Answer 1 of 11: Does anyone have firsthand experience with any of the dive operators on Little Cayman that they will share? Bloody Bay Marine Park is one of Cayman's best known dive sites and is named after the battles that took place between the British navy and its privateers following the outlaw of piracy. Jackson's Bight- Located also in the Bloody Bay Marine Park, it does not fail to provide scuba divers with an amazing dive. Once you decide which route you want to go, it's time to get in the water! 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. A 2.75 meter (9ft) bronze statue of Amphitrite (the wife of the mythological god Poseidon) rises up from the base of the reef. Plus, along the wall, you can meet triggerfish, eagle rays, turtles, lobsters and many more! Kittiwake Shipwreck and diver in Grand Cayman - photo from Canva. From 5 star restaurants to fish frys at the local gas station. After exploring the area, here are some of the best dive sites in the Cayman Islands: 1. The best time to see whitetip reef sharks in the Cayman Islands is from May to August. On top of being generally warm, the waters are clear with underwater visibility running from 18 30 meters (60 100 feet). Head to the turret guns for a superb photo opportunity and keep your eyes peeled for barracuda, bright sponges, and schooling reef fish. Our mission has been to do this with the best crew, using the best equipment while offering the most competing Cayman Islands dive packages. 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. On Grand Cayman, I stayed at hotels on the west end along Seven Mile beach. 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.
Cayman Islands Diving - Caribbean Sea - Dive The World During the day rays, turtles, the occasional barracuda and plenty of reef fish mean theres a lot to keep divers engaged. 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. 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;}. Most people see flights, accommodations, and activities far cheaper during this time since fewer tourists are visiting. The seven mile beach area is beautiful for walking and photo opportunities. 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. 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). The prices of hotels and short excursions that would normally be prohibitively expensive fall to more reasonable levels during this time. However, the Cayman Islands can be impacted by hurricanes primarily between June and November. Stingrays and turtles are known to swim here. 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. 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. The top of the wall is around 9 meters (30ft) so the site can be enjoyed as a shallow or deep dive. Located in Little Cayman, the Bloody Bay Wall dive site is noted for its high visibility, rich marine life, and the presence of a sheer wall that drops 2000 meters into the deep ocean.
[email protected], Visited on 04/2018 - Submitted on 02/04/2020, Visited on 03/2013 - Submitted on 08/31/2014, Visited on 02/2014 - Submitted on 04/19/2014, Visited on 02/2014 - Submitted on 03/01/2014, Visited on 08/2013 - Submitted on 02/21/2014, Big savings on 7-night group stays at Little Cayman, Cayman Brac and Cobalt Coast Resorts, live availability of some of the best liveaboards in the Cayman Islands. 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. In general, the tourism industry in the Cayman Islands is designed with divers in mind. 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 . 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. Roundabout is located along the North Wall in Grand Cayman. Don't forget to visit Stingray City before leaving Grand Cayman. 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. 6. Collect your trip ideas, share with friends or make an enquiry. June to October brings higher topside temperatures (up to 33C, 91F). Get in touch with our specialists Find the best and most popular products and review them. Its not often divers can see a mermaid on a dive, but at Sunset Reef they can.
Diving in the Cayman Islands - Bluewater Dive Travel 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 At night, this popular Caymans dive site is great for spotting octopus, lobster, and shrimp. Little Cayman is a lovely, quiet little island with a population of less than 170.
Scuba Diving the Cayman Islands | Scuba Adventures in Plano If you plan to do some land-based explorations on your trip, you'll have to choose between the busier warmer months (like April and November) or the cooler, but generally cheaper, months in between. Everything most divers want. 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. StingrayCity. (Closed Circuit Rebreathers/CCR) allows you to massively extend your dive time. The 20 Best Dive sites in Caymans? Grand Cayman is the most commercial island, with cruise ships visiting, but it has some wrecks and the wall dives are close boat rides. 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. Instagram, My Ideas The visibility at Donnas Delight on Little Cayman is typically good and the relaxed and easy diving here is suitable for all levels. This wreck is the only Russian warship that can explore in the Western hemisphere. 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. Among the dive sites in Scuba Cayman Brac, the remains of a 100meter (330feet) long Russian Koni class frigate is considered one of the best underwater attraction in the Cayman Islands. Other highlights include barracudas, yellowtail snappers, hawksbill turtles, and stingrays that sleep in the sand. The best time to visit the Cayman Islands is between March and June when the hotel rates drop. 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. I stayed at an all inclusive where the food was exceptional, prepared by a world class chef. Press the question mark key to get the keyboard shortcuts for changing dates. 20 Best Dive Sites In The Cayman Islands (2023) In this article, we review the top 20 scuba dive sites in the Cayman Islands. 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! 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. Under its 1986 declaration covering an area of hectares (23 acres) are dive sites that are popular to tourists and divers alike. The course includes a 2-hour pool and theory session, and an . East End 5.
