The 5 Best Dive Sites In Grand Cayman - DesertDivers Wonderful restaurants nearby. This is one of the best dive sites in Cayman Brac, and is a must-do experience. And when it comes to marine life, there is lots to see! Choose from a selection of more than 250 vessels and 18,000 trips worldwide. 1 is a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom unit. Press the question mark key to get the keyboard shortcuts for changing dates. Stingray City- You can thank the local fishermen for this dive site as they used to clean their catch here that attracted the rays to the site. Discover these empowering women's history destinations selected by the U.S. News travel editors. 5. Around the coral fingers, stingrays, eagle rays and yellowhead jawfish rest on the sandy patches. You can enter different swim-through areas where the wall drops to great depths. 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;}. 10 Things To Do At Cayman Islands Besides Scuba Diving If you want to enjoy these five dive sites . Grand Cayman has more dive sites than Little Cayman. 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. Seven Mile Beach 4. Generally, even with up to four dives per day on offer Cayman Islands scuba diving . 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. Diving in the Cayman Islands | Cayman Resident Look in the blue off the wall for passing sharks, rays, and turtles. 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. You can dive along this wall and explore the different entrances. September and October are clearly the least popular months to go because of a high risk of heavy rains along with hot temperatures. 10 Go Scavenger Hunting At Seven Mile Beach. Through this site,my intent is to be able to sponsor the new chapter in my life as a scuba diver. The amazing strawberry sponges were in abundance there. All content is copyright protected by either DIVEIN.com or respected copyright holders, Disclosure: We are reader supported, and earn. There is also a small restaurant and dive resort. Exploring this site requires you to descend to 10 meters (33 feet) deep where you will arrive at the top portion of the reef. June to October brings higher topside temperatures (up to 33C, 91F). at any point on your diving holiday) has to offer. Grand Cayman also offers accessible shore diving on great coral reefs with little to no current. The ship has been opened up with large access holes so that you can swim through the interior of the ship. Another great wall diving site in Little Cayman is Joys Joy. Take a walk along the coast line or rent a bicycle and ride around the island. 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. 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. The Best Destinations for Underwater Photography | Scuba Diving No diving trip in Grand Cayman would be complete without a dive at the infamous Stingray City. Naturally, this is also the most expensive season, and reservations must be made at least three months in advance. Kittiwake Shipwreck and diver in Grand Cayman - photo from Canva. The Best Time to Visit Grand Cayman in 2023 | Travellers A 50% deposit is required at the time of booking with the final 50% . Manage Settings That's is how we pay ourselves. Theres good diving, with great Walls and of course stingray city, where you can see and feed stingrays. The visibility at Donnas Delight on Little Cayman is typically good and the relaxed and easy diving here is suitable for all levels. With over 365 dive sites, clear waters, coral reefs and abundant marine life, the Cayman Islands are one of the best diving spots in the world. He is the author of four books about cruising in the Caribbean, Alaska and Mexican Riviera. For diving, the reefs are easy to reach from many dive operators and offer a diversity of schooling fish, sponges, turtles, rays, and even sharks. Great Wall is the kind of dive that makes you feel like a tiny speck in the ocean as you hang near a wall that drops dramatically to more than 1,800 meters (6,000ft). As of 2023, you can renew your passport online. If you like diving in caves and grottos, Trinity Caves on Grand Caymans west side is the site for you. Diving in the Cayman Islands - Bluewater Dive Travel If you enjoy diving, then you need to visit the USS Kittiwake during your vacation to Grand Cayman. "High Season" at the hotels is mid-December to mid-April, so rates will be higher then. Named for the bright orange elephant ear sponges that characterize this site, Orange Canyon doesnt contain a closed canyon per se, but an open channel with lively reef on either side. There are lots of other fish and coral. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Diving the Cayman Islands - SCUBA Travel Bert Brothers Boulders is one of the most beautiful dive sites on Cayman Brac. Grand Cayman is a sophisticated Caribbean island with great nightlife, great resort options, and the wonderful attraction of stingray city, and very good wall diving. Grand Cayman has dives for all experience levels, and our on-site dive shop Ocean Frontiers Diving Adventures offers a range of PADI dive courses and signature dive adventures. [CDATA[ Lighthouse Point is located in West Bay in Grand Cayman. Macro photographers should keep an eye out for the neck and decorator crabs who make their homes here. Little Cayman, best time of year for diving | Page 2 | ScubaBoard Because great in-depth gear reviews will help you select the right products for your specific needs, budget, and interests. Stingrays and turtles are known to swim here. 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 . . Wilderness Wall starts at 15 meters (50ft) before plunging down into the depths. Cheeseburger Reef is located in George Town, Grand Cayman. Scuba Divers can experience the world's best 12ft dive site at Stingray City, the beautiful Starfish Point and Bloody Bay . 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. Cayman gives both the novice and the experienced some of the best diving in the world, as environmentally protected reefs surround each of our three islands. There is also a restaurant, bar and dive shop at Macabuca. 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. Don't forget to visit Stingray City before leaving Grand Cayman. Read more about diving in Bonaire. 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. 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.. Head to around 30m/98ft for some of the best wall views. 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. Instagram, My Ideas Despite the name, you arent guaranteed to see tarpon here. If you're looking for great diving and hotel prices, the best time is between March and June when the rates all drop. 