best time to dive cayman islands

All the information you need to plan your dive vacations anywhere in the world. I would appreciate if you don't as these referral links are what keep me posting and sharing on this blog. 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. If you enjoy diving, then you need to visit the USS Kittiwake during your vacation to Grand Cayman. 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.. Away from the reef, divers can look around the LCM David Nicholson wreck. Turtles munched on big sponges with no worries about divers hanging about. Exploring this site requires you to descend to 10 meters (33 feet) deep where you will arrive at the top portion of the reef. 4 of the Best Places to Go Shore Diving in Grand Cayman. The best time to visit the Cayman Islands is between March and June when the hotel rates drop. There is slightly more rain during the summer months. No diving trip in Grand Cayman would be complete without a dive at the infamous Stingray City. Aside from taking photos at the solid bronze emblem at one of its 5 decks or at the stern with the propeller, penetration can be done with the USS Kittiwake courtesy from multiple sunlit entries and exit points. A 2.75 meter (9ft) bronze statue of Amphitrite (the wife of the mythological god Poseidon) rises up from the base of the reef. When shopping and eating out, be sure to identify which currency prices . Our team will meet you at the airport and fast-track you through. The sea is always warm in the Cayman Islands, with surface temperatures never dropping below around 25 o C (78 o F). When we talk about Fiji, what immediately comes into our mind is a tropical dream holiday. Located 133 kilometers (83 miles) northeast of Grand Cayman is its little sister island Little Cayman. Theres also Little Cayman thats the least developed of the 3 islands. From these locations, I was able to dive the west end and also the North Wall. This is one of the deepest sea-walls in the world. Erwin Poliakoff, Baton Rouge, Louisiana USA Nikon D7000, Tokina 10-17 zoom, Nikkor 60mm, 85mm, and 105mm macros, Nauticam housing Choose from a selection of more than 250 vessels and 18,000 trips worldwide. The Cayman Islands continues to receive global recognition and top the charts for diving. Take a walk along the coast line or rent a bicycle and ride around the island. 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. 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. If you enjoy snorkeling, then check out our article where we discuss the top 25 snorkel spots in Grand Cayman. On Grand Cayman, I stayed at hotels on the west end along Seven Mile beach. 1. Jackson's Bight- Located also in the Bloody Bay Marine Park, it does not fail to provide scuba divers with an amazing dive. With a PADI Travel account, you can favourite dive operators to come back to later on any device or computer. Average rainfall jumps to more than five inches in May, June and July. 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. The North Wall is one of the most visited diving sites and plunges to a depth of 6000 feet (1800 meters). for even more in-depth travel advice. 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 diving depth at this Cayman site, between 30 and 40 meters (98-130ft) means its best for deep certified advanced divers. Head to the turret guns for a superb photo opportunity and keep your eyes peeled for barracuda, bright sponges, and schooling reef fish. Located in popular Bloody Bay, Donnas Delight is home to some classic Cayman wall diving: Giant barrel sponges, arching sea fans, and bright corals. With over 40 operators and 365 sites marked with moorings, thrill-seekers from all over take the plunge here. 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. It's the kind of peaceful place where you will make your own fun. Thus, you can keep going back and still discover new sites. Were a free review guide run by passionate Divers, Sports, and Outdoor fanatics. 3. We have put together a comprehensive collection of packages to suit your needs. Despite being small measuring only 16 x 1.6 kilometers (10 x 1 mile), tourism is booming and tourism facilities are sprawling especially in South Town. Theyre not timid and as they surround you, these rays seem happy to receive a gentle stroke or two. For us divers, the financial self-sufficiency of the Cayman Islands is only the icing on the cake. I hope my research also helps you make a decision on your next scuba diving vacation.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[120,600],'scubadivegeek_com-large-billboard-2','ezslot_9',102,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-scubadivegeek_com-large-billboard-2-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[120,600],'scubadivegeek_com-large-billboard-2','ezslot_10',102,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-scubadivegeek_com-large-billboard-2-0_1'); .large-billboard-2-multi-102{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;}. This is a wreck worth a dive or two. 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). Please Sign-in or Register to save My Ideas for later, Our social channels Everything here is very low key and there is a small local population. Rainfall starts to climb in May. I am the father of the best two children in the world and husband to the most patient woman on this planet. Red Sail Sports have been Scuba Diving in Cayman for 40 years. 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. While Grand Cayman receives the most publicity and visitors, all three Cayman Islands - Cayman Brac and Little Cayman being the other two -- offer outstanding scuba diving. Most of the units for rent are 2-bedroom and 2-bathroons units. 