4 Places to Go Shore Diving in Grand Cayman | The Residences 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. But these arent the only good and bad times.
Dive Courses | Learning to Dive in Grand Cayman | Cayman Resident Erwin Poliakoff, Baton Rouge, Louisiana USA Nikon D7000, Tokina 10-17 zoom, Nikkor 60mm, 85mm, and 105mm macros, Nauticam housing No worries, the diving is world class on Bloody Bay Wall. Click the link below to read our article about the USS Kittiwake: Wilderness Wall is located on the south-side of Cayman Brac. In this article, we review the top 20 scuba dive sites in the Cayman Islands. Sidetrip: Grand Cayman is the biggest island and it is where most accommodations and restaurants are located. We were lucky enough to see the tail end of silversides on the wreck of the Balboa right in the Harbor too. I would like to mention 2 points though, one that it is a bit expensive, both the accommodations and the diving, and secondly, it looks like they allow open water divers to do the deeper wall dives, where you can be as deep as 100 feet, just an FYI, in case youre not comfortable at that depth. The main dive spot of Little Cayman is located on the northwest coast in a marine protected area the Bloody Bay Marine Park. 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. U.S. News rates the cheapest travel insurance options, considering expert and consumer recommendations. The Cayman Islands are home to some of the best spots for scuba diving and snorkeling in the world. Eden Rock & Devils Grotto are two dive sites that are next to each other. "High Season" at the hotels is mid-December to mid-April, so rates will be higher then. Navigate backward to interact with the calendar and select a date. The famous diver and explorer Jacques Cousteau said that Bloody Bay Wall is one of the top dive sites in the world. Butterflyfish, triggerfish, shrimp, snapper, and more hand out in and around the large coral heads that sit nor far from the waters surface. The best time to visit Grand Cayman is March and April. Located in popular Bloody Bay, Donnas Delight is home to some classic Cayman wall diving: Giant barrel sponges, arching sea fans, and bright corals. Lighthouse Point is located in West Bay in Grand Cayman. A direct flight from Miami to Grand Cayman takes only 70 minutes. Swim throughs, ledges, overhangs, and an average depth of 12 meters (40ft) make this a Cayman dive site for all experience levels to explore. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Photographers will love Greenhouse for its varied macro life. Perhaps because of this, the coral isnt looking a healthy as it could. Interested in diving the Cayman Islands? 0
Questions about Cayman Island Diving | FAQs | Cayman Turtle Divers From Rolex watches to Caymanite earrings to a shell necklace. 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. There are actually around two dozen dive sites within the bay, with Bloody Bay Wall top of the list. 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 USS Kittiwake is an ex-US Navy ship that was purposely sunk in Grand Cayman to create a new dive site.
Cayman Islands Diving | Sport Diver The people of the island are friendly and culturally diverse. Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman house over 300 dive sites, making up the breathtaking Cayman dive map. Yes, that is true and get ready since the 333 islands of Fiji will take you into a quintessential South United Arab Emirates: Unspoiled Dive Sites. Stingrays, stingrays, and more stingrays is what draws divers to this Cayman site. StingRay City on scuba with a small group was so much fun feeding the rays. May through November, and especially September and October, are the riskiest months to visit. Away from the reef, divers can look around the LCM David Nicholson wreck. 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. 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. As a photographer, I never lacked for subjects both wide angle and macro and anything in between. If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. You will see a lot of tarpon at this spot, as well as coral and other fish. While accessible from shore, it is a long surface swim so diving the Oro Verde by boat is recommended. Our review team always considers durability, price, quality, and value in their reviews. It is rich with tunnels, chutes, cervices, and beautiful reefs. Along the wall you'll spot black coral bushes, barrel sponges and sea fans where barracudas, turtles, eagle rays and parrotfish like to show up. Eden Rock Dive Center. The best time to visit the Cayman Islands is between March and April. Our travel experts have highlighted our favourite places to visit each month, Terms & Conditions Great diving. As the name suggests, this Cayman dive site is known for eagle rays. 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. "High Season" at the hotels is mid-December to mid-April, so rates will be higher then. If you enjoy diving, then you need to visit the USS Kittiwake during your vacation to Grand Cayman. Away from the stingray action, there are a number of coral heads with a variety of life to check out. If you want to get rid of the tourist crowd in Grand Cayman and explore a dive site that is remote and that the diver to fish ratio is 1 to a million, then we suggest you head out northwest of Grand Cayman via a Cayman Liveaboard vessel in a site called Babylon. The Caymans have one major event that also may impact the best times to go there. This British overseas island is home to mystical caves, unscaled escarpments, tropical forests, diverse wildlife and a plethora of other unique experiences. There is also a dive shop and restaurant. The Seven Mile Beach area and the main city, Georgetown, are very developed with large hotels and resorts, restaurants, shops, etc. 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.
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