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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. but the best time to visit is between May and October. Named for the bright orange elephant ear sponges that characterize this site, Orange Canyon doesnt contain a closed canyon per se, but an open channel with lively reef on either side. 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. Photographers will love Greenhouse for its varied macro life. Before she was decommissioned in 1994, the USS Kittiwake was a Navy Chanticleer-class submarine rescue vessel. Everything most divers want. Cayman Islands, as well as our suggestions for the best places to A highlight dive is the Tibbets wreck with great structure and lots of life. Its a very easy and fun dive, we saw some angelfish and eagle rays. Youtube+ Access to tools and resources at your fingertips, curated to enhance your diving experience. Sea temperature varies little, from a high of 86F/30C in August/September to a low of 80F/26.5C in February. Our Original Diving experts, made up of marine biologists, Courtesy of Sunset House Resort, Grand Cayman. This is currently number 20 on the 100 Best Dives list.. 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. You need to protect your fingers from the eager snappers though. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. From classic wide-brimmed hats to water-repellent trucker hats, find your ideal style. Discover these empowering women's history destinations selected by the U.S. News travel editors. It's the kind of peaceful place where you will make your own fun. 1. No diving trip in Grand Cayman would be complete without a dive at the infamous Stingray City. You can dive from shore because they have ladders that you can use to enter and exit the water. 7. Data sourced from the National Climatic Data Center. 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. With 365 named dive sites, the enchanting Cayman Islands is a year-round underwater paradise. Although the rays who made this site their home permanently have moved on, there is still a good chance of spotting them here. Diving is available year-round. It does not make the product pricier for you. The best time to visit Grand Cayman is March and April. 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. Visibility in the Cayman Islands is wonderful, averaging between 60 and 100 feet (18-30 meters). 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. As the name suggests, this Cayman dive site is known for eagle rays. You need to take a boat to reach this wreck. If you like diving in caves and grottos, Trinity Caves on Grand Caymans west side is the site for you. Canyons and drop-offs provide a varied topography making the site a firm favorite with photographers. Bert Brothers Boulders is also a great spot to see flying gurnards at around 5.5 meters (18ft). Find the best travel insurance for you with these U.S. News ratings, which factor in expert and consumer recommendations. Overall it is a place worth seeing. This spot is about 20-feet deep, and has a lot of coral. The Eden Rock Dive Center has everything you need for an unforgettable day underwater in the Cayman Islands. Head to around 30m/98ft for some of the best wall views. The Cayman Islands-- Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac--have been attracting scuba divers for decades, including beginners! The highlight of the dive is the photo opportunity with this Cayman reefs most famous resident. However, the Cayman Islands can be impacted by hurricanes primarily between June and November. If you have time, you should also take a flight to Little Cayman from Grand Cayman, and dive at Bloody Bay Wall. 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. 2. The Cayman Turtle Farm is one of the most visited land attractions on the island.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'scubadivegeek_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_1',121,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-scubadivegeek_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'scubadivegeek_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_2',121,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-scubadivegeek_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0_1'); .large-mobile-banner-1-multi-121{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none !important;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:7px !important;margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-top:7px !important;max-width:100% !important;min-height:50px;padding:0;text-align:center !important;}. Closely packed ridges form huge coral heads between the shore and the reef wall. Swim throughs, ledges, overhangs, and an average depth of 12 meters (40ft) make this a Cayman dive site for all experience levels to explore. As a diver, with a PADI account you can access your eLearning along with many more tools to help you on your adventures. Greenhouse is a nice medium-depth reef dive with plenty of grooves and gullies to explore. 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. The Cayman Islands certainly offer diversity without a long trip from the states. From these locations, I was able to dive the west end and also the North Wall. Look in the blue off the wall for passing sharks, rays, and turtles. I quickly learned that if I poked at an area with my stick, the groupers would go right there, a great tool to get them to pose right where i wanted them in my reef scenes. for even more in-depth travel advice. Moray eels and angelfish move among the coral, and turtles are often seen cruising over the reef. 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. 3. The water depth here is around 18-meters. The best time to visit the Cayman Islands is any time of year, but hotel rates drop in March and June and temperatures rise to around 80 degrees. Today, Cayman is one of the top dive destinations anywhere. (Closed Circuit Rebreathers/CCR) allows you to massively extend your dive time. Besides scuba diving, there are plenty of other things to do on the Cayman Islands. The Caymans have one major event that also may impact the best times to go there. . 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. Enjoy 20% OFF select PADI eLearning programs, FREE ReActivate online refresher, subscription to Scuba Diving magazine + so much more when you join PADI Club. This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content. Don't forget to visit Stingray City before leaving Grand Cayman. Away from the stingray action, there are a number of coral heads with a variety of life to check out. Dive Shop and Front desk is open 7 days per week | 7am to 6pm and can be reached directly on (345)-640-7500 The ship has been opened up with large access holes so that you can swim through the interior of the ship. Eden Rock Dive Center. 