Pelagics are attracted to the wall while schools of reef fish populate the shallows, swimming around the many purple, red, and yellow sponges. There are also lots of tarpon and small silver sprats in this area. The water clarity is typically amazingly clear. You can go hiking in the Mastic Trail where it has really nice views from the harbors and the beaches. 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. Most dive operators will take you there. Pinterest It does not make the product pricier for you. My favorite were the groupers who followed us like pets. PADI Dive Resorts for all budgets, in the best dive locations around the world. Despite the name, you arent guaranteed to see tarpon here. The Kittiwake wreck as well as other wrecks in the close vicinity add variety and interesting structure which I really enjoyed. Grandview Condominiums are located on the south end of 7 Mile Beach in George Town on the scuba diving island of Grand Cayman. In the Cayman Islands, spring is in full force. Grand Cayman scuba diving is also more popular than on the other islands due to the stingray population there. 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. 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. 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. 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;}. 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. ASK US HERE! . The sea is always warm in the Cayman Islands, with surface temperatures never dropping below around 25 o C (78 o F). The wreck of the Captain Keith is unusual it is the only Soviet-made warship that divers can visit in the western hemisphere. There is shopping, bars to hang out in, and live music. 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. Theyre not timid and as they surround you, these rays seem happy to receive a gentle stroke or two. The waters here are 15 to 25 meters deep. Live a life others only dream about. Cheeseburger Reef is located in George Town, Grand Cayman. but the best time to visit is between May and October. Tieneke, Joe, and Kevin went out of their way to accommodate our dive group and show us a really great time. We'll whisk you through the security queues (where available). 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. 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. Stingray City offers divers the opportunity to fully interact with these amazing creatures. The rainy season spans from May through October though showers usually only last for a few hours at a time. Situated on a wide beach on the island's West End, the property offers 40 air-conditioned rooms (renovated in late 2015 and featuring soothing Caribbean . The Cayman Islands hosts one of the best dives in the World: Bloody Bay Wall on Little Cayman. GOT QUESTIONS ABOUT DIVING IN CAYMANS? Macro photographers should keep an eye out for the neck and decorator crabs who make their homes here. With regards to transportation, you have to take note that there are no taxis in Little Cayman and the best way to explore the island is by renting a bike. 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. 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. The ship was originally built for the US Army Transportation Corps over 70-years ago. You need to protect your fingers from the eager snappers though. The Cayman dollar is exchanged at a rate fixed to the US dollar (CI $1 equals US $1.25). The islands' location in the western part of the Caribbean shields them from being hit too hard by the annual hurricane season, which lasts from June to November. From spotting blue iguanas to kayaking in a bioluminescent bay to diving through intricate shipwrecks, here is a guide to making the most out of a first-time visit to Grand Cayman. It was named after the famous free-diver Penny Ventura. We gave our Gear Lovers one job: 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. Sunset Reef is a popular shore dive just 60 meters (200ft) off the Sunset House Resorts pier. They became my favorite focus on the reef. 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. Indonesia. Twitter This is the most famous dive site in the Cayman Islands - and with good reason. Click here to learn more. However, there are large coral canyons that provide exciting swim-throughs for divers. Best Time to Dive Cayman Islands. Bloody Bay Wall is located in Little Cayman. The three islands that make up the nation, Cayman Brac, Grand Cayman, and Little Cayman, are diverse and have distinct diving. They are located in George Town in Grand Cayman. 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. You can also go wreck diving as there are some shipwrecks that can be explored like the remains of USS Kittiwake. It exceeds six inches in August and jumps again to more than eight inches in September and October. Our Original Diving experts, made up of marine biologists, divemasters and lovers of all things underwater, know the best time Three long, wide tunnels, accessible to the majority of divers, extend from the sand flats to open out onto the reef wall. Butterflyfish, triggerfish, shrimp, snapper, and more hand out in and around the large coral heads that sit nor far from the waters surface. Eden Rock has lots of coral and fish, and Devils Grotto has underwater caves that you can explore. 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. The visibility at Donnas Delight on Little Cayman is typically good and the relaxed and easy diving here is suitable for all levels. Its land area is slightly bigger than Little Cayman with a measurement of 19 x 2 kilometers (12miles x 1.2miles). 20 Best Dive Sites In The Cayman Islands (2023) In this article, we review the top 20 scuba dive sites in the Cayman Islands. Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman house over 300 dive sites, making up the breathtaking Cayman dive map. . that the underwater world (and overwater, if you plan on surfacing Bloody Bay Wall. Exploring this site requires you to descend to 10 meters (33 feet) deep where you will arrive at the top portion of the reef. The flight and hotel fares are discounted up to 50 percent this time of year. Sea temperature varies little, from a high of 86F/30C in August/September to a low of 80F/26.5C in February. Through this site,my intent is to be able to sponsor the new chapter in my life as a scuba diver. Eden Rock & Devils Grotto are two dive sites that are next to each other. Besides the thick black corals, keep an eye out for tarpon, large yellow tube sponges, and ginormous barrel sponges. 