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. 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. You need to protect your fingers from the eager snappers though. The winter and early spring months are the most popular time in the Cayman Islands. Live a life others only dream about. #6 inBest Cheap Destination Wedding Locations, #4 inBest Places to Visit in January 2023. Best time to dive When to dive in the Cayman Islands entirely depends on your own personal preferences. Income disclosure: We are reader supported, and earn affiliate commissions when you buy via links found on DIVEIN.com: If you find a good deal on our site, you click to the retailer and you buy the product, we get a commission of the sale. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Babylon is located on the North Wall in Grand Cayman. We are proud to off-set 100% of the carbon generated by our clients' flights. Moray eels and angelfish move among the coral, and turtles are often seen cruising over the reef. This world-class scuba destination is colorful, bright, and teeming with life. If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. 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. 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. Hurricanes rarely hit Grand Cayman directly. It is 330-feet in length, and was sunk in Cayman Brac in 1996. The best part about the dive is the . The islands' location in the western part of the Caribbean shields them from being hit too hard by the annual hurricane season, which lasts from June to November. But they are sometimes the cheapest months to visit. A few great choices are the Sunset House Hotel in Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac Beach Resort and the Little Cayman Beach Resort. Matt Hampton was a guest of the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism (visitcaymanislands.com), British Airways, which has London returns from 688 (ba.com), and the Westin Seven Mile Beach, which . I thought it might be too touristy, but it was a lot of fun. Photographers will love Greenhouse for its varied macro life. 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. The water is about 12-feet deep here. Cayman Brac is the last of the islands and also much less traveld than Grand Caymen. Bloody Bay Wall Bloody Bay Wall is located in Little Cayman. May through November, and especially September and October, are the riskiest months to visit. If the forecast looks good, they should consider taking a last-minute trip to Grand Cayman if they also spot an attractive discount. Its not often divers can see a mermaid on a dive, but at Sunset Reef they can. Cracks in the ceilings let in plenty of natural light making it easy to search the nooks and crannies for the many crustaceans and other marine creatures that occupy the tunnels. 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. The famous diver and explorer Jacques Cousteau said that Bloody Bay Wall is one of the top dive sites in the world. Although this is a wall dive, the cut in the sites name comes from the swim-through many divers use upon descent. They were all guided dives. Grand Cayman also offers accessible shore diving on great coral reefs with little to no current. 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. In February, the cost is roughly $1,044 round trip . Most of them are located around the Grand Cayman but a little over sixty sites stay around Cayman Brac and the Little Cayman. Orange Canyon is a popular dive site on the west-side of Grand Cayman. 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. This is a wall that drops 2000 meters to the sea floor. But these aren't the only good and bad times. The Cayman Islands dollar is issued in units of $100, $50, $25, $10, $5 and $1 with coins of 25 cents, 10, 5 and one cent. Cayman Islands, as well as our suggestions for the best places to to save My Ideas for later. [] 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. 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. You will see many sea creatures such as octopus and arrow crabs. 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. There is also an air pocket in a decompression chamber that you can pop into and chat with your buddy!! Out in the open, spotted eagle rays are often seen swimming in groups of at least 5 individuals and their passing by is often correlated to the flyby of fighter jets in low altitude. 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. Clearly Cayman Group Specials - Big savings on 7-night stays! While the gazebo itself is actually an arch, this small dive site never fails to please. Find the best and most popular products and review them. Black coral and colorful sponges decorate the near-vertical face and the shallows are dotted with large coral heads teeming with marine life. East End 5. As said earlier, Grand Cayman has over 50 dive sites and we will not leave this section without mentioning other noted dive spots. (Closed Circuit Rebreathers/CCR) allows you to massively extend your dive time. In the Cayman Islands, spring is in full force. Scott S. Bateman is a professional journalist who has traveled widely throughout the Caribbean and the Americas. This is one of the top island destinations in the United Kingdom. The Cayman Islands certainly offer diversity without a long trip from the states. I stayed at an all inclusive where the food was exceptional, prepared by a world class chef. Most dive operators will take you there. I have stayed there several times at a dive resort with on-site dive operation. marine life, be it the tiny critters or bigger beasts of the ocean. Best Time to Dive Cayman Islands. View Map. You can dive along this wall and explore the different entrances. 