It is only a 10-minute walk from the cruise ship port in George Town to Eden Rock. Kittiwake Shipwreck and diver in Grand Cayman - photo from Canva. Enquire In this article, we review the top 20 scuba dive sites in the Cayman Islands. Penetration is encouraged but to get the most out of the experience, take a torch. Sharp-eyed divers can find leopard flatworms and the tunnels are also popular hangouts for rays and green moray eels. 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. December through April are especially popular times to go because of low risk of rainfall and more moderate temperatures. In the shallows, flamingo tongues cling onto sea fans while lobsters, eels, and jewfish can be found hiding in the ridges and gullies. We understand that annual leave is precious so we can ensure that Out in the open, expect schools of Nassau groupers, turtles, and snappers. Each time has been a wonderful underwater adventure. The water is about 100 feet deep, and there is a good variety of soft and hard corals. Your dive profile in Stingray City is relatively shallow since your maximum depth is just only 6 meters (20 feet) when you reach the sandy seafloor. 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! Most people see flights, accommodations, and activities far cheaper during this time since fewer tourists are visiting. Our Original Diving experts, made up of marine biologists, In a nutshell, its an island full of land and water adventures. Usually you will see at least a few tarpon at this spot. Plus, the water temperature ranges between 78-82F (26-28C). It lays at 60 ft (20 m) and scuba divers are able to explore all five levels of this 250 ft (75 m) vessel. 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. Why? Recommended Level: Beginner Intermediate Advanced Dive Type: Boat Reef Wall Macro Wreck Canyon Shore Night Shallow Shark Cave Stingray Swim-Through Drift Liveboard Deep Great Wall East and West Little Cayman Great Wall West - Turtle Watch on A 2018 poll listed Bonaire as the best dive spot for beginners, conservation, freediving, macro diving, shore diving, and snorkeling. But they are sometimes the cheapest months to visit. A 50% deposit is required at the time of booking with the final 50% . In the Cayman Islands, spring is in full force. Through this site,my intent is to be able to sponsor the new chapter in my life as a scuba diver. Located 8 kilometers (5 miles) east of Little Cayman is another elongated island that is popular with anglers and scuba divers. "High Season" at the hotels is mid-December to mid-April, so rates will be higher then. 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. I have been diving in Grand Cayman several times. 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. 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. Get certified to scuba dive. Explore the top-rated styles for every type of trip to the beach. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Grand Cayman is the most commercial island, with a lot of resorts, great nightlife, and more tourist attractions. Family Traveller Excellence Awards 2019 Winner. Photographers will love Greenhouse for its varied macro life. Click the link below to read our article about the USS Kittiwake: Wilderness Wall is located on the south-side of Cayman Brac. The best dive site is either Bloody Bay Wall in Little Cayman or the USS Kittiwake in Grand Cayman. We highly advise you ask your local dive shop on the dos and donts in diving a particular dive site. Exploring this site requires you to initially descend to 18 meters (60 feet) deep where the wall starts. Hotel prices are sourced from a sample of U.S. News Best Hotels rates through 2015-2016. The wreck of the Captain Keith is unusual it is the only Soviet-made warship that divers can visit in the western hemisphere. Theres also Little Cayman thats the least developed of the 3 islands. There is shopping, bars to hang out in, and live music. Dive Shop and Front desk is open 7 days per week | 7am to 6pm and can be reached directly on (345)-640-7500 Look along the ledge by the mooring for crabs and check out the four massive barrel sponges. Jackson's Bight- Located also in the Bloody Bay Marine Park, it does not fail to provide scuba divers with an amazing dive. Frugal travel planners can look for good deals during these months while keeping an eye on the 10-day weather forecast. 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. Fiji: Dive the Soft Coral Capital of the World. This is one of the best dive sites in Cayman Brac, and is a must-do experience. The Cayman Islands is a world-class diving destination famous for its reefs, wrecks and rum. The Cayman Islands has also designated four special areas for protection such as marine park zones, replenishment zones, environmental zones, and no diving zones. Originally coined 356, this wreck is now called the M/V Captain Keith Tibbetts after a well-known Cayman Brac politician. During the day rays, turtles, the occasional barracuda and plenty of reef fish mean theres a lot to keep divers engaged. Of the three main islands, Grand Cayman is where most divers go where you can explore over 50 dive sites allowing you to do virtually all types of diving and is suited for all levels of certification.