best time to dive cayman islands
After exploring the area, here are some of the best dive sites in the Cayman Islands: 1. 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. Sharp-eyed divers can find leopard flatworms and the tunnels are also popular hangouts for rays and green moray eels. . It was named Orange Canyon because of the large orange Elephant Ear Sponges that can be found here. Boat rides were no longer than 15 minutes, with most being around 5 minutes. From Rolex watches to Caymanite earrings to a shell necklace. The wreck can be penetrated in some parts but speak for your guide or instructor beforehand. The Cayman Islands boasts world-class beaches, luxurious properties, worldwide culinary influences, high-end shops, local stores, and everything in between. 4. The sea is always warm in the Cayman Islands, with surface temperatures never dropping below around 25 o C (78 o F). My wife and I are traveling there in February 2015 and are PADI AOW and Nitrox certified with ten years of recreational experience diving. Which Cayman island has the best diving? | ZuBlu Aside from tourism promotion, marine conservation is in place in all the dive sites in the Cayman Islands. Best Resorts in the Cayman Islands | Islands From the mooring, divers often descend through a cut in the reef and out onto the wall. Diving is available year-round. Still great for diving with great walls for all levels of divers and the walls and the Russian destroyer 356 aka Russian destroyer. As a photographer, I never lacked for subjects both wide angle and macro and anything in between. Dive Shop and Front desk is open 7 days per week | 7am to 6pm and can be reached directly on (345)-640-7500 1. You can go hiking in the Mastic Trail where it has really nice views from the harbors and the beaches. Otherwise, it is clear that December through April are the best months of the year to visit Grand Cayman, especially early April. But these aren't the only good and bad times. The boat dives were offered mostly in the mornings, and we were on our own in the afternoons. Grand Cayman has beautiful beaches and probably the most topside activities or restaurants anyone would want. Diving Cayman Islands: Best Wall Dives in the World If you want to go a little more remote, try Little Cayman. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Orange Canyon is a popular dive site on the west-side of Grand Cayman. Cayman Islands, as well as our suggestions for the best places to Tieneke, Joe, and Kevin went out of their way to accommodate our dive group and show us a really great time. For shark diving, we suggest the Maze, Scuba Bowl and the Grouper Grotto which is also filled with lots of good-size groupers. Theyre not timid and as they surround you, these rays seem happy to receive a gentle stroke or two. You will find Nassau gropers, triggerfish, and other unique marine life at the Bloody Bay Wall. The Cayman Islands hosts one of the best dives in the World: Bloody Bay Wall on Little Cayman. 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. Along with the vertical structures of the wall are small cracks and crevices that have become the refuge of marine critters like crabs, lobsters, moray eels and octopus. Look along the ledge by the mooring for crabs and check out the four massive barrel sponges. You can spot eagle rays, reef sharks, sailfin blennies, tilefish, peacock flounders, garden eels, or yellow-headed jawfish. But Little Cayman also has good diving including Bloody Bay Wall dive, which means a Caymans Island liveaboard is the best way to experience all the best Cayman's diving. divemasters and lovers of all things underwater, know the best time 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. Cruise ships visit here, so expect everything you would find in most international cruise ship ports. Thus, you can keep going back and still discover new sites. 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. With the wall beginning at just 6 meters (20ft), the site is popular with both divers and snorkelers. The Eden Rock Dive Center has everything you need for an unforgettable day underwater in the Cayman Islands. Little Cayman was first discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1503. Some of those services give me a small percentage of what you pay as commission for my referral. 