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. The wreck of the Captain Keith is unusual it is the only Soviet-made warship that divers can visit in the western hemisphere. The resident goliath grouper is a popular dive buddy at this Cayman dive site. Just be prepared for a rain shower or two, as this is the start of the region's wet season. The main dive spot of Little Cayman is located on the northwest coast in a marine protected area the Bloody Bay Marine Park. to dive in Cayman Islands. 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. Grand Cayman scuba diving is also more popular than on the other islands due to the stingray population there. There is a good amount of coral and fish here. Boat rides were no longer than 15 minutes, with most being around 5 minutes. No crowds. 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. 20 Best Dive Sites In The Cayman Islands (2023) In this article, we review the top 20 scuba dive sites in the Cayman Islands. There's much to discover beyond theme parks in this Southeastern state. Perhaps because of this, the coral isnt looking a healthy as it could. From Rolex watches to Caymanite earrings to a shell necklace. The Cayman Islands are one of the Best Liveaboard Destinations for Beginners. Topside, the community is expanding with ongoing construction. 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. As a photographer, I never lacked for subjects both wide angle and macro and anything in between. ScubaDiveGeek.com also participates in other affiliate programs and Google Adwords and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these and other companies. Some resorts offer "Hurricane protection". Three long, wide tunnels, accessible to the majority of divers, extend from the sand flats to open out onto the reef wall. 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. iFrameResize({log:true, enablePublicMethods:true}); This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content. Grab your gear and dive into the crystal clear waters of Grand Cayman! The sea is always warm in the Cayman Islands, with surface temperatures never dropping below around 25 o C (78 o F). With virtually no currents and outstanding underwater visibility, Cayman has amazing wall dives, coral reefs and wrecks for you to explore and discover. There is decent shore diving from their dock. Stingrays, stingrays, and more stingrays is what draws divers to this Cayman site. Besides scuba diving, there are plenty of other things to do on the Cayman Islands. Cayman Turtle Centre. 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. This wreck is the only Russian warship that can explore in the Western hemisphere. Today, Cayman is one of the top dive destinations anywhere. For big animals - you can find a good number of turtles and groupers, tarpon, nurse sharks, great barracuda, and stingrays. 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. So, what are you waiting for? Named for a historical anchorage, Anchor Point features a tight chimney-like descent at the beginning of the dive. You will find Nassau gropers, triggerfish, and other unique marine life at the Bloody Bay Wall. But these arent the only good and bad times. 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. ASK US HERE! Its land area is slightly bigger than Little Cayman with a measurement of 19 x 2 kilometers (12miles x 1.2miles). 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. 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. Cayman Brac offers a good mix of wall, wreck and reef diving for all experience levels. Interested in diving the Cayman Islands? 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 Caymans have one major event that also may impact the best times to go there. Located just a short walk from George Town, the Sunset House Hotel is home to Sunset Divers, and both resort and dive center are favorites of divers. 10 Go Scavenger Hunting At Seven Mile Beach. The non-divers with us were content to lounge by the pool, visit the spa, ride bikes, and go for walks. Bert Brothers Boulders is also a great spot to see flying gurnards at around 5.5 meters (18ft). Would also recommend spending an afternoon at Rum Point, where you can relax and also do some snorkeling if you like. Sidetrip: Visit Little Caymans Booby Pond Nature Reserve. Find & Book PADI Adventures App Dive vacations in the Cayman Islands are a good choice for underwater photographers with their many opportunities to capture the beauty of the place and wonderful visibility, and also for travellers looking for deep dives - you can find many along the Cayman walls. I like the idea of being able to dive off both islands while staying on one. These Florida Keys resorts are ideal for family getaways and romantic retreats. 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! Grand Cayman has beautiful beaches and probably the most topside activities or restaurants anyone would want. 390 S Church St, George Town KY1-1106, Cayman Islands. Share your love of diving, experience new adventures, expand your dive skills, and help save the ocean. 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. I know there are shore dives that can be done, and we plan to do some of those next time. Give the perfect gift for your favorite ocean lover and explorer. Best Time To Dive The Cayman Island After exploring the area, here are some of the best dive sites in the Cayman Islands: 1. 