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. It was quite crowded with dive and snorkel boats when we got there, but it was no big deal once we got in the water. Bloody Bay Wall is located in Little Cayman. Not to be confused with the Anchor Point dive sites in Scotlands Loch Fyne, the Solomon Islands, or Sri Lanka, the Cayman dive site is located on Grand Cayman and is characterized by swathes of black coral. She met her end on the reef in the late 70s, allegedly due to mutiny aboard. 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;}. Despite the name, there arent actually caves here. Best Time To Dive The Cayman Island A direct flight from Miami to Grand Cayman takes only 70 minutes. The Seven Mile Beach area and the main city, Georgetown, are very developed with large hotels and resorts, restaurants, shops, etc. 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 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. 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. Book your fun dives, snorkelling trips and courses online with thousands of PADI Dive Centers. 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. After exploring the area, here are some of the best dive sites in the Cayman Islands: 1. 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. From 5 star restaurants to fish frys at the local gas station. The water clarity is typically amazingly clear. 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. When diving through the cut itself, look under and in crevices, plenty of little critters make homes for themselves here. The Cayman Islands are one of the Best Liveaboard Destinations for Beginners. You can also go wreck diving as there are some shipwrecks that can be explored like the remains of USS Kittiwake. 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. Here is a list of some of the marine animals you can likely spot when diving the Cayman Islands: There are over 300 dive sites in the Cayman Islands. Our DSD is $99 USD per person and includes all equipment needed and a fantastic shallow dive to a max depth of 40ft. Average rainfall jumps to more than five inches in May, June and July. In the Cayman Islands, spring is in full force. Three Fathom Wall is a popular night dive when eels, lobsters, and reef squid make an appearance. The sea is always warm in the Cayman Islands, with surface temperatures never dropping below around 25 o C (78 o F). Diving is available year-round. It is only a 10-minute walk from the cruise ship port in George Town to Eden Rock. The ridges are carpeted in a variety of hard and soft coral, barrel and tube sponges, and purple sea fans that house a vast array of miniature sea creatures. There are lots of other fish and coral. 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 . Bloody Bay Wall. When we talk about Fiji, what immediately comes into our mind is a tropical dream holiday. Great diving. Purposely sunk in 2011, she now sits upright in the sand at 18 meters (60ft) and is a teeming artificial reef encrusted with coral. The best time to dive is between December and April when the water is at its warmest and the visibility is at its best. It is an amazing sight, and a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience. The course includes a 2-hour pool and theory session, and an . There is a separate fee to dive this wreck that goes towards conservation, and you also get a nice yellow diver medallion to keep. You will find the Cayman Islands to be very diverse, from quiet Little Cayman, to bustling Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman. Located 2.5 kilometers (1.6 miles) northwest of the Capital City of George Town is one of the most popular dive sites, not just in the Cayman Islands, but in the Caribbean the Stingray City which is classified as a sandbar that has been naturally aggregated with southern stingrays that have been accustomed to human presence because of feeding. Sunset Reef is a popular shore dive just 60 meters (200ft) off the Sunset House Resorts pier. Our travel experts have highlighted our favourite places to visit each month, Terms & Conditions 310-915-6677 The top of the wall is around 9 meters (30ft) so the site can be enjoyed as a shallow or deep dive. Through this site,my intent is to be able to sponsor the new chapter in my life as a scuba diver. Located near a popular resort is a vertical drop off that is filled with all sorts of marine life the North Wall. Cayman Brac Beach Resort. Drop us a comment below and tell us your favorite site! There are over 15 PADI 5-Star Centers in the Cayman Islands, ready to teach you everything you want to know about diving. I am a scuba diving newbie, a Project Manager by profession, and an entrepreneur at heart. Tourism volume is estimated based on in-market destination search query interest from Google and on travel.usnews.com in 2015-2016. July has a jump in visits for families in part because school children are out for the summer. 5. This is a shore dive, meaning that you enter the water from the shore, and then swim to Cheeseburger Reef. 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. This wreck is the only Russian warship that can explore in the Western hemisphere. 1. However, as we just mentioned, diving in the Cayman Islands is possible all year round. Aside from being outside the high season which means that Grand Cayman dive resorts all-inclusive hotel prices and Caribbean dive packages are cheaper, this is also the months that the diving parameters are at its best. You will find Nassau gropers, triggerfish, and other unique marine life at the Bloody Bay Wall. Address. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. The Cayman Islands are home to some of the best spots for scuba diving and snorkeling in the world. Away from the reef, divers can look around the LCM David Nicholson wreck. Watch your buoyancy and head out into the blue, look back to really appreciate the Great Walls sheer size and impressive drop-off. For us divers, the financial self-sufficiency of the Cayman Islands is only the icing on the cake. 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. Crabs and lobsters are among the critters hiding in the crevices. The best time to see whitetip reef sharks in the Cayman Islands is from May to August.