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. Closer to the reef, turtles, groupers, horse-eyed jacks, and an over-abundance of lionfish make this colorful site even more interesting. Grand Cayman, the main island, is often one of the most popular destinations in the Caribbean, especially with western Caribbean cruises. The worst time is September during the hurricane season. You can also go wreck diving as there are some shipwrecks that can be explored like the remains of USS Kittiwake. Family Traveller Excellence Awards 2019 Winner. Pelagics are attracted to the wall while schools of reef fish populate the shallows, swimming around the many purple, red, and yellow sponges. Trinity Caves is a popular dive site that is located off the coast of West Bay in Grand Cayman. The ship was originally built for the US Army Transportation Corps over 70-years ago. You need to take a boat to reach this wreck. Roundabout is located along the North Wall in Grand Cayman. The 20 Best Scuba Dive Sites In The Cayman Islands (2023) Before the USS Kittiwake was sunk, the Oro Verde was the wreck dive of choice in the Caymans. Get in touch with our specialists for even more in-depth travel advice. 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. No diving trip in Grand Cayman would be complete without a dive at the infamous Stingray City. Many divers who have been diving in this area said that this is really an up close and personal experience with stingrays as they are literally touching and surrounding you. 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. From 5 star restaurants to fish frys at the local gas station. The best part about the dive is the . Just south of Seven Mile Beach and approximately 46 feet below the surface are Eden Rock and Devil's Grotto, two of the most popular diving spots on Grand Cayman. Keith Tibbets- This Soviet-built Frigate that was owned by the Cuban navy was given to the Cayman Islands to purposefully sink it. 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. Rum Point Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned diver, Grand Cayman has a dive site for you. It now rests in an upright position at a depth of 27meters (89feet). We gave our Gear Lovers one job: Best Time To Visit Cayman Islands - Travel Tips For Every Season Photographers can make the worst dive buddies. Black coral and colorful sponges decorate the near-vertical face and the shallows are dotted with large coral heads teeming with marine life. We'll whisk you through the security queues (where available). Grab your gear and dive into the crystal clear waters of Grand Cayman! 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. The Cayman dollar is exchanged at a rate fixed to the US dollar (CI $1 equals US $1.25). From April to October water temperature are at least 27 o C (81 o F) and can . Sharks and turtles are frequent visitors as are snappers, groupers, and grunts. 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. They have ladders that you can use to enter and exit the water safely. . We have put together a comprehensive collection of packages to suit your needs. These hot temperatures start in May and last into November. Also known as the Mixing Bowl, Three Fathom Wall is the point where Jacksons Bight and the Bloody Bay diving areas meet. The Cayman Islands continues to receive global recognition and top the charts for diving. Eels, rays, sharks, and turtles are frequently seen. 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. There are also lots of tarpon and small silver sprats in this area. 1 is a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom unit. 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! From classic wide-brimmed hats to water-repellent trucker hats, find your ideal style. On Grand Cayman, I stayed at hotels on the west end along Seven Mile beach. View Map. Enjoy the comfort of an airport lounge with free drinks and snacks, even if you're flying economy. No worries, the diving is world class on Bloody Bay Wall. Tourism volume is estimated based on in-market destination search query interest from Google and on travel.usnews.com in 2015-2016. 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. 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. A huge pinnacle branches out, creating a corridor-like passageway that is used by large pelagics cruising up from the abyss. I guess thats one drawback of guided dives, everyone is constantly on the move, not ideal for photography, especially macro photography. 3. Best Diving sites in Cayman Islands - Scuba dive reviews by Divezone Over a 30-year history, the islands have averaged less than two inches of rain from January through April and a little more than two inches in December, according to the Cayman Islands National Weather Service. Because the site is prone to strong currents, it isnt frequently dived which makes a trip to this very healthy reef even more special. Cayman Brac offers a good mix of wall, wreck and reef diving for all experience levels. It is 330-feet in length, and was sunk in Cayman Brac in 1996. Eden Rock has lots of coral and fish, and Devils Grotto has underwater caves that you can explore. 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. StingrayCity. If you enjoy snorkeling, then check out our article where we discuss the top 25 snorkel spots in Grand Cayman. Its also the historical rainfall patterns. Water Temperatures: Ranges from around 22C (72F) in December to 29C (84F) in July. 