We highly advise you ask your local dive shop on the dos and donts in diving a particular dive site. Little Cayman is a lovely, quiet little island with a population of less than 170. Look along the ledge by the mooring for crabs and check out the four massive barrel sponges. We have put together a comprehensive collection of packages to suit your needs. 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. Part of the Bloody Bay wall, descending from the mooring here reveals a brightly colored vertical reef packed with sponges, corals, and vertebrate and invertebrate marine life. to dive in Cayman Islands. The rainy season spans from May through October though showers usually only last for a few hours at a time. The Cayman Islands-- Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac--have been attracting scuba divers for decades, including beginners! This is a must-do dive for people vacationing in Grand Cayman. Elkhorn corals adorn the tops of the ridges while large gorgonians, tube sponges, and hard corals occupy the gullies. Continue with Recommended Cookies. As of 2023, you can renew your passport online. Diving the Cayman Islands - SCUBA Travel Fiji: Dive the Soft Coral Capital of the World. 11 Best Things to Do in Cayman Islands | U.S. News Travel Grand Cayman has beautiful beaches and probably the most topside activities or restaurants anyone would want. They became my favorite focus on the reef. The dive boat did make the excursion across to Little Cayman's Bloody Bay wall one day which is very achievable from Cayman Brac. The water is about 12-feet deep here. The Cayman Islands are one of the Best Liveaboard Destinations in the World. With world class conditions and a robust dive industry, the Cayman Islands is one of the best places to learn how to dive. Watch your buoyancy and head out into the blue, look back to really appreciate the Great Walls sheer size and impressive drop-off. It's the kind of peaceful place where you will make your own fun. Nature lovers are lured to diverse hiking trails, caves, and a variety of flora and fauna around the island. This is one of the best dive sites in Cayman Brac, and is a must-do experience. Take your camera and get a snap with one of the abandoned bicycles that have also found a home here. Would also recommend spending an afternoon at Rum Point, where you can relax and also do some snorkeling if you like. PADI Dive Resorts for all budgets, in the best dive locations around the world. Cayman Islands Diving | Scubago They have ladders that you can use to enter and exit the water safely. Share your love of diving, experience new adventures, expand your dive skills, and help save the ocean. The Cayman Islands are one of the Best Liveaboard Destinations for Beginners. Rainfall starts to climb in May. As well as healthy coral and large pelagic species, you can expect to catch sight of Nassau groupers, stingrays, angelfish, snappers, horse-eye jacks, and turtles. ScubaDiveGeek.com also participates in other affiliate programs and Google Adwords and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these and other companies. Tourism volume is estimated based on in-market destination search query interest from Google and on travel.usnews.com in 2015-2016. . Just be prepared for a rain shower or two, as this is the start of the region's wet season. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. It sounds like the best time overall, based on the posts so far. 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. When we talk about Fiji, what immediately comes into our mind is a tropical dream holiday. Give the perfect gift for your favorite ocean lover and explorer. Find a Liveaboard -Practical Information - Book a Trip. But these aren't the only good and bad times. December rainfall drops back down to about three inches. Bert Brothers Boulders is also a great spot to see flying gurnards at around 5.5 meters (18ft). 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! Scuba Diving Operators on Little Cayman - Little Cayman Forum 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. 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. All levels of divers can enjoy the site as there is plenty to see at shallow depths or at deeper parts. I have worked in the corporate world and had little time for adventure. With the wall beginning at just 6 meters (20ft), the site is popular with both divers and snorkelers. 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. Despite the name, you arent guaranteed to see tarpon here. 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. Its not often divers can see a mermaid on a dive, but at Sunset Reef they can. Jackson's Bight- Located also in the Bloody Bay Marine Park, it does not fail to provide scuba divers with an amazing dive. The best time to visit Grand Cayman is March and April. Most dive operators will take you there. There are also usually direct flights from Boston, Chicago, and New York. . 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. Best time to dive When to dive in the Cayman Islands entirely depends on your own personal preferences. The visibility at Donnas Delight on Little Cayman is typically good and the relaxed and easy diving here is suitable for all levels. The most interesting topside activities for us were exploring the island in a rental car and driving on the left side of the road. When diving the Cayman Islands you can see a lot of large sponges, some good macro, and some tiny fish. As a diver, with a PADI account you can access your eLearning along with many more tools to help you on your adventures. Grand Cayman, the main island, is often one of the most popular destinations in the Caribbean, especially with western Caribbean cruises. 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. 4 Places to Go Shore Diving in Grand Cayman | The Residences The wreck can be penetrated in some parts but speak for your guide or instructor beforehand. May through November, and especially September and October, are the riskiest months to visit. 10 Best Dive Destinations in the Caribbean Grandview Condominiums are located on the south end of 7 Mile Beach in George Town on the scuba diving island of Grand Cayman. During winter, temperatures can drop down to the low 70s. Best Dive & Stay Packages in the Cayman Islands - Ocean Frontiers Wheres the best place(s) to stay when looking into a diving trip in the Caymans? 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 . 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. From our 24hr helpline to our expert local guides and selection of handpicked reading lists. Despite the name, there arent actually caves here. The best time to visit the Cayman Islands is between March and April. This world-class scuba destination is colorful, bright, and teeming with life. Facebook 4 of the Best Places to Go Shore Diving in Grand Cayman. 1. In general, the tourism industry in the Cayman Islands is designed with divers in mind. From the mooring, divers often descend through a cut in the reef and out onto the wall. These Florida Keys resorts are ideal for family getaways and romantic retreats. 