4. Youtube+ There is a separate fee to dive this wreck that goes towards conservation, and you also get a nice yellow diver medallion to keep. It now rests in an upright position at a depth of 27meters (89feet). The best time to visit Grand Cayman is March and April. The dives are shallow and you can closely observe them swimming around or above you. Kittiwake- Though this wreck has been sunken rather recently and has not developed much coral yet, it is still a fantastic dive site for all levels. 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). Find a Liveaboard -Practical Information - Book a Trip. I have been diving in Grand Cayman several times. 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. From classic wide-brimmed hats to water-repellent trucker hats, find your ideal style. The wreck was specifically set up for safe penetration, giving divers many interior rooms to explore. The water clarity is typically amazingly clear. The Cayman dollar is exchanged at a rate fixed to the US dollar (CI $1 equals US $1.25). link to Fiji: Dive the Soft Coral Capital of the World, link to United Arab Emirates: Unspoiled Dive Sites, Wall diving, drift diving, cave diving, shore diving, boat diving, deep diving, and wreck diving, 100 different species of hard and soft corals plus over 500 species of tropical fish like the South-Atlantic stingrays, eagle rays, manta rays, nurse sharks, Caribbean reef sharks, flying gurnards, Nassau groupers, tarpon fish, Grand Cayman: Snorkeling at Stingray City, visit Dolphin Cove, hiking in the Mastic Trail, Pedro St. James National Historic Site, Cayman Islands National Museum, and the Cayman Turtle Farm. Around the coral fingers, stingrays, eagle rays and yellowhead jawfish rest on the sandy patches. The highlight of the dive is the photo opportunity with this Cayman reefs most famous resident. It seems the dive guides hunt the lionfish and then feed the groupers, so they joined us right away each dive. If you like diving in caves and grottos, Trinity Caves on Grand Caymans west side is the site for you. Diving is available year-round. The best dive site is either Bloody Bay Wall in Little Cayman or the USS Kittiwake in Grand Cayman. Bloody Bay Coral Reef Wall - one of the most beautiful dive sites in the Cayman Islands It's time to head back underwater for another jaw-dropping location: the Bloody Bay Wall. You will then follow a sloping reef up to 25 meters (82 feet) deep where the wall starts and drops down up to 900 meters (2,950 feet) deep. The dive boat did make the excursion across to Little Cayman's Bloody Bay wall one day which is very achievable from Cayman Brac. Cayman Islands Seasonal Dive Planner The Caymans' hottest period is from May to November. The rainy season spans from May through October though showers usually only last for a few hours at a time. All levels of divers can enjoy the site as there is plenty to see at shallow depths or at deeper parts. Otherwise, it is clear that December through April are the best months of the year to visit Grand Cayman, especially early April. Best time to dive in Cayman Islands The diving is great year round in the Caribbean, something that is promoted with the dive 365 program. Don't forget to visit Stingray City before leaving Grand Cayman. And, thanks to a keen focus on conservation, many of the country's famous underwater spectacles are still well worth a visit today. 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. Get in touch with our specialists for even more in-depth travel advice. We were lucky enough to see the tail end of silversides on the wreck of the Balboa right in the Harbor too. Exploring this site requires you to descend to a depth of 18 meters (60 feet) where the entrance of this elaborate tunnel system starts. 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. You can hand-feed wild Southern stingrays. Three Fathom Wall is a popular night dive when eels, lobsters, and reef squid make an appearance. Crabs and lobsters are among the critters hiding in the crevices. If you are vacationing in Cayman Brac, then you need to visit this spot. Cayman Brac offered multiple relaxed dive spots on reefs all along the edge of the island. 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. While at first the Oro Verde was a complete ship, rough seas and tumultuous weather have dispersed the wreckage. Grand Cayman has more dive sites than Little Cayman. Why? Grandview Condominiums are located on the south end of 7 Mile Beach in George Town on the scuba diving island of Grand Cayman. U.S. News rates the cheapest travel insurance options, considering expert and consumer recommendations. June to October brings higher topside temperatures (up to 33C, 91F). As a diver, with a PADI account you can access your eLearning along with many more tools to help you on your adventures. ScubaDiveGeek.com is a participant in the Amazon.com Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This is one of the best dive sites in Cayman Brac, and is a must-do experience. 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. Book your fun dives, snorkelling trips and courses online with thousands of PADI Dive Centers. 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. There are lots of beautiful beaches to visit and to relax. Hurricane Ivan in 2004 cleaved the 100m/328ft ship in half but divers can still explore both sections of the wreckage. Courtesy of Sunset House Resort, Grand Cayman. Settle on the sand at just 3.7 meters (12ft) and have hordes of southern stingrays glide gracefully around you. I have lived in the corporate world for a few years now with very little excitement in my life. The wreck can be penetrated in some parts but speak for your guide or instructor beforehand.

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