Of course, the Soviets didnt call her Keith Tibbets, she was renamed for a local dive operator after the Cayman government purchased the wreck for dive tourism. Despite the name, there arent actually caves here. Princess Pennies Pinnacle is located on the North Wall in Grand Cayman. With world class conditions and a robust dive industry, the Cayman Islands is one of the best places to learn how to dive. The visibility at Donnas Delight on Little Cayman is typically good and the relaxed and easy diving here is suitable for all levels. 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. Below are our recommendations for the best months to dive in Cayman Islands, as well as our suggestions for the best places to dive in each month of the year. The Cayman dollar is exchanged at a rate fixed to the US dollar (CI $1 equals US $1.25). Sea temperature varies little, from a high of 86F/30C in August/September to a low of 80F/26.5C in February. Look out for the big groupers who sometimes get inside the huge barrel sponges, turtle, the occasional shark, plenty of reef fish, and the macro life at the cleaning stations. It is common to see barracudas and schools of horse-eye jacks in this area. The Kittiwake is a 76.5 meter (250ft) former submarine support ship. Grand Cayman makes a good dive vacation, but for us it was a great stop with plenty of good diving over 3 days on the way home from Cayman Brac. The wreck was specifically set up for safe penetration, giving divers many interior rooms to explore. I have been diving in Grand Cayman several times. You may see hammerhead sharks if you are lucky. 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. Sign up to get the latest updates, offers and more. Find a Liveaboard -Practical Information - Book a Trip. 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. Facebook It exceeds six inches in August and jumps again to more than eight inches in September and October. Megan Johnson|Sharael KolbergMarch 3, 2023, Holly Johnson|Erin EvansFebruary 28, 2023, U.S. News Travel EditorsFebruary 28, 2023, Kyle McCarthy|Catriona KendallFebruary 22, 2023. In the Cayman Islands, spring is in full force. He is the author of four books about cruising in the Caribbean, Alaska and Mexican Riviera. But they are sometimes the cheapest months to visit. Cactus coral, sea fans, great star coral, and tube sponges blanket the reef and provide refuge for a variety of sea creatures. Enjoy 20% OFF select PADI eLearning programs, FREE ReActivate online refresher, subscription to Scuba Diving magazine + so much more when you join PADI Club. at any point on your diving holiday) has to offer. The heat may be less of an issue for anyone planning to spend a week there mainly on the beaches during the day and shopping or having fun in the cooler evenings. Located 133 kilometers (83 miles) northeast of Grand Cayman is its little sister island Little Cayman. You will find the Cayman Islands to be very diverse, from quiet Little Cayman, to bustling Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman. It is 330-feet in length, and was sunk in Cayman Brac in 1996. The USS Kittiwake is an ex-US Navy ship that was purposely sunk in Grand Cayman to create a new dive site. We'll whisk you through the security queues (where available). Book your next cruise vacation on one of these floating megaresorts. 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. 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. It was then sunk in Grand Cayman in 1980 to make a new dive site. I guess thats one drawback of guided dives, everyone is constantly on the move, not ideal for photography, especially macro photography. 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. 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. Penetration can be done in this wreck courtesy from its numerous entry and exit points that were made before it was intentionally sunk to become an artificial reef. Lemon Reef is a mini-wall dive site located on the North Wall in Grand Cayman. Instagram, My Ideas Best Times To Visit Cayman Islands The best time to visit the Cayman Islands is between March and June when the hotel rates drop. Bloody Bay Wall. 6. The Kittiwake wreck as well as other wrecks in the close vicinity add variety and interesting structure which I really enjoyed. There is also an air pocket in a decompression chamber that you can pop into and chat with your buddy!! Cayman Brac Beach Resort. 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. Best Time to Dive Cayman Islands. Photographers will love Greenhouse for its varied macro life. These Florida Keys resorts are ideal for family getaways and romantic retreats. September is the worst month of the Caribbean hurricane season, which officially goes from June through November. Still great for diving with great walls for all levels of divers and the walls and the Russian destroyer 356 aka Russian destroyer. Great diving. Reservations Office is open Monday-Friday | 8:30am-5:30pm Cayman Islands time. 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. I have lived in the corporate world for a few years now with very little excitement in my life. 310-915-6677 10 Best Dive Destinations in the Caribbean Best diving in the Caribbean 10 Best Dive Destinations in the Caribbean Cecily Russell 25 February, 2022 Vast blue waters, plummeting wall dives and pelagic life are just a few reasons why you'll find some of the world's best diving in the Caribbean. The months of January and February are the coldest, with average lows in the low 60s. Located south-east of the Gulf of Mexico and close to Jamaica, Cuba, and Haiti, diving in the Caymans offers classic Carribean underwater scenes and the chance to spot both large and small marine life. Seven Mile Beach 4. All levels of divers can enjoy the site as there is plenty to see at shallow depths or at deeper parts. Address. Bloody Bay Wall- Most scuba divers will say this is their favorite dive site in the Cayman Islands. This is currently number 20 on the 100 Best Dives list.. 