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. Boasting strong diving infrastructure, diverse types of diving, incredible walls and wrecks, and great visibility. Instagram, My Ideas Corals and sponges are plentiful. 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. Grand Cayman Dive Resorts I Packages I Wyndham Reef Resort Grab your gear and dive into the crystal clear waters of Grand Cayman! Diving in the Cayman Islands - Bluewater Dive Travel Away from the stingray action, there are a number of coral heads with a variety of life to check out. View Map. Still great for diving with great walls for all levels of divers and the walls and the Russian destroyer 356 aka Russian destroyer. For example, let's look at one airline flying from Miami to Grand Cayman. Grand Cayman scuba diving is also more popular than on the other islands due to the stingray population there. No crowds. We did see some nurse sharks, sea turtles and a few rays. If you like diving in caves and grottos, Trinity Caves on Grand Caymans west side is the site for you. This island is very small and there is little to do, other than dive. 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. marine life, be it the tiny critters or bigger beasts of the ocean. Babylon- Grand Cayman Island is surrounded by a wall, but what makes the Babylon site special is the pinnacle with a canyon cutting the north wall. June to October brings higher topside temperatures (up to 33C, 91F). Get in touch with our specialists for even more in-depth travel advice. Best 5 Dive Resorts In Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands - Trip101 The reef slopes gradually from 5 to 17 meters (17-55ft), and is covered in hard corals, sea whips, small sponges and gorgonians. Ive been to Grand Cayman and Little Cayman. I have lived in the corporate world for a few years now with very little excitement in my life. Moray eels and angelfish move among the coral, and turtles are often seen cruising over the reef. 1. Cayman Brac offers a good mix of wall, wreck and reef diving for all experience levels. 6. You can also go wreck diving as there are some shipwrecks that can be explored like the remains of USS Kittiwake. Trinity Caves is one Cayman dive site that never disappoints. 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. Take a walk along the coast line or rent a bicycle and ride around the island. 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. Although the rays who made this site their home permanently have moved on, there is still a good chance of spotting them here. You may see hammerhead sharks if you are lucky. On Grand Cayman, I stayed at hotels on the west end along Seven Mile beach. Macro photographers should keep an eye out for the neck and decorator crabs who make their homes here. Our team will meet you at the airport and fast-track you through. 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. Lionfish have become an invasive species and some of the dive operators offer culling excursions. This is also where you will board your liveaboard. I stayed at an all inclusive where the food was exceptional, prepared by a world class chef. December and July are good times for families because children are out of school for the holidays and summer. So, either way, the experience is well worth the money. Also, check out our article where we review the top 25 things to do in Grand Cayman. Do you love diving in the Caymans? For shark diving, we suggest the Maze, Scuba Bowl and the Grouper Grotto which is also filled with lots of good-size groupers. 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. Black coral and colorful sponges decorate the near-vertical face and the shallows are dotted with large coral heads teeming with marine life. Cayman Brac Beach Resort. Bloody Bay Wall- Most scuba divers will say this is their favorite dive site in the Cayman Islands. 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.. Cheeseburger Reef is located in George Town, Grand Cayman. The ship has been opened up with large access holes so that you can swim through the interior of the ship. Living The Dream Divers Diving Packages | Grand Cayman Devil's Grotto- Suitable for both beginners and advanced, it's a great shallow shore dive that features massive swim-throughs, chimneys and coral formations. 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 Click the link below to read our article about the USS Kittiwake: Wilderness Wall is located on the south-side of Cayman Brac. The worst time is September during the hurricane season. Is this the world's best place to learn to scuba dive? - thetimes.co.uk 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. You can go hiking in the Mastic Trail where it has really nice views from the harbors and the beaches. For water sports lovers, there are great spots for snorkeling including night snorkeling with bioluminescence, options to go sailing or on a catamaran cruise. Hotels, resorts and cruise ships dont like unsold rooms and cabins, so they are more likely to offer discounts to attract customers. Plus, the water temperature ranges between 78-82F (26-28C). When diving through the cut itself, look under and in crevices, plenty of little critters make homes for themselves here. But which Cayman Island has the best diving? The people of the island are friendly and culturally diverse. This gives the unique Caymans dive site a blend of steep vertical walls, sloping reefs, and coral-crusted fingers. Get certified to scuba dive. But these arent the only good and bad times. This is how we pay ourselves. There is a lot of soft coral here, which makes for an interesting experience. 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. Intermediate divers can begin their dive at the chimney, a narrow tunnel starting at 12m/40ft and ending at 24m/80ft. This wreck is the only Russian warship that can explore in the Western hemisphere. The sea is always warm in the Cayman Islands, with surface temperatures never dropping below around 25 o C (78 o F). It is only a 10-minute walk from the cruise ship port in George Town to Eden Rock. 10 Best Scuba Diving Companies In Grand Cayman (2023) Head to the turret guns for a superb photo opportunity and keep your eyes peeled for barracuda, bright sponges, and schooling reef fish. 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 . It was named Orange Canyon because of the large orange Elephant Ear Sponges that can be found here. The flight and hotel fares are discounted up to 50 percent this time of year. Drop us a comment below and tell us your favorite site! April is an especially good choice because it has the warmest weather of the entire five-month dry season. Theres plenty to do if you are not diving. There are actually around two dozen dive sites within the bay, with Bloody Bay Wall top of the list. This is currently number 20 on the 100 Best Dives list.. Family Traveller Excellence Awards 2019 Winner. The Best Scuba Diving Experiences On Grand Cayman
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