Generally, the off-season is the cheapest time to visit Grand Cayman, from May through November. Bloody Bay Wall- Most scuba divers will say this is their favorite dive site in the Cayman Islands. If the forecast looks good, they should consider taking a last-minute trip to Grand Cayman if they also spot an attractive discount. Over 200 permanent boat moorings are installed to avoid damaging corals with the dropping of boat anchors. See and be seen at these stunning natural wonders. Despite the name, there arent actually caves here. Greenhouse is a nice medium-depth reef dive with plenty of grooves and gullies to explore. Cayman Islands has an average water temperature ranging from 26 29C (78 84F). So, either way, the experience is well worth the money. September and October are the riskiest months to visit Grand Cayman because of the higher than normal amounts of rain. Exploring this site requires you to descend to 10 meters (33 feet) deep where you will arrive at the top portion of the reef. 10 Best Things to Do in the Cayman Islands Top Cayman Islands PADI Dive Resorts for all budgets, in the best dive locations around the world. Wilderness Wall starts at 15 meters (50ft) before plunging down into the depths. 10 Best Dive Destinations in the Caribbean After exploring the area, here are some of the best dive sites in the Cayman Islands: 1. They have ladders that you can use to enter and exit the water safely. 6. Closely packed ridges form huge coral heads between the shore and the reef wall. The rainiest months in Grand Cayman are September and October during the height of the annual hurricane season. Plus, the water temperature ranges between 78-82F (26-28C). Lemon Reef is a mini-wall dive site located on the North Wall in Grand Cayman. Enjoy 20% OFF select PADI eLearning programs, FREE ReActivate online refresher, subscription to Scuba Diving magazine + so much more when you join PADI Club. 4. The Cayman Islands hosts one of the best dives in the World: Bloody Bay Wall on Little Cayman. Cayman Islands Diving | Scubago The main dive spot of Little Cayman is located on the northwest coast in a marine protected area the Bloody Bay Marine Park. Water temperatures are usually low 80's F. Marine life is plentiful and varied. Scott S. Bateman is a professional journalist who has traveled widely throughout the Caribbean and the Americas. I know there are shore dives that can be done, and we plan to do some of those next time. Which Cayman Island Is The Best? - Fly & Sea Dive Adventures Aside from tourism promotion, marine conservation is in place in all the dive sites in the Cayman Islands. Grand Cayman is the most visited island in the Cayman Islands by Scuba Divers. 6. There is slightly more rain during the summer months. They were all guided dives. Roundabout is located along the North Wall in Grand Cayman. Canyons and drop-offs provide a varied topography making the site a firm favorite with photographers. Take your camera and get a snap with one of the abandoned bicycles that have also found a home here. It is 330-feet in length, and was sunk in Cayman Brac in 1996. You will then follow a sloping reef up to 25 meters (82 feet) deep where the wall starts and drops down up to 900 meters (2,950 feet) deep. The winter and early spring months are the most popular time in the Cayman Islands. You will need little more (and some prefer less) than a 3 mm full length wetsuit. A direct flight from Miami to Grand Cayman takes only 70 minutes. 10 Best Scuba Diving Companies In Grand Cayman (2023) December and July are good times for families because children are out of school for the holidays and summer. It does not make the product pricier for you. The Cayman Islands are one of the Best Liveaboard Destinations for Beginners. Interested in diving the Cayman Islands? There are plenty of great dive resorts available, but liveaboard is the best option if you want to dive around all three islands. Facebook Little Cayman GoPro Video Workshop: April 2023, Best Liveaboard Destinations for Beginners, shifted the Kittiwake from her original position. 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. View thelive availability of some of the best liveaboards in the Cayman Islandsand book online at the best price or check out our sidebar for land-based options! But these aren't the only good and bad times. 5 of the Best Scuba Diving Sites in the Cayman Islands Family Traveller Excellence Awards 2019 Winner. Intermediate divers can begin their dive at the chimney, a narrow tunnel starting at 12m/40ft and ending at 24m/80ft. 