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. My poker stick resembled the dive guides spears, so they followed me closely and would even "show" me where the lion fish were, confused when I didn't feed them. A First Timer's Guide to Grand Cayman Island - AFAR Media 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. Aside from tourism promotion, marine conservation is in place in all the dive sites in the Cayman Islands. While the upper part of the reef is already teeming with corals, it becomes denser as you traverse the vertical limestone where it is now intermixed with sponges and sea fans. This British overseas island is home to mystical caves, unscaled escarpments, tropical forests, diverse wildlife and a plethora of other unique experiences. Cayman Islands Scuba Liveaboards - Here's What to Know [] Diving in the Cayman Islands - Bluewater Dive Travel Learn to dive in the Cayman Islands by Living the Dream Divers Boat rides were no longer than 15 minutes, with most being around 5 minutes. December rainfall drops back down to about three inches. If the forecast looks good, they should consider taking a last-minute trip to Grand Cayman if they also spot an attractive discount. PrivacyPolicy, 2023 Original Diving | Web Design by D3R. I am a scuba diving newbie, a Project Manager by profession, and an entrepreneur at heart. It does not make the product pricier for you. There is also a dive shop and restaurant. Cayman Brac is the last of the islands and also much less traveld than Grand Caymen. Best Time to Visit Cayman Islands - tripbirdie.com Diving in the Cayman Islands | PADI There is a separate fee to dive this wreck that goes towards conservation, and you also get a nice yellow diver medallion to keep. I have lived in the corporate world for a few years now with very little excitement in my life. Below are our recommendations for the best months to dive in Topside, the community is expanding with ongoing construction. Trinity Caves is a popular dive site that is located off the coast of West Bay in Grand Cayman. We dived 3 days in February 2014, and they were all excellent and memorable dives. an enquiry. Take your camera and get a snap with one of the abandoned bicycles that have also found a home here. A highlight dive is the Tibbets wreck with great structure and lots of life. Seahorses - While the Cayman Islands are best known for their stunning coral reefs and diverse marine life, don't forget about the amazing small critters that call these waters home . 10 Best Dive Destinations in the Caribbean Best Cayman Islands Dive Centers and Resorts - TripSavvy The Cayman Islands dollar is legal tender in these islands. Although the rays who made this site their home permanently have moved on, there is still a good chance of spotting them here. The best time to visit the Cayman Islands is between March and June when the hotel rates drop. 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. 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. Best Time to Dive in Little Cayman. 4 of the Best Places to Go Shore Diving in Grand Cayman. 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. The top of the wall is around 9 meters (30ft) so the site can be enjoyed as a shallow or deep dive. We could easily get to reefs and wrecks by ourselves from shore and take as much time as our tanks allowed. 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. . Pelagics are attracted to the wall while schools of reef fish populate the shallows, swimming around the many purple, red, and yellow sponges. From Grand Cayman, you can transfer to Little Cayman or Cayman Brac. Located in the western Caribbean, just 480 miles south of Miami, Cayman is perfect for scuba diving and snorkelling, boasting some of the Caribbean's best excursions. It is only a 10-minute walk from the cruise ship port in George Town to Eden Rock. Theyre not timid and as they surround you, these rays seem happy to receive a gentle stroke or two. From classic wide-brimmed hats to water-repellent trucker hats, find your ideal style. 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. 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. 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. There are lots of beautiful beaches to visit and to relax. In this article, we review the top 20 scuba dive sites in the Cayman Islands. The shore diving was really easy to access with actual ladders or stairs and even showers at some sites. There is a reason you won't find under a 5-star review for Silver Thatch, they are the best. These Florida Keys resorts are ideal for family getaways and romantic retreats. These hot temperatures start in May and last into November. Enquire that the underwater world (and overwater, if you plan on surfacing Scuba Diving in the Cayman Islands | Explore Cayman Find & Book Liveaboards Choose from a selection of more than 250 vessels and 18,000 trips worldwide. Diving the Cayman Islands - SCUBA Travel Our DSD is $99 USD per person and includes all equipment needed and a fantastic shallow dive to a max depth of 40ft. 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. Eden Rock Dive Center. 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. Now it has become a beautiful artificial reef and home for colorful sponges, groupers, barracudas and other marine life. Why? 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. Book your next cruise vacation on one of these floating megaresorts. I like the idea of being able to dive off both islands while staying on one. Having a less touristic crowd, Cayman Brac still has several tourism facilities like Cayman Brac Dive Resorts that are scattered along its narrow coast. For example, let's look at one airline flying from Miami to Grand Cayman. Trinity Caves is one Cayman dive site that never disappoints. The largest among the three islands, Grand Cayman is highly popular among SCUBA divers from all over the world. There's much to discover beyond theme parks in this Southeastern state. But its not just the heat that matters when visiting the Cayman Islands. [What You Need to Know]. Cayman Islands Diving - Everything You Need to Know Tarpon Alley is part of the North Wall with depths between 15 to 25 meters (50-80ft). As the name suggests, this Cayman dive site is known for eagle rays. May through November, and especially September and October, are the riskiest months to visit. Cayman Brac offered multiple relaxed dive spots on reefs all along the edge of the island. While the tropical vacation destination does see fewer crowds, this is the rainiest season in the Cayman Islands so you may have to contend with some showers. Instead, they pass through the vicinity and bring heavy rains and wind to the island. Exploring this site requires you to initially descend to 18 meters (60 feet) deep where the wall starts. Here are a few of our favourite dive sites in Grand Cayman: 1. 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. However, there are large coral canyons that provide exciting swim-throughs for divers. 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. Swim throughs, ledges, overhangs, and an average depth of 12 meters (40ft) make this a Cayman dive site for all experience levels to explore. If you are into grottos or swim-throughs, then you must head out to the west side of Grand Cayman and explore the three long tunnel swim-throughs of the Trinity Caves.