From April to October water temperature are at least 27 o C (81 o F) and can . A 2018 poll listed Bonaire as the best dive spot for beginners, conservation, freediving, macro diving, shore diving, and snorkeling. The most interesting topside activities for us were exploring the island in a rental car and driving on the left side of the road. Scuba Diving in the Cayman Islands | Explore Cayman 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. Cayman Brac is the last of the islands and also much less traveld than Grand Caymen. On top of being generally warm, the waters are clear with underwater visibility running from 18 30 meters (60 100 feet). September is the worst month of the Caribbean hurricane season, which officially goes from June through November. Take your camera and get a snap with one of the abandoned bicycles that have also found a home here. Under its 1986 declaration covering an area of hectares (23 acres) are dive sites that are popular to tourists and divers alike. Read more about diving in Bonaire. Address. 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. The winter and early spring months are the most popular time in the Cayman Islands. It exceeds six inches in August and jumps again to more than eight inches in September and October. As a diver, with a PADI account you can access your eLearning along with many more tools to help you on your adventures. 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. Best Time To Dive The Cayman Island This spot is about 20-feet deep, and has a lot of coral. December through April are especially popular times to go because of low risk of rainfall and more moderate temperatures. Stingrays and turtles are known to swim here. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. 1-800-652-1972. Most dive operators will take you there. I quickly learned that if I poked at an area with my stick, the groupers would go right there, a great tool to get them to pose right where i wanted them in my reef scenes. Top 20 Best Dive Sites In Cayman Islands In 2023, The Best Starboard Paddle Boards: A Brand Guide, The Best iRocker Paddle Boards: A Brand Guide, Blackfin Paddle Boards: The Best Paddle boards from Blackfin, Top All-inclusive Resorts You Need To Visit, How To Choose a Kayak Paddle? This is one of the top island destinations in the United Kingdom. This is how we pay ourselves. Grab your gear and dive into the crystal clear waters of Grand Cayman! That's is how we pay ourselves. 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. They have ladders that you can use to enter and exit the water safely. 11 Dive Resorts in the Cayman Islands | PADI Travel Best Diving sites in Cayman Islands - Scuba dive reviews by Divezone Black groupers, sergeant majors, yellowtail snapper, and moray eels are just a few of the species you can expect to see. The most striking and common marine life for me were the brightly yellow colored tube sponges. 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. The main dive spot of Little Cayman is located on the northwest coast in a marine protected area the Bloody Bay Marine Park. Princess Pennies Pinnacle is located on the North Wall in Grand Cayman. The Cayman dollar is exchanged at a rate fixed to the US dollar (CI $1 equals US $1.25). // Plus, along the wall, you can meet triggerfish, eagle rays, turtles, lobsters and many more! 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. Eden Rock has lots of coral and fish, and Devils Grotto has underwater caves that you can explore. For macro subjects, you can see angelfish, morays, lettuce slug nudibranchs and many more. 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. It is rich with tunnels, chutes, cervices, and beautiful reefs. Ghost Mountain Grand Cayman is another great spot for wall diving where you can further reach a protruding limestone that silhouettes like a ghost from afar. A 2.75 meter (9ft) bronze statue of Amphitrite (the wife of the mythological god Poseidon) rises up from the base of the reef. Courtesy of Sunset House Resort, Grand Cayman. Questions about Cayman Island Diving | FAQs | Cayman Turtle Divers Located in the Bloody Bay marine park on Little Caymans north side, Marilyns Cut is largely unspoiled and offers up pristine soft and hard corals. You may see hammerhead sharks if you are lucky. Grand Cayman Diving - Scuba Diving in the Cayman Islands There are lots of other fish and coral. 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. Bloody Bay Wall Bloody Bay Wall is located in Little Cayman. There is a good amount of coral and fish here. With over 40 operators and 365 sites marked with moorings, thrill-seekers from all over take the plunge here. The best dive site is either Bloody Bay Wall in Little Cayman or the USS Kittiwake in Grand Cayman. If the forecast looks good, they should consider taking a last-minute trip to Grand Cayman if they also spot an attractive discount. There is a reason you won't find under a 5-star review for Silver Thatch, they are the best. 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. Both are wonderful underwater. . The Best Scuba Diving Experiences On Grand Cayman The North Wall is one of the most visited diving sites and plunges to a depth of 6000 feet (1800 meters). All the information you need to plan your dive vacations anywhere in the world. Cayman Islands Diving | Sport Diver Navigate backward to interact with the calendar and select a date. 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. Best Cayman Islands Dive Centers and Resorts - TripSavvy 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. Sunset Reef is a popular shore dive just 60 meters (200ft) off the Sunset House Resorts pier. Press the question mark key to get the keyboard shortcuts for changing dates. Jackson's Bight- Located also in the Bloody Bay Marine Park, it does not fail to provide scuba divers with an amazing dive. 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. 