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. PADI Dive Resorts for all budgets, in the best dive locations around the world. June to October brings . Eden Rock has lots of coral and fish, and Devils Grotto has underwater caves that you can explore. The Cayman Islands-- Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac--have been attracting scuba divers for decades, including beginners! Please Sign-in or Register Choose from a selection of more than 250 vessels and 18,000 trips worldwide. These hot temperatures start in May and last into November. They are located in George Town in Grand Cayman. Cheeseburger Reef is located in George Town, Grand Cayman. The Cayman Islands certainly offer diversity without a long trip from the states. Boasting strong diving infrastructure, diverse types of diving, incredible walls and wrecks, and great visibility. During the day rays, turtles, the occasional barracuda and plenty of reef fish mean theres a lot to keep divers engaged. The amazing strawberry sponges were in abundance there. There are also usually direct flights from Boston, Chicago, and New York. Grand Cayman and Little Cayman are the main diving areas in the Cayman Islands which are recognized as having one of the best wall dives in the world. We understand that annual leave is precious so we can ensure that They have ladders that you can use to enter and exit the water safely. 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. Below are our recommendations for the best months to dive in There are 365 dive sites throughout the islands, offering something for all levels of experience. I know there are shore dives that can be done, and we plan to do some of those next time. Once you decide which route you want to go, it's time to get in the water! Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. 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. Little Cayman was first discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1503. There is also a dive shop and restaurant. Located 8 kilometers (5 miles) east of Little Cayman is another elongated island that is popular with anglers and scuba divers. Plenty of schooling reef fish call Ghost Mountain home and the pinnacle is also carpeted in deep, bloody-red finger sponges. You can see Spotted Eagle Rays flying passed this area from depths of about 30 to 100 feet. Grand Cayman scuba diving is also more popular than on the other islands due to the stingray population there. 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. If you enjoy snorkeling, then check out our article where we discuss the top 25 snorkel spots in 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.. This island is very small and there is little to do, other than dive. This is a deep wall that drops several hundred feet into the abyss. 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. Photographers can make the worst dive buddies. There is shopping, bars to hang out in, and live music. Drop us a comment below and tell us your favorite site! 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. PrivacyPolicy, 2023 Original Diving | Web Design by D3R. Out in the open, expect schools of Nassau groupers, turtles, and snappers. With a PADI Travel account, you can favourite dive operators to come back to later on any device or computer. My favorite were the groupers who followed us like pets. The best part about the dive is the . Turtles munched on big sponges with no worries about divers hanging about. There is a lot of soft coral here, which makes for an interesting experience. A highlight dive is the Tibbets wreck with great structure and lots of life. The three islands that make up the nation, Cayman Brac, Grand Cayman, and Little Cayman, are diverse and have distinct diving. Under its 1986 declaration covering an area of hectares (23 acres) are dive sites that are popular to tourists and divers alike. As for temperature and weather, the Cayman Islands are tropical, meaning it's warm 365 days a year. The units are privately owned and furnished, but they have 21 accommodations available for rental use. If you want to go a little more remote, try Little Cayman. This is currently number 20 on the 100 Best Dives list. Most of the units for rent are 2-bedroom and 2-bathroons units. Here, you can take diving lessons, go on a guided dive, or rent tanks and gear. The Eden Rock Dive Center has everything you need for an unforgettable day underwater in the Cayman Islands. The Cayman Islands are widely regarded as the birthplace of recreational scuba diving, thanks to some pioneering efforts by local operators in the 1980s. Lionfish have become an invasive species and some of the dive operators offer culling excursions. Scuba Divers can experience the world's best 12ft dive site at Stingray City, the beautiful Starfish Point and Bloody Bay . 5. Eagle Ray Pass is located along the North Wall in Grand Cayman. 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 . Orange Canyon is a popular dive site on the west-side of Grand Cayman. Most of them are located around the Grand Cayman but a little over sixty sites stay around Cayman Brac and the Little Cayman. Red Sail Sports have been Scuba Diving in Cayman for 40 years. Little Cayman, Cayman Islands. Its a very easy and fun dive, we saw some angelfish and eagle rays. As the name suggests, this Cayman dive site is known for eagle rays. Book your fun dives, snorkelling trips and courses online with thousands of PADI Dive Centers. Our Original Diving experts, made up of marine biologists, Would also recommend spending an afternoon at Rum Point, where you can relax and also do some snorkeling if you like. The water is about 100 feet deep, and there is a good variety of soft and hard corals. Today, Cayman is one of the top dive destinations anywhere. 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 boat dives were offered mostly in the mornings, and we were on our own in the afternoons. Get certified to scuba dive. Intermediate divers can begin their dive at the chimney, a narrow tunnel starting at 12m/40ft and ending at 24m/80ft. 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. This 82 hectare (200 acres) protected area is the refuge of the largest red-footed booby population in the Caribbean and is a popular bird-watching site. This is how we pay ourselves. Black coral and colorful sponges decorate the near-vertical face and the shallows are dotted with large coral heads teeming with marine life. 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. Answer 1 of 11: Does anyone have firsthand experience with any of the dive operators on Little Cayman that they will share? With the wall beginning at just 6 meters (20ft), the site is popular with both divers and snorkelers. U.S. News rates the cheapest travel insurance options, considering expert and consumer recommendations. 