11 Best Things to Do in Cayman Islands | U.S. News Travel The visibility at Donnas Delight on Little Cayman is typically good and the relaxed and easy diving here is suitable for all levels. Divers in the Caymans visit Kittiwake for the wreck itself. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. 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.. Instead, they pass through the vicinity and bring heavy rains and wind to the island. For shark diving, we suggest the Maze, Scuba Bowl and the Grouper Grotto which is also filled with lots of good-size groupers. 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 Cayman Islands hosts one of the best dives in the World: Bloody Bay Wall on Little Cayman. The 5 Best Dive Sites In Grand Cayman - DesertDivers It is worth noting however that from June until October is the hurricane season in the Caribbean. 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. On top of being generally warm, the waters are clear with underwater visibility running from 18 30 meters (60 100 feet). For us divers, the financial self-sufficiency of the Cayman Islands is only the icing on the cake. Sharks and turtles are frequent visitors as are snappers, groupers, and grunts. 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. I have worked in the corporate world and had little time for adventure. Cayman Islands International Film Festival. This is a wall that drops 2000 meters to the sea floor. 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. I thought it might be too touristy, but it was a lot of fun. I have traveled to the Cayman islands many times. This area is an international tourist destination and can be crowded. The people of the island are friendly and culturally diverse. Most people see flights, accommodations, and activities far cheaper during this time since fewer tourists are visiting. There are lots of beautiful beaches to visit and to relax. The best time to visit Grand Cayman is March and April. 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. The Cayman Islands are widely regarded as the birthplace of recreational scuba diving, thanks to some pioneering efforts by local operators in the 1980s. 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. Apart from the elephant ear sponges, keep your eyes peeled for blacktip Carribean reef sharks in the blue. I stayed at an all inclusive where the food was exceptional, prepared by a world class chef. No worries, the diving is world class on Bloody Bay Wall. Grand Cayman Diving - Scuba Diving in the Cayman Islands Exploring this site requires you to descend to a depth of 18 meters (60 feet) where the entrance of this elaborate tunnel system starts. Great diving. The amazing strawberry sponges were in abundance there. But these aren't the only good and bad times. When diving the Cayman Islands you can see a lot of large sponges, some good macro, and some tiny fish. 10 Best Scuba Diving Companies In Grand Cayman (2023) Despite the name, there arent actually caves here. Interested in diving the Cayman Islands? Occasionally, a nurse shark rest on the sand. Youtube+ Share your love of diving, experience new adventures, expand your dive skills, and help save the ocean. And as you might imagine, the coral-encrusted archway makes for a fantastic photo opportunity. Most of them are located around the Grand Cayman but a little over sixty sites stay around Cayman Brac and the Little Cayman. Bloody Bay Wall- Most scuba divers will say this is their favorite dive site in the Cayman Islands. Water temperatures are usually low 80's F. Marine life is plentiful and varied. Please Sign-in or Register to save My Ideas for later, Our social channels This is an especiallygreat time to visit clear, calm waters are perfect for snorkeling, diving, sailing and fishing. 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. 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 . Boat rides were no longer than 15 minutes, with most being around 5 minutes. Here, you can take diving lessons, go on a guided dive, or rent tanks and gear. April is an especially good choice because it has the warmest weather of the entire five-month dry season. The prices of hotels and short excursions that would normally be prohibitively expensive fall to more reasonable levels during this time. For big animals - you can find a good number of turtles and groupers, tarpon, nurse sharks, great barracuda, and stingrays. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'scubadivegeek_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_14',101,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-scubadivegeek_com-medrectangle-4-0');The Cayman Islands has a tropical marine climate with two pronounced seasons: a rainy season that runs from May to October and a dry season from November to April. Address. Rum Point Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned diver, Grand Cayman has a dive site for you. Although the rays who made this site their home permanently have moved on, there is still a good chance of spotting them here. It is 330-feet in length, and was sunk in Cayman Brac in 1996. Cayman Brac offered multiple relaxed dive spots on reefs all along the edge of the island. Diving in the Cayman Islands - Bluewater Dive Travel 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. 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. Get certified to scuba dive. Only ten miles long and one mile wide, this is a place where you can truly focus on your opportunity to relax. 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. Diving the Cayman Islands - SCUBA Travel The protected Bloody Bay Marine Park lies in Little Cayman and offers magnificent marine life, great visibility, and spectacular bioluminescent corals. The wreck can be penetrated in some parts but speak for your guide or instructor beforehand. Press the question mark key to get the keyboard shortcuts for changing dates. The Cayman Islands are one of the Best Liveaboard Destinations for Beginners. Best Times To Visit Cayman Islands The best time to visit the Cayman Islands is between March and June when the hotel rates drop. dive in each month of the year. Instagram, My Ideas Best Diving sites in Cayman Islands - Scuba dive reviews by Divezone If you like diving in caves and grottos, Trinity Caves on Grand Caymans west side is the site for you. Besides the thick black corals, keep an eye out for tarpon, large yellow tube sponges, and ginormous barrel sponges. The main dive spot of Little Cayman is located on the northwest coast in a marine protected area the Bloody Bay Marine Park. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. ASK US HERE! 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. I guess thats one drawback of guided dives, everyone is constantly on the move, not ideal for photography, especially macro photography. Theres also Little Cayman thats the least developed of the 3 islands. Frugal travel planners can look for good deals during these months while keeping an eye on the 10-day weather forecast. A few great choices are the Sunset House Hotel in Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac Beach Resort and the Little Cayman Beach Resort. This is a deep wall that drops several hundred feet into the abyss. At night, this popular Caymans dive site is great for spotting octopus, lobster, and shrimp. 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. Little Cayman, best time of year for diving | Page 2 | ScubaBoard Little Cayman, Cayman Islands. Plus, along the wall, you can meet triggerfish, eagle rays, turtles, lobsters and many more! Which Cayman Island Is The Best? - Fly & Sea Dive Adventures Plus, the water temperature ranges between 78-82F (26-28C). Exploring this site requires you to initially descend to 18 meters (60 feet) deep where the wall starts. As you enter the cave, you will realize that it is not totally dark as it is illuminated by streaking sunlight streaming from overhead cracks and crevices. But they are sometimes the cheapest months to visit. Grandview Condominiums are located on the south end of 7 Mile Beach in George Town on the scuba diving island of Grand Cayman. Theyre not timid and as they surround you, these rays seem happy to receive a gentle stroke or two. The wreck of the Captain Keith is unusual it is the only Soviet-made warship that divers can visit in the western hemisphere. The best time to visit the Cayman Islands is between March and April. Dive Into the Cayman Islands | Cond Nast Traveler 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. East End 5. Data sourced from the National Climatic Data Center. // ]]>, Call us today at+1-310-915-6677 or email us info@bluewaterdivetravel.com. Get forecasts each morning for every major island. Perhaps because of this, the coral isnt looking a healthy as it could. May through November, and especially September and October, are the riskiest months to visit. 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. Little Caymans Bloody Bay is home to some of the most dramatic and spectacular drop-offs and swim-throughs in the Carribean. We understand that annual leave is precious so we can ensure that From the mooring, divers often descend through a cut in the reef and out onto the wall. Cayman Islands Diving | Silver Thatch Water Sports | Breakers The depths start at around 12m/40ft and end at 30m/98ft. Best Time to Dive in Cayman Islands - Original Diving That's is how we pay ourselves. Diving is available year-round. You will find Nassau gropers, triggerfish, and other unique marine life at the Bloody Bay Wall. December rainfall drops back down to about three inches. It lays at 60 ft (20 m) and scuba divers are able to explore all five levels of this 250 ft (75 m) vessel. They have ladders that you can use to enter and exit the water safely. Boasting strong diving infrastructure, diverse types of diving, incredible walls and wrecks, and great visibility. Get in touch with our specialists for even more in-depth travel advice. 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. Other highlights include barracudas, yellowtail snappers, hawksbill turtles, and stingrays that sleep in the sand. Trinity Caves is one Cayman dive site that never disappoints. The Cayman Islands has also designated four special areas for protection such as marine park zones, replenishment zones, environmental zones, and no diving zones. This is a wreck worth a dive or two. There is slightly more rain during the summer months. Hotel prices are sourced from a sample of U.S. News Best Hotels rates through 2015-2016. Dining can be pricey but the meals I have had have been wonderful. Marine Life & Environment - Top Dive Spots - Diving Conditions, How to Get There-How to Dive Cayman Islands-Best Time to Dive, NEW! 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). Dive Courses | Learning to Dive in Grand Cayman | Cayman Resident 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). Little Cayman was first discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1503. We understand that diving the best Grand Cayman Dives is the primary goal of your Grand Cayman Dive vacation. // 10 Best Things to Do in the Cayman Islands Top Cayman Islands Grand Cayman scuba diving is also more popular than on the other islands due to the stingray population there. 10 Best Dive Destinations in the Caribbean This is how we pay ourselves. It does not make the product pricier for you. They became my favorite focus on the reef. If you want to enjoy these five dive sites . There is also an air pocket in a decompression chamber that you can pop into and chat with your buddy!! Thus, you can keep going back and still discover new sites. Seven Mile Beach 4. Best Time To Dive The Cayman Island From these locations, I was able to dive the west end and also the North Wall. 5 of the Best Scuba Diving Sites in the Cayman Islands 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. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Best Times to Visit Cayman Islands | U.S. News Travel The Cayman Islands certainly offer diversity without a long trip from the states. 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. The Cayman Diving Season The islands are very much a year round diving destination. These Florida Keys resorts are ideal for family getaways and romantic retreats. "High Season" at the hotels is mid-December to mid-April, so rates will be higher then. 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. Eagle Ray Pass is located along the North Wall in Grand Cayman. The shore diving was really easy to access with actual ladders or stairs and even showers at some sites. For macro subjects, you can see angelfish, morays, lettuce slug nudibranchs and many more. There is shopping, bars to hang out in, and live music. June to October brings higher topside temperatures (up to 33C, 91F). 