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. "High Season" at the hotels is mid-December to mid-April, so rates will be higher then. There is also an air pocket in a decompression chamber that you can pop into and chat with your buddy!! You can even make a side trip to "Hell", a small area with black volcanic rocks, a few curio shops, and an actual post office you can send mail from with a postmark from Hell. Cayman Islands, as well as our suggestions for the best places to From Rolex watches to Caymanite earrings to a shell necklace. Dive vacations in the Cayman Islands are a good choice for underwater photographers with their many opportunities to capture the beauty of the place and wonderful visibility, and also for travellers looking for deep dives - you can find many along the Cayman walls. Along the drop-off, crevices and canyons cut through the reefs face. Under its 1986 declaration covering an area of hectares (23 acres) are dive sites that are popular to tourists and divers alike. The dives are shallow and you can closely observe them swimming around or above you. For macro subjects, you can see angelfish, morays, lettuce slug nudibranchs and many more. Our team will meet you at the airport and fast-track you through. Over 200 permanent boat moorings are installed to avoid damaging corals with the dropping of boat anchors. You will find the Cayman Islands to be very diverse, from quiet Little Cayman, to bustling Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman. A few great choices are the Sunset House Hotel in Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac Beach Resort and the Little Cayman Beach Resort. Hurricanes rarely hit Grand Cayman directly. #6 inBest Cheap Destination Wedding Locations, #4 inBest Places to Visit in January 2023. Data sourced from the National Climatic Data Center. 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. If you have time, you should also take a flight to Little Cayman from Grand Cayman, and dive at Bloody Bay Wall. 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. 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. This is currently number 20 on the 100 Best Dives list.. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. marine life, be it the tiny critters or bigger beasts of the ocean. Yes, that is the Cayman Islands and this is due in part of the tax holiday being implemented that has attracted businesses worldwide. Divers of all levels can explore the engines, pistons, and pieces of the wreck that are scattered at 18m/60ft. Grab your gear and dive into the crystal clear waters of Grand Cayman! We are proud to off-set 100% of the carbon generated by our clients' flights. Its also the historical rainfall patterns. The amazing diversity and dive sites for all levels are just one of the reasons why the Cayman Islands is also one of the top dive destinations in the Carribean. This British overseas island is home to mystical caves, unscaled escarpments, tropical forests, diverse wildlife and a plethora of other unique experiences. The best dive site is either Bloody Bay Wall in Little Cayman or the USS Kittiwake in Grand Cayman. 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. ScubaDiveGeek.com also participates in other affiliate programs and Google Adwords and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these and other companies. Booming and sprawling are not just words describing the tourism facilities in Little Cayman, but it can also be used to describe its world-class dive sites. 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. Tourism volume is estimated based on in-market destination search query interest from Google and on travel.usnews.com in 2015-2016. Manage Settings StingrayCity. StingRay City on scuba with a small group was so much fun feeding the rays. I hope my research also helps you make a decision on your next scuba diving vacation.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[120,600],'scubadivegeek_com-large-billboard-2','ezslot_9',102,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-scubadivegeek_com-large-billboard-2-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[120,600],'scubadivegeek_com-large-billboard-2','ezslot_10',102,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-scubadivegeek_com-large-billboard-2-0_1'); .large-billboard-2-multi-102{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none !important;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:15px !important;margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-top:15px !important;max-width:100% !important;min-height:600px;padding:0;text-align:center !important;}. PrivacyPolicy, 2023 Original Diving | Web Design by D3R. It is Batabano, the countrys biggest festival, which is scheduled for early May each year. Get certified to scuba dive. Seven Mile Beach 4. Take your camera and get a snap with one of the abandoned bicycles that have also found a home here. Furthermore, the islands are home to some of the world's best beaches, making them an ideal vacation destination. The Cayman Islands boasts world-class beaches, luxurious properties, worldwide culinary influences, high-end shops, local stores, and everything in between. 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. Here, you can take diving lessons, go on a guided dive, or rent tanks and gear. There is decent shore diving from their dock. These Florida Keys resorts are ideal for family getaways and romantic retreats. There's much to discover beyond theme parks in this Southeastern state. 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. This is a must-do dive for people vacationing in Grand Cayman. 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. Roberts Wall is located on the North Wall in Grand Cayman. Reservations Office is open Monday-Friday | 8:30am-5:30pm Cayman Islands time. We could easily get to reefs and wrecks by ourselves from shore and take as much time as our tanks allowed. 4 of the Best Places to Go Shore Diving in Grand Cayman. 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. Little Cayman, Cayman Islands. So, either way, the experience is well worth the money. This gives the unique Caymans dive site a blend of steep vertical walls, sloping reefs, and coral-crusted fingers. The Cayman Islands are a premier diving destination, boasting 365 dive sites, as well as the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame . Wreck of the Oro Verde is located in Grand Cayman. The dive boat did make the excursion across to Little Cayman's Bloody Bay wall one day which is very achievable from Cayman Brac. We dived 3 days in February 2014, and they were all excellent and memorable dives. 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. Black groupers, sergeant majors, yellowtail snapper, and moray eels are just a few of the species you can expect to see. Exploring this site requires you to descend to a depth of 18 meters (60 feet) where the entrance of this elaborate tunnel system starts. Cathy Church has a shop at Sunset House where you can often meet her and see her beautiful underwater photos from the area. 6. Theres also Little Cayman thats the least developed of the 3 islands. I make money by sharing links to services that I personally use and recommend. Fiji: Dive the Soft Coral Capital of the World. 4. Watch your buoyancy and head out into the blue, look back to really appreciate the Great Walls sheer size and impressive drop-off. No diving trip in Grand Cayman would be complete without a dive at the infamous Stingray City. Bert Brothers Boulders is one of the most beautiful dive sites on Cayman Brac. Choose from private or single rates, we will find you the best possible option to help you enjoy the famous Cayman Stingray City. So, what are you waiting for? If you want to escape the crowds of cruise ship passengers, the East End is the place to go. 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. // Overseas Job Hiring Electrician, Armadillo Girdled Lizard For Sale, Articles B