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 . I've stayed at hotels and used independent dive operators and I have stayed at dive resorts with on-site dive operations. [] 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. The largest among the three islands, Grand Cayman is highly popular among SCUBA divers from all over the world. Find & Book Liveaboards Choose from a selection of more than 250 vessels and 18,000 trips worldwide. Eden Rock has lots of coral and fish, and Devils Grotto has underwater caves that you can explore. It now rests in an upright position at a depth of 27meters (89feet). Watch your buoyancy and head out into the blue, look back to really appreciate the Great Walls sheer size and impressive drop-off. The Cayman Islands dollar is legal tender in these islands. PADI Dive Resorts for all budgets, in the best dive locations around the world. If you like diving in caves and grottos, Trinity Caves on Grand Caymans west side is the site for you. The USS Kittiwake is an ex-US Navy ship that was purposely sunk in Grand Cayman to create a new dive site. Diving in the Cayman Islands - Bluewater Dive Travel Discover these empowering women's history destinations selected by the U.S. News travel editors. The best time to visit the Cayman Islands is between March and June when the hotel rates drop. The visibility at Donnas Delight on Little Cayman is typically good and the relaxed and easy diving here is suitable for all levels. I am the father of the best two children in the world and husband to the most patient woman on this planet. Choose from private or single rates, we will find you the best possible option to help you enjoy the famous Cayman Stingray City. Babylon is located on the North Wall in Grand Cayman. This wreck is the only Russian warship that can explore in the Western hemisphere. 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. If you want to escape the crowds of cruise ship passengers, the East End is the place to go. That's is how we pay ourselves. Eden Rock & Devils Grotto are two dive sites that are next to each other. 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 . Stingray City is in only 12ft (4m) of water and is a huge draw for divers and underwater photographers. "High Season" at the hotels is mid-December to mid-April, so rates will be higher then. The Cayman Islands continues to receive global recognition and top the charts for diving. Bloody Bay Wall. This is the most famous dive site in the Cayman Islands - and with good reason. Head to around 30m/98ft for some of the best wall views. Scuba diving in Little Cayman - Liveaboard.com Click the link below to read our article about the USS Kittiwake: Wilderness Wall is located on the south-side of Cayman Brac. Most of them are located around the Grand Cayman but a little over sixty sites stay around Cayman Brac and the Little Cayman. Macro photographers should keep an eye out for the neck and decorator crabs who make their homes here. Top 12 Beautiful Places to Visit in the Cayman Islands The best time to visit the Cayman Islands is between March and April. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,100],'scubadivegeek_com-leader-1','ezslot_4',120,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-scubadivegeek_com-leader-1-0'); By descending down to 15 meters (50 feet) deep, you will arrive at what divers call the hanging garden which is a vertical limestone wall filled with black corals, barrel sponges, and purple sea fans. Hotel prices are sourced from a sample of U.S. News Best Hotels rates through 2015-2016. You can hand-feed wild Southern stingrays. Sharks and turtles are frequent visitors as are snappers, groupers, and grunts. Best Time to Visit Cayman Islands - tripbirdie.com 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. 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. 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). 10 Things To Do At Cayman Islands Besides Scuba Diving The Cayman Turtle Farm is one of the most visited land attractions on the island.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'scubadivegeek_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_1',121,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-scubadivegeek_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'scubadivegeek_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_2',121,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-scubadivegeek_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0_1'); .large-mobile-banner-1-multi-121{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none !important;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:7px !important;margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-top:7px !important;max-width:100% !important;min-height:50px;padding:0;text-align:center !important;}. I am a scuba diving newbie, a Project Manager by profession, and an entrepreneur at heart. We understand that diving the best Grand Cayman Dives is the primary goal of your Grand Cayman Dive vacation. Cayman Islands Diving | Silver Thatch Water Sports | Breakers While many visitors come here to scuba dive, snorkel, or relax and soak up the sun on the beach, those looking for something more adventurous can try . In the Cayman Islands, spring is in full force. Click the link below to read our article about Cheeseburger Reef: Sunset House is located on the south-side of Grand Cayman, near George Town. Find & Book PADI Adventures App Thus, you can keep going back and still discover new sites. With a PADI Travel account, you can favourite dive operators to come back to later on any device or computer. Divers can observe the bow guns and go along the rails to make some great photos. Stingrays and turtles are known to swim here. If you find a good deal on DIVEIN, you click to the retailer, and you buy the product, we get a commission of the sale. 