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. Sidetrip: Visit Little Caymans Booby Pond Nature Reserve. Little Cayman is a lovely, quiet little island with a population of less than 170. Cactus coral, sea fans, great star coral, and tube sponges blanket the reef and provide refuge for a variety of sea creatures. 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. Canyons and drop-offs provide a varied topography making the site a firm favorite with photographers. If you are vacationing in Cayman Brac, then you need to visit this spot. Visibility in the Cayman Islands is wonderful, averaging between 60 and 100 feet (18-30 meters). 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. Scuba Diving in the Cayman Islands | Explore Cayman 11 Dive Resorts in the Cayman Islands | PADI Travel The Caymans have one major event that also may impact the best times to go there. Aside from the coral laden walls of Babylon, your divemaster will usually lead you to a pinnacle where its towering structures are dominated by whip corals. Bay Islands, Honduras. My wife and I are traveling there in February 2015 and are PADI AOW and Nitrox certified with ten years of recreational experience diving. If you're looking for great diving and hotel prices, the best time is between March and June when the rates all drop. The Cayman Islands dollar is legal tender in these islands. Although this is a wall dive, the cut in the sites name comes from the swim-through many divers use upon descent. [] Ive been to Grand Cayman and Little Cayman. 5. Why? Eden Rock Dive Center. 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). If wall diving is your thing, check out diving in Turks & Caicos. Trinity Caves is a popular dive site that is located off the coast of West Bay in Grand Cayman. 4. During this time, you can expect to see a variety of marine life, including turtles, rays, and a wide array of tropical fish. When shopping and eating out, be sure to identify which currency prices . Originally coined 356, this wreck is now called the M/V Captain Keith Tibbetts after a well-known Cayman Brac politician. This is a fun dive spot that you can access from shore. Exploring this site requires you to descend to 10 meters (33 feet) deep where you will arrive at the top portion of the reef. 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. 1. July has a jump in visits for families in part because school children are out for the summer. These hot temperatures start in May and last into November. We gave our Gear Lovers one job: to dive in Cayman Islands. Scuba Divers can experience the world's best 12ft dive site at Stingray City, the beautiful Starfish Point and Bloody Bay . Bloody Bay Wall is located in Little Cayman. If the forecast looks good, they should consider taking a last-minute trip to Grand Cayman if they also spot an attractive discount. If you have time, you should also take a flight to Little Cayman from Grand Cayman, and dive at Bloody Bay Wall. Scuba diving in Little Cayman - Liveaboard.com You will see a lot of tarpon at this spot, as well as coral and other fish. Aside from tourism promotion, marine conservation is in place in all the dive sites in the Cayman Islands. The units are privately owned and furnished, but they have 21 accommodations available for rental use. Schools of bright snappers brightened the reefs among colorful sponges. As the name suggests, this Cayman dive site is known for eagle rays. The Cayman Islands-- Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac--have been attracting scuba divers for decades, including beginners! . This is the most famous dive site in the Cayman Islands - and with good reason. Some of the nicest dive resorts in the Caribbean are in the Cayman Islands, and many of them have great shore diving and boat diving. 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 On Grand Cayman, I stayed at hotels on the west end along Seven Mile beach. Best Time to Dive in Little Cayman - Original Diving For water sports lovers, there are great spots for snorkeling including night snorkeling with bioluminescence, options to go sailing or on a catamaran cruise. Diving the Cayman Islands - SCUBA Travel December to April is also the busiest time of year for tourism, so it's important to book your dive trips in advance. The best time to dive is between December and April when the water is at its warmest and the visibility is at its best. Grand Cayman has more dive sites than Little Cayman. The Eden Rock Dive Center has everything you need for an unforgettable day underwater in the Cayman Islands. The three islands that make up the nation, Cayman Brac, Grand Cayman, and Little Cayman, are diverse and have distinct diving. Some of those services give me a small percentage of what you pay as commission for my referral. You may see hammerhead sharks if you are lucky. There is a good amount of coral and fish here. Average rainfall jumps to more than five inches in May, June and July. This is one of the deepest sea-walls in the world. Grand Cayman Island probably has the best diving as it has the North Wall deep drop-off dive and the USS Kittiwake wreck dive. Indonesia. The primary reason why scuba divers frequently visit the Cayman Islands is to do a different kind of investment: definitely not monetary, but instead fun, enjoyment and great underwater adventures. 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. Water Temperatures: Ranges from around 22C (72F) in December to 29C (84F) in July. June to October brings . MV Captain Keith Tibbetts is an ex-Soviet Union ship that was built in 1984 for the Cuban Navy. Hurricanes rarely hit Grand Cayman directly. Stingray City is in only 12ft (4m) of water and is a huge draw for divers and underwater photographers. September and October are clearly the least popular months to go because of a high risk of heavy rains along with hot temperatures. Scott S. Bateman is a professional journalist who has traveled widely throughout the Caribbean and the Americas. 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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