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. If you don't feel comfortable using my referral links, you can always go directly to their site and bypass me. Dining can be pricey but the meals I have had have been wonderful. The Cayman Islands is a world-class diving destination famous for its reefs, wrecks and rum. This is currently number 20 on the 100 Best Dives list.. Situated not far from the north point on Grand Cayman, Ghost Mountain is probably named for the behemoth mushroom-like pinnacle that suddenly emerges from the blue as divers near it. Great views, amazing stay - Review of Ocean Cabanas Dive Resort, West Swim throughs, ledges, overhangs, and an average depth of 12 meters (40ft) make this a Cayman dive site for all experience levels to explore. Occasionally, a nurse shark rest on the sand. Little Caymans Bloody Bay is home to some of the most dramatic and spectacular drop-offs and swim-throughs in the Carribean. The Cayman Islands are a premier diving destination, boasting 365 dive sites, as well as the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame . We could easily get to reefs and wrecks by ourselves from shore and take as much time as our tanks allowed. 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. For big animals - you can find a good number of turtles and groupers, tarpon, nurse sharks, great barracuda, and stingrays. The wall dive also has several other topographical features including swim-throughs and tunnels. Plus, the water temperature ranges between 78-82F (26-28C). 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. I am the father of the best two children in the world and husband to the most patient woman on this planet. The main dive spot of Little Cayman is located on the northwest coast in a marine protected area the Bloody Bay Marine Park. 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. Grand Cayman is the most visited island in the Cayman Islands by Scuba Divers. September and October are clearly the least popular months to go because of a high risk of heavy rains along with hot temperatures. The wreck of the Captain Keith is unusual it is the only Soviet-made warship that divers can visit in the western hemisphere. This area is an international tourist destination and can be crowded. The Cayman Islands are one of the Best Liveaboard Destinations for Beginners. Our team will meet you at the airport and fast-track you through. You get to enjoy some of the warm weather, which is especially nice if you live in the northern U.S., where it's still winter. Out in the open, expect schools of Nassau groupers, turtles, and snappers. September and October are the riskiest months to visit Grand Cayman because of the higher than normal amounts of rain. at any point on your diving holiday) has to offer. The worst time is September during the hurricane season. It exceeds six inches in August and jumps again to more than eight inches in September and October. Why? Do you love diving in the Caymans? They look dark brown without light but the first time my strobes lit one up I was amazed at the super bright rich red color. The Seven Mile Beach area and the main city, Georgetown, are very developed with large hotels and resorts, restaurants, shops, etc. Some resorts offer "Hurricane protection". 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. Read more about diving in Bonaire. 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. Three Fathom Wall is a popular night dive when eels, lobsters, and reef squid make an appearance. June to October brings . Which Cayman Island Is The Best? - Fly & Sea Dive Adventures Other highlights include barracudas, yellowtail snappers, hawksbill turtles, and stingrays that sleep in the sand. This British overseas island is home to mystical caves, unscaled escarpments, tropical forests, diverse wildlife and a plethora of other unique experiences. 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. There are actually around two dozen dive sites within the bay, with Bloody Bay Wall top of the list. You can see Spotted Eagle Rays flying passed this area from depths of about 30 to 100 feet. 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. Would also recommend spending an afternoon at Rum Point, where you can relax and also do some snorkeling if you like. So, what are you waiting for? The Cayman Islands are home to some of the best spots for scuba diving and snorkeling in the world. to save My Ideas for later. info@bluewaterdivetravel.com, 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. The Best Scuba Diving Experiences On Grand Cayman In general, the best time to dive in the Cayman Islands is between January and April, when the water temperature is warm and visibility is excellent. There are lots of other fish and coral. Named for a historical anchorage, Anchor Point features a tight chimney-like descent at the beginning of the dive. Grand