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. It was named Orange Canyon because of the large orange Elephant Ear Sponges that can be found here. 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. The wall dive also has several other topographical features including swim-throughs and tunnels. You will also notice that this tunnel system has a healthy population of whip corals and sponges that are all tall in size.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'scubadivegeek_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_0',126,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-scubadivegeek_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); Scuba diving in Grand Cayman is not just only about wall diving. Originally coined 356, this wreck is now called the M/V Captain Keith Tibbetts after a well-known Cayman Brac politician. Get forecasts each morning for every major island. With over 40 operators and 365 sites marked with moorings, thrill-seekers from all over take the plunge here. knowledge to ensure you know when to dive to enjoy the very best 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. Generally, even with up to four dives per day on offer Cayman Islands scuba diving . It's the kind of peaceful place where you will make your own fun. July has a jump in visits for families in part because school children are out for the summer. The Cayman Islands is a world-class diving destination famous for its reefs, wrecks and rum. GOT QUESTIONS ABOUT DIVING IN CAYMANS? 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. 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. View Map. Stingray City offers divers the opportunity to fully interact with these amazing creatures. This is a fun dive spot that you can access from shore. However, the Cayman Islands can be impacted by hurricanes primarily between June and November. The best time to see whitetip reef sharks in the Cayman Islands is from May to August. Around the coral fingers, stingrays, eagle rays and yellowhead jawfish rest on the sandy patches. Otherwise, it is clear that December through April are the best months of the year to visit Grand Cayman, especially early April. The best time to dive is between December and April when the water is at its warmest and the visibility is at its best. 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. Purposely sunk in 2011, she now sits upright in the sand at 18 meters (60ft) and is a teeming artificial reef encrusted with coral. Its land area is slightly bigger than Little Cayman with a measurement of 19 x 2 kilometers (12miles x 1.2miles). You could spend . Continue with Recommended Cookies. I have worked in the corporate world and had little time for adventure. The water drops over a hundred feet. Press the question mark key to get the keyboard shortcuts for changing dates. From full scuba certification courses to one-day experiences for those who've never breathed off a regulator, the Cayman Islands qualify as an scuba diving shrine. If you want to enjoy these five dive sites . From April to October water temperature are at least 27 o C (81 o F) and can . It does not make the product pricier for you. With virtually no currents and outstanding underwater visibility, Cayman has amazing wall dives, coral reefs and wrecks for you to explore and discover. For example, let's look at one airline flying from Miami to Grand Cayman. For scuba diving, the best time to dive the Cayman Islands is pretty much any time except peak hurricane season. [CDATA[ If you're looking for great diving and hotel prices, the best time is between March and June when the rates all drop. Top 20 Best Dive Sites In Cayman Islands In 2023, The Best Starboard Paddle Boards: A Brand Guide, The Best iRocker Paddle Boards: A Brand Guide, Blackfin Paddle Boards: The Best Paddle boards from Blackfin, Top All-inclusive Resorts You Need To Visit, How To Choose a Kayak Paddle? 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. Eden Rock & Devils Grotto are two dive sites that are next to each other. The water depth here is around 18-meters. Best Time to Dive in Little Cayman. 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. for even more in-depth travel advice. It now rests in an upright position at a depth of 27meters (89feet). There is also a small restaurant and dive resort. For beginners or those who get nervous in enclosed spaces, there are plenty of decks around the exterior to check out. 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. Theyre not timid and as they surround you, these rays seem happy to receive a gentle stroke or two. If you have time, you should also take a flight to Little Cayman from Grand Cayman, and dive at Bloody Bay Wall. The North Wall is one of the most visited diving sites and plunges to a depth of 6000 feet (1800 meters). 390 S Church St, George Town KY1-1106, Cayman Islands. 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. Web Visit website. From Grand Cayman, you can transfer to Little Cayman or Cayman Brac. Navigate backward to interact with the calendar and select a date. If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. If hot temperatures are an issue, it is better to visit the islands from December through April when they average in the upper 80s Fahrenheit. Grand Cayman's North Wall plunges deeper than 1800 metres/6000 feet and offers beautiful wall diving with opportunities to see spotted eagle rays and sea turtles. Everything most divers want. 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. You can spot eagle rays, reef sharks, sailfin blennies, tilefish, peacock flounders, garden eels, or yellow-headed jawfish. 2. There are also lots of tarpon and small silver sprats in this area. Why? [] It is only a 10-minute walk from the cruise ship port in George Town to Eden Rock. Having a less touristic crowd, Cayman Brac still has several tourism facilities like Cayman Brac Dive Resorts that are scattered along its narrow coast. 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. 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). In this article, we review the top 20 scuba dive sites in the Cayman Islands. Cayman Turtle Centre.