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[120,600],'scubadivegeek_com-box-4','ezslot_16',103,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-scubadivegeek_com-box-4-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[120,600],'scubadivegeek_com-box-4','ezslot_17',103,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-scubadivegeek_com-box-4-0_1'); .box-4-multi-103{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;}. Everything here is very low key and there is a small local population. If you want to enjoy these five dive sites . To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. For macro subjects, you can see angelfish, morays, lettuce slug nudibranchs and many more. When shopping and eating out, be sure to identify which currency prices . It was then sunk in Grand Cayman in 1980 to make a new dive site. My wife and I are traveling there in February 2015 and are PADI AOW and Nitrox certified with ten years of recreational experience diving. Its a very easy and fun dive, we saw some angelfish and eagle rays. From full scuba certification courses to one-day experiences for those who've never breathed off a regulator, the Cayman Islands qualify as an scuba diving shrine. As said earlier, Grand Cayman has over 50 dive sites and we will not leave this section without mentioning other noted dive spots. For water sports lovers, there are great spots for snorkeling including night snorkeling with bioluminescence, options to go sailing or on a catamaran cruise. Please Sign-in or Register 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. 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. The people of the island are friendly and culturally diverse. I would appreciate if you don't as these referral links are what keep me posting and sharing on this blog. You can go hiking in the Mastic Trail where it has really nice views from the harbors and the beaches. Keith Tibbets- This Soviet-built Frigate that was owned by the Cuban navy was given to the Cayman Islands to purposefully sink it. You will find the Cayman Islands to be very diverse, from quiet Little Cayman, to bustling Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman. 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. Cayman Turtle Centre. Named for a historical anchorage, Anchor Point features a tight chimney-like descent at the beginning of the dive. 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. Little Cayman is a lovely, quiet little island with a population of less than 170. Data sourced from the National Climatic Data Center. I have worked in the corporate world and had little time for adventure. Closely packed ridges form huge coral heads between the shore and the reef wall. Share your love of diving, experience new adventures, expand your dive skills, and help save the ocean. There is also a restaurant, bar and dive shop at Macabuca. Its also the historical rainfall patterns. ASK US HERE! Book your next cruise vacation on one of these floating megaresorts. 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). The most striking and common marine life for me were the brightly yellow colored tube sponges. These hot temperatures start in May and last into November. Here is a list of some of the marine animals you can likely spot when diving the Cayman Islands: There are over 300 dive sites in the Cayman Islands. Before the USS Kittiwake was sunk, the Oro Verde was the wreck dive of choice in the Caymans. I make money by sharing links to services that I personally use and recommend. 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 . So, either way, the experience is well worth the money. Eagle Ray Pass is located along the North Wall in Grand Cayman. You could spend . U.S. News rates the cheapest travel insurance options, considering expert and consumer recommendations. The rainiest months in Grand Cayman are September and October during the height of the annual hurricane season. The ridges are carpeted in a variety of hard and soft coral, barrel and tube sponges, and purple sea fans that house a vast array of miniature sea creatures. The Kittiwake wreck as well as other wrecks in the close vicinity add variety and interesting structure which I really enjoyed. Grand Cayman scuba diving is also more popular than on the other islands due to the stingray population there. Princess Pennies Pinnacle is located on the North Wall in Grand Cayman. 7. Red Sail Sports have been Scuba Diving in Cayman for 40 years. Perhaps because of this, the coral isnt looking a healthy as it could. For example, let's look at one airline flying from Miami to Grand Cayman. Roundabout is located along the North Wall in Grand Cayman. The Cayman Islands certainly offer diversity without a long trip from the states. Sidetrip: Visit Little Caymans Booby Pond Nature Reserve. [CDATA[ . Instead, they pass through the vicinity and bring heavy rains and wind to the island. From 5 star restaurants to fish frys at the local gas station. 