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. Best Resorts in the Cayman Islands | Islands The Eden Rock Dive Center has everything you need for an unforgettable day underwater in the Cayman Islands. On top of being generally warm, the waters are clear with underwater visibility running from 18 30 meters (60 100 feet). Despite being small measuring only 16 x 1.6 kilometers (10 x 1 mile), tourism is booming and tourism facilities are sprawling especially in South Town. Please Sign-in or Register These hot temperatures start in May and last into November. Great diving. Tieneke, Joe, and Kevin went out of their way to accommodate our dive group and show us a really great time. 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. Both Grand Cayman and Little Cayman have great diving. The ship has been opened up with large access holes so that you can swim through the interior of the ship. Overall it is a place worth seeing. . Data sourced from the National Climatic Data Center. In a nutshell, its an island full of land and water adventures. 1 is a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom unit. Despite the name, you arent guaranteed to see tarpon here. Apart from the elephant ear sponges, keep your eyes peeled for blacktip Carribean reef sharks in the blue. Some of those services give me a small percentage of what you pay as commission for my referral. 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. We did see some nurse sharks, sea turtles and a few rays. There's much to discover beyond theme parks in this Southeastern state. Besides scuba diving, there are plenty of other things to do on the Cayman Islands. Before the USS Kittiwake was sunk, the Oro Verde was the wreck dive of choice in the Caymans. There is a lot of marine life among the coral and resident angelfish and groupers are found at the stern of the ship. There is decent shore diving from their dock. This is a deep wall that drops several hundred feet into the abyss. This is a fun dive spot that you can access from shore. Wheres the best place(s) to stay when looking into a diving trip in the Caymans? There is shopping, bars to hang out in, and live music. The water depth here is around 18-meters. The Cayman Islands are home to some of the best spots for scuba diving and snorkeling in the world. All levels of divers can enjoy the site as there is plenty to see at shallow depths or at deeper parts. The Cayman Diving Season The islands are very much a year round diving destination. East End 5. Hop to the other islands by hiring a private boat operator, or better yet, arrange for a liveaboard tour and explore as many Cayman Islands diving sites as you can. Drop us a comment below and tell us your favorite site! A shallow dive site, the colors here really pop making it a good choice for photographers. You can dive from shore because they have ladders that you can use to enter and exit the water. Web Visit website. The seven mile beach area is beautiful for walking and photo opportunities. Best Time To Visit Cayman Islands - Travel Tips For Every Season If youre thinking Cheeseburger is an odd name for a dive site, you probably wont be surprised that this shore dive probably took its name after the Burger King that was located across the road! Cayman Islands Travel Guide - Cayman Islands Travel Tips & Attractions June to October brings higher topside temperatures (up to 33C, 91F). Is this the world's best place to learn to scuba dive? - thetimes.co.uk The Best Destinations for Underwater Photography | Scuba Diving Exploring this site requires you to initially descend to 18 meters (60 feet) deep where the wall starts. This area is an international tourist destination and can be crowded. 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. We rarely boast about our service but we believe it's what sets us apart and makes us truly original, so please forgive this moment of unabashed self-promotion. The Cayman Islands are widely regarded as the birthplace of recreational scuba diving, thanks to some pioneering efforts by local operators in the 1980s. Just be prepared for a rain shower or two, as this is the start of the region's wet season. In this article, we review the top 20 scuba dive sites in the Cayman Islands. 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. Grand Cayman also offers accessible shore diving on great coral reefs with little to no current. Besides the thick black corals, keep an eye out for tarpon, large yellow tube sponges, and ginormous barrel sponges. There is a good amount of coral and fish here. Little Cayman is a lovely, quiet little island with a population of less than 170. This is a wall that drops 2000 meters to the sea floor. The main gateway to the Cayman Islands is through Grand Cayman. Both are wonderful underwater. From these locations, I was able to dive the west end and also the North Wall.
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