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. dive in each month of the year. Jacques Costeau loved diving in the Caymans and its easy to see why. It is an amazing sight, and a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience. Settle on the sand at just 3.7 meters (12ft) and have hordes of southern stingrays glide gracefully around you. Were a free review guide run by passionate Divers, Sports, and Outdoor fanatics. The Cayman Diving Season The islands are very much a year round diving destination. Access to tools and resources at your fingertips, curated to enhance your diving experience. (Closed Circuit Rebreathers/CCR) allows you to massively extend your dive time. For big animals - you can find a good number of turtles and groupers, tarpon, nurse sharks, great barracuda, and stingrays. In February, the cost is roughly $1,044 round trip . Ocean Cabanas Dive Resort: Great views, amazing stay - See 33 traveler reviews, 112 candid photos, and great deals for Ocean Cabanas Dive Resort at Tripadvisor. But they are sometimes the cheapest months to visit. The Cayman Islands are home to some of the best spots for scuba diving and snorkeling in the world. marine life, be it the tiny critters or bigger beasts of the ocean. Living The Dream Divers Diving Packages | Grand Cayman Located 8 kilometers (5 miles) east of Little Cayman is another elongated island that is popular with anglers and scuba divers. Best Time to Dive in Little Cayman. Water Temperatures: Ranges from around 22C (72F) in December to 29C (84F) in July. 1. Orange Canyon is a popular dive site on the west-side of Grand Cayman. 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 was named Orange Canyon because of the large orange Elephant Ear Sponges that can be found here. In 2017, Tropical Storm Nate shifted the Kittiwake from her original position. The Cayman Islands has also designated four special areas for protection such as marine park zones, replenishment zones, environmental zones, and no diving zones. 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. Now it has become a beautiful artificial reef and home for colorful sponges, groupers, barracudas and other marine life. Our Original Diving experts, made up of marine biologists, 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. While the gazebo itself is actually an arch, this small dive site never fails to please. I stayed at an all inclusive where the food was exceptional, prepared by a world class chef. The wall drop is not for the light-hearted as it can reach over 6500ft (2000 m), but along the drop, you can see yellow tube sponges, black and wire corals and waving sea fans. 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. Little Cayman, best time of year for diving | Page 2 | ScubaBoard The three islands that make up the nation, Cayman Brac, Grand Cayman, and Little Cayman, are diverse and have distinct diving. The best time to dive is between December and April when the water is at its warmest and the visibility is at its best. Get in touch with our specialists for even more in-depth travel advice. Navigate forward to interact with the calendar and select a date. During this time, you can expect to see a variety of marine life, including turtles, rays, and a wide array of tropical fish. Cactus coral, sea fans, great star coral, and tube sponges blanket the reef and provide refuge for a variety of sea creatures. Each time has been a wonderful underwater adventure. Penetration is encouraged but to get the most out of the experience, take a torch. The wreck of the Captain Keith is unusual it is the only Soviet-made warship that divers can visit in the western hemisphere. Little Cayman was first discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1503. 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. Best Diving in the Caribbean - Top 12 - Bluewater Dive Travel The Cayman Islands continues to receive global recognition and top the charts for diving. Grand Cayman is a beautiful dive destination with many options for accommodations and for diving. There is also a small restaurant and dive resort. The best time to visit the Cayman Islands is any time of year, but hotel rates drop in March and June and temperatures rise to around 80 degrees. Diving in the Cayman Islands - Bluewater Dive Travel Our Exclusive Dive-only Packages in the Cayman Islands - Ocean Frontiers Keith Tibbets- This Soviet-built Frigate that was owned by the Cuban navy was given to the Cayman Islands to purposefully sink it. The 6 Best Dive Sites in the Cayman Islands - PADI Blog Schools of bright snappers brightened the reefs among colorful sponges. Look along the ledge by the mooring for crabs and check out the four massive barrel sponges. The wreck was specifically set up for safe penetration, giving divers many interior rooms to explore. Answer 1 of 11: Does anyone have firsthand experience with any of the dive operators on Little Cayman that they will share? This is a wreck worth a dive or two. Flamingo tongues can be found on the sea fans, while arrow crabs, bristle worms, and long-spined sea urchins hide in the cracks and grooves. Frugal travel planners can look for good deals during these months while keeping an eye on the 10-day weather forecast. MV Captain Keith Tibbetts is an ex-Soviet Union ship that was built in 1984 for the Cuban Navy. The Cayman Islands hosts one of the best dives in the World: Bloody Bay Wall on Little Cayman. But its not just the heat that matters when visiting the Cayman Islands. I make money by sharing links to services that I personally use and recommend. Book your next cruise vacation on one of these floating megaresorts. The water is about 12-feet deep here. When we talk about Fiji, what immediately comes into our mind is a tropical dream holiday. Diving Season: The best time to dive Cuba's Jardines de la Reina is during the dry season, from November to late April, as this time has the most ideal visibility and sea conditions. Press the question mark key to get the keyboard shortcuts for changing dates. The best time to visit the Cayman Islands is between March and April. The boat dives were offered mostly in the mornings, and we were on our own in the afternoons. 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. 