divers. 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 .
Dive Into the Cayman Islands | Cond Nast Traveler U.S. News rates the cheapest travel insurance options, considering expert and consumer recommendations. 4. There is also a restaurant, bar and dive shop at Macabuca. This site is well-known and popular with divers, snorkelers, and glass-bottom boaters alike.
Cayman Islands Diving - Caribbean Sea - Dive The World Average rainfall jumps to more than five inches in May, June and July. 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. Cayman Brac offers a good mix of wall, wreck and reef diving for all experience levels. Would also recommend spending an afternoon at Rum Point, where you can relax and also do some snorkeling if you like.
Diving the Cayman Islands - SCUBA Travel A direct flight from Miami to Grand Cayman takes only 70 minutes. I guess thats one drawback of guided dives, everyone is constantly on the move, not ideal for photography, especially macro photography. The islands are warm year-round with average highs. It is possible to go scuba diving in Little Cayman all year round and the water temperature only varies from 21-27 degrees. There is decent shore diving from their dock. You can dive from shore because they have ladders that you can use to enter and exit the water. It does not make the product pricier for you. 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. 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). As said earlier, Grand Cayman has over 50 dive sites and we will not leave this section without mentioning other noted dive spots. We'll whisk you through the security queues (where available). Best Liveaboard Destinations in the World, Vaccines recommended: Hep A; Typhoid if you will travel to rural areas, Visa: None needed for US citizens or European Union, Safety: Generally safe but petty theft can occur. Best Time To Dive The Cayman Island Keith Tibbets- This Soviet-built Frigate that was owned by the Cuban navy was given to the Cayman Islands to purposefully sink it. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. divemasters and lovers of all things underwater, know the best time Topside, the community is expanding with ongoing construction. You could spend . 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. 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. Plenty of schooling reef fish call Ghost Mountain home and the pinnacle is also carpeted in deep, bloody-red finger sponges.
Diving in the Cayman Islands | Cayman Resident If wall diving is your thing, check out diving in Turks & Caicos. 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. 1. 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.
Questions about Cayman Island Diving | FAQs | Cayman Turtle Divers 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. 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. This is a must-do dive for people vacationing in Grand Cayman. They became my favorite focus on the reef. Plus, the water temperature ranges between 78-82F (26-28C). Along the wall you'll spot black coral bushes, barrel sponges and sea fans where barracudas, turtles, eagle rays and parrotfish like to show up. Clearly Cayman Group Specials - Big savings on 7-night stays! Data sourced from the National Climatic Data Center. The Caymans have one major event that also may impact the best times to go there. Babylon is located on the North Wall in Grand Cayman. Named for a historical anchorage, Anchor Point features a tight chimney-like descent at the beginning of the dive. If you're looking for great diving and hotel prices, the best time is between March and June when the rates all drop.
Diving in the Cayman Islands - Bluewater Dive Travel Grand Cayman, the main island, is often one of the most popular destinations in the Caribbean, especially with western Caribbean cruises. There is shopping, bars to hang out in, and live music. There are also usually direct flights from Boston, Chicago, and New York. If you like diving in caves and grottos, Trinity Caves on Grand Caymans west side is the site for you. From classic wide-brimmed hats to water-repellent trucker hats, find your ideal style. The water clarity is typically amazingly clear. We conduct this course from our shore location where the water is ideal for new divers! It now rests in an upright position at a depth of 27meters (89feet). Bloody Bay Wall is located in Little Cayman. 2. 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. Having a less touristic crowd, Cayman Brac still has several tourism facilities like Cayman Brac Dive Resorts that are scattered along its narrow coast. Grand Cayman is somewhat unique among major Caribbean destinations because it is one of the few islands that has average daytime temperatures exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer and fall. Crabs and lobsters are among the critters hiding in the crevices. 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. With world class conditions and a robust dive industry, the Cayman Islands is one of the best places to learn how to dive. Cayman Islands has an average water temperature ranging from 26 29C (78 84F). These hot temperatures start in May and last into November. Around the coral fingers, stingrays, eagle rays and yellowhead jawfish rest on the sandy patches. For shark diving, we suggest the Maze, Scuba Bowl and the Grouper Grotto which is also filled with lots of good-size groupers. While accessible from shore, it is a long surface swim so diving the Oro Verde by boat is recommended. But Little Cayman also has good diving including Bloody Bay Wall dive, which means a Caymans Island liveaboard is the best way to experience all the best Cayman's diving. A huge pinnacle branches out, creating a corridor-like passageway that is used by large pelagics cruising up from the abyss. A few great choices are the Sunset House Hotel in Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac Beach Resort and the Little Cayman Beach Resort. Sunset Reef is a popular shore dive just 60 meters (200ft) off the Sunset House Resorts pier.
Diving in the Cayman Islands | PADI The Cayman Islands are home to some of the best spots for scuba diving and snorkeling in the world. Best time to dive When to dive in the Cayman Islands entirely depends on your own personal preferences. Diving is available year-round. 0 Income disclosure: We are reader supported, and earn affiliate commissions when you buy via links found on DIVEIN.com: If you find a good deal on our site, you click to the retailer and you buy the product, we get a commission of the sale. Stingray City- You can thank the local fishermen for this dive site as they used to clean their catch here that attracted the rays to the site. The most striking and common marine life for me were the brightly yellow colored tube sponges.