Caymans North Wall plunges deeper than 1800 metres/6000 feet and offers beautiful wall diving with opportunities to see spotted eagle rays and sea turtles. Cactus coral, sea fans, great star coral, and tube sponges blanket the reef and provide refuge for a variety of sea creatures. The 20 Best Dive sites in Caymans? We dived 3 days in February 2014, and they were all excellent and memorable dives. The units are privately owned and furnished, but they have 21 accommodations available for rental use. December through April are especially popular times to go because of low risk of rainfall and more moderate temperatures. Dive Courses | Learning to Dive in Grand Cayman | Cayman Resident Drop us a comment below and tell us your favorite site! If you have time, you should also take a flight to Little Cayman from Grand Cayman, and dive at Bloody Bay Wall. The water drops over a hundred feet. Best Scuba Diving Destinations in the World - The Cayman Islands Drift dives are possible here depending on your operator. MV Capt. Enquire Ghost Mountain Grand Cayman is another great spot for wall diving where you can further reach a protruding limestone that silhouettes like a ghost from afar. 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. Red Sail Sports have been Scuba Diving in Cayman for 40 years. A shallow dive site, the colors here really pop making it a good choice for photographers. 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. It is worth noting however that from June until October is the hurricane season in the Caribbean. The Kittiwake wreck as well as other wrecks in the close vicinity add variety and interesting structure which I really enjoyed. For us divers, the financial self-sufficiency of the Cayman Islands is only the icing on the cake. dive in each month of the year. Eagle Ray Pass is located along the North Wall in Grand Cayman. Grand Cayman scuba diving is also more popular than on the other islands due to the stingray population there. 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. This is a wreck worth a dive or two. This is an especiallygreat time to visit clear, calm waters are perfect for snorkeling, diving, sailing and fishing. 10 Best Things to Do in the Cayman Islands Top Cayman Islands This is currently number 20 on the 100 Best Dives list. We understand that annual leave is precious so we can ensure that Cayman Brac offered multiple relaxed dive spots on reefs all along the edge of the island. The Cayman Islands has also designated four special areas for protection such as marine park zones, replenishment zones, environmental zones, and no diving zones. Crabs and lobsters are among the critters hiding in the crevices. Scuba diving in the Cayman Islands: an experience of a lifetime There are plenty of great dive resorts available, but liveaboard is the best option if you want to dive around all three islands. Best 5 Dive Resorts In Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands - Trip101 Our reviews: We can make the world a little bit better with great in-depth reviews. Its land area is slightly bigger than Little Cayman with a measurement of 19 x 2 kilometers (12miles x 1.2miles). The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. A 2.75 meter (9ft) bronze statue of Amphitrite (the wife of the mythological god Poseidon) rises up from the base of the reef. The water depth here is around 18-meters. Though scuba diving in the Cayman Islands is mostly known for close encounters with stingrays, it has much more to offer. 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. (Closed Circuit Rebreathers/CCR) allows you to massively extend your dive time. Our review team always considers durability, price, quality, and value in their reviews. All the information you need to plan your dive vacations anywhere in the world. The USS Kittiwake is an ex-US Navy ship that was purposely sunk in Grand Cayman to create a new dive site. Average rainfall jumps to more than five inches in May, June and July. Cayman Turtle Centre. Sign up to get the latest updates, offers and more. There's much to discover beyond theme parks in this Southeastern state. The resident goliath grouper is a popular dive buddy at this Cayman dive site. Don't forget to visit Stingray City before leaving Grand Cayman. There are 365 dive sites throughout the islands, offering something for all levels of experience. 50 Best Scuba Diving Places in The World - Thrillophilia This is a wall that drops 2000 meters to the sea floor. Best Time to Dive in Little Cayman. The people of the island are friendly and culturally diverse. The North Wall is one of the most visited diving sites and plunges to a depth of 6000 feet (1800 meters). The Cayman Diving Season The islands are very much a year round diving destination. It is easily possible to visit all 3 of the Cayman Islands in a single dive trip and be able to enjoy the diversity they provide.