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. Scott S. Bateman is a professional journalist who has traveled widely throughout the Caribbean and the Americas. The entire experience is about 3 hours long from the time we pick you up from your hotel or condo along Seven Mile Beach to drop off. The Cayman Diving Season The islands are very much a year round diving destination. January and February are the coolest months with average lows in the high 60s. All the information you need to plan your dive vacations anywhere in the world. 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. 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. 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. It does not make the product pricier for you. From our 24hr helpline to our expert local guides and selection of handpicked reading lists. This island is very small and there is little to do, other than dive. As the name suggests, this Cayman dive site is known for eagle rays. Grand Cayman, the main island, is often one of the most popular destinations in the Caribbean, especially with western Caribbean cruises. 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. Located in popular Bloody Bay, Donnas Delight is home to some classic Cayman wall diving: Giant barrel sponges, arching sea fans, and bright corals. Three long, wide tunnels, accessible to the majority of divers, extend from the sand flats to open out onto the reef wall. 20 Best Dive Sites In The Cayman Islands (2023) In this article, we review the top 20 scuba dive sites in the Cayman Islands. But which Cayman Island has the best diving? Book your fun dives, snorkelling trips and courses online with thousands of PADI Dive Centers. I am a scuba diving newbie, a Project Manager by profession, and an entrepreneur at heart. 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;}. Drop us a comment below and tell us your favorite site! Grand Cayman has beautiful beaches and probably the most topside activities or restaurants anyone would want. Dive N Stay Vacation Packages - Compass Point Dive Resort - Cayman Islands (1st January 2023 - 31st December 2023) We offer pre-set Dive & Stay Vacation Packages for 3, 5 or 7 nights, and can also customize your package for any number of nights and for various group sizes. Its land area is slightly bigger than Little Cayman with a measurement of 19 x 2 kilometers (12miles x 1.2miles). Crabs and lobsters are among the critters hiding in the crevices. The Kittiwake is a 76.5 meter (250ft) former submarine support ship. 310-915-6677 No crowds. For this reason, wreck junkies and aficionados often have the Keith on their to-dive lists. Swim throughs, ledges, overhangs, and an average depth of 12 meters (40ft) make this a Cayman dive site for all experience levels to explore. 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. 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. 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. In effect, there are more registered businesses in Cayman Island as compared to its local population. There are lots of options for great photography and for posing for memorable photos, such as by the Kittiwake sign, swimming by the prop, or pretending to steer the helm on the bridge. This is also where you will board your liveaboard. September can bring rougher waters if there is a tropical storm, and that is also the month with a higher chance of a hurricane, although hurricanes are not common. We dived 3 days in February 2014, and they were all excellent and memorable dives. Resident Nassau groupers often keep divers company and if you look closely, you may be rewarded with seahorses and lettuce-leaf slugs. Read more about diving in Bonaire. Rum Point Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned diver, Grand Cayman has a dive site for you. 4 of the Best Places to Go Shore Diving in Grand Cayman. This is a wall that drops 2000 meters to the sea floor. Boasting strong diving infrastructure, diverse types of diving, incredible walls and wrecks, and great visibility. This is a shore dive, meaning that you enter the water from the shore, and then swim to Cheeseburger Reef. The best time to visit Grand Cayman is March and April. MV Captain Keith Tibbetts is an ex-Soviet Union ship that was built in 1984 for the Cuban Navy. Just be prepared for a rain shower or two, as this is the start of the region's wet season. Continue with Recommended Cookies. They pickup from the Westin, Ritz and Kimpton Seafire beaches for their West Dives, which is one of their standout features. Aside from corals, barrel sponges are sprawling in this vibrant reef that is also filled with tropical reef fish like groupers, butterflyfish, angelfish, moray eels and lionfish which is believed to be an invasive species. Erwin Poliakoff, Baton Rouge, Louisiana USA Nikon D7000, Tokina 10-17 zoom, Nikkor 60mm, 85mm, and 105mm macros, Nauticam housing 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.
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