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. Cayman Islands has an average water temperature ranging from 26 29C (78 84F). However, as we just mentioned, diving in the Cayman Islands is possible all year round. The 20 Best Scuba Dive Sites In The Cayman Islands (2023) Today, Cayman is one of the top dive destinations anywhere. For scuba diving, the best time to dive the Cayman Islands is pretty much any time except peak hurricane season. This is a wall that drops 2000 meters to the sea floor. The units are privately owned and furnished, but they have 21 accommodations available for rental use. Find the best travel insurance for you with these U.S. News ratings, which factor in expert and consumer recommendations. Originally coined 356, this wreck is now called the M/V Captain Keith Tibbetts after a well-known Cayman Brac politician. Dive Shop and Front desk is open 7 days per week | 7am to 6pm and can be reached directly on (345)-640-7500 If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. Scott S. Bateman is a professional journalist who has traveled widely throughout the Caribbean and the Americas. Swim throughs, ledges, overhangs, and an average depth of 12 meters (40ft) make this a Cayman dive site for all experience levels to explore. From these locations, I was able to dive the west end and also the North Wall. 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. Generally, the off-season is the cheapest time to visit Grand Cayman, from May through November. There is also a restaurant, bar and dive shop at Macabuca. 10 Things To Do At Cayman Islands Besides Scuba Diving The largest among the three islands, Grand Cayman is highly popular among SCUBA divers from all over the world. The dive schedule would include a deep wall dive followed by a shallower reef or wreck. Also known as the Mixing Bowl, Three Fathom Wall is the point where Jacksons Bight and the Bloody Bay diving areas meet. The sea is always warm in the Cayman Islands, with surface temperatures never dropping below around 25 o C (78 o F). The Cayman Islands boasts world-class beaches, luxurious properties, worldwide culinary influences, high-end shops, local stores, and everything in between. Everything most divers want. 2. Diving in the Cayman Islands | PADI They became my favorite focus on the reef. 4 Places to Go Shore Diving in Grand Cayman | The Residences 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. 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. And when it comes to marine life, there is lots to see! Look in the blue off the wall for passing sharks, rays, and turtles. Grand Cayman is the most visited island in the Cayman Islands by Scuba Divers. No worries, the diving is world class on Bloody Bay Wall. At night, this popular Caymans dive site is great for spotting octopus, lobster, and shrimp. Usually you will see at least a few tarpon at this spot. If wall diving is your thing, check out diving in Turks & Caicos. 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. For deep divers, we highly suggest you explore the elephant-ear sponge laden reef of the Orange Canyon or go cave diving in Bonnies Arch. It seems the dive guides hunt the lionfish and then feed the groupers, so they joined us right away each dive. If you love nature, you can go hiking or explore some caverns and caves. With virtually no currents and outstanding underwater visibility, Cayman has amazing wall dives, coral reefs and wrecks for you to explore and discover. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. 10 Best Scuba Diving Companies In Grand Cayman (2023) And, thanks to a keen focus on conservation, many of the country's famous underwater spectacles are still well worth a visit today. 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. 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. an enquiry. Scuba Diving the Cayman Islands | Scuba Adventures in Plano Best Time to Dive in Cayman Islands - Original Diving 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. Cayman Islands Diving | Scubago Cayman Islands Scuba Liveaboards - Here's What to Know Both Grand Cayman and Little Cayman have great diving. Eden Rock & Devils Grotto are two dive sites that are next to each other. 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. Most of them are located around the Grand Cayman but a little over sixty sites stay around Cayman Brac and the Little Cayman. StingrayCity. The water clarity is typically amazingly clear. The protected Bloody Bay Marine Park lies in Little Cayman and offers magnificent marine life, great visibility, and spectacular bioluminescent corals. In addition, you're more likely to snag a hotel deal during these months. The worst time is September during the hurricane season. When to go Best time Low season Off season Where to go when Data sourced from the National Climatic Data Center. They pickup from the Westin, Ritz and Kimpton Seafire beaches for their West Dives, which is one of their standout features. Enquire 4. Our reviews: We can make the world a little bit better with great in-depth reviews. You need to protect your fingers from the eager snappers though. Cayman Islands Seasonal Dive Planner The Caymans' hottest period is from May to November. This is brought to you by the paradise-features of diving Cayman Islands: three islands where the bounty of nature is amplified as you go underwater.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'scubadivegeek_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_3',115,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-scubadivegeek_com-medrectangle-3-0'); Who would ever think that at the peak of an undersea mountain range lies a country that has one of the Worlds largest financial centers? Having a less touristic crowd, Cayman Brac still has several tourism facilities like Cayman Brac Dive Resorts that are scattered along its narrow coast. We are proud to off-set 100% of the carbon generated by our clients' flights. 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. Plus, the water temperature ranges between 78-82F (26-28C). Located 133 kilometers (83 miles) northeast of Grand Cayman is its little sister island Little Cayman. This site is my attempt to live the adrenaline my life is missing and be able to live real-life storybook stories with my wife and children. Discover these empowering women's history destinations selected by the U.S. News travel editors. 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 a lot of marine life among the coral and resident angelfish and groupers are found at the stern of the ship. Cayman Islands Liveaboard Diving | Scuba Diving Earth So, what are you waiting for? For beginners or those who get nervous in enclosed spaces, there are plenty of decks around the exterior to check out.
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