best time to dive cayman islands best time to dive cayman islands

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. Wheres the best place(s) to stay when looking into a diving trip in the Caymans? If you are vacationing in Cayman Brac, then you need to visit this spot. PADI Dive Resorts for all budgets, in the best dive locations around the world. 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. 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. PrivacyPolicy, 2023 Original Diving | Web Design by D3R. 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. 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 brought to you by the paradise-features of diving Cayman Islands: three islands where the bounty of nature is amplified as you go underwater.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'scubadivegeek_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_3',115,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-scubadivegeek_com-medrectangle-3-0'); Who would ever think that at the peak of an undersea mountain range lies a country that has one of the Worlds largest financial centers? 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. 390 S Church St, George Town KY1-1106, Cayman Islands. A few great choices are the Sunset House Hotel in Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac Beach Resort and the Little Cayman Beach Resort. Lemon Reef is a mini-wall dive site located on the North Wall in Grand Cayman. Enjoy the comfort of an airport lounge with free drinks and snacks, even if you're flying economy. Plus, along the wall, you can meet triggerfish, eagle rays, turtles, lobsters and many more! Find the best and most popular products and review them. 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. 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. During this time, you can expect to see a variety of marine life, including turtles, rays, and a wide array of tropical fish. 1. Topside, the community is expanding with ongoing construction. Moray eels and angelfish move among the coral, and turtles are often seen cruising over the reef. Would also recommend spending an afternoon at Rum Point, where you can relax and also do some snorkeling if you like. April is an especially good choice because it has the warmest weather of the entire five-month dry season. 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. They can offer up their first-hand From 5 star restaurants to fish frys at the local gas station. Orange Canyon is a popular dive site on the west-side of Grand Cayman. Grand Cayman is a sophisticated Caribbean island with great nightlife, great resort options, and the wonderful attraction of stingray city, and very good wall diving. I would like to mention 2 points though, one that it is a bit expensive, both the accommodations and the diving, and secondly, it looks like they allow open water divers to do the deeper wall dives, where you can be as deep as 100 feet, just an FYI, in case youre not comfortable at that depth. This is one of the best dive sites in Cayman Brac, and is a must-do experience. Situated on a wide beach on the island's West End, the property offers 40 air-conditioned rooms (renovated in late 2015 and featuring soothing Caribbean . If you have time, you should also take a flight to Little Cayman from Grand Cayman, and dive at Bloody Bay Wall. In a nutshell, its an island full of land and water adventures. I am a scuba diving newbie, a Project Manager by profession, and an entrepreneur at heart. Penetration is encouraged but to get the most out of the experience, take a torch. 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. Stingray City is in only 12ft (4m) of water and is a huge draw for divers and underwater photographers. Rainfall starts to climb in May. Usually you will see at least a few tarpon at this spot. 7. marine life, be it the tiny critters or bigger beasts of the ocean. Jackson's Bight- Located also in the Bloody Bay Marine Park, it does not fail to provide scuba divers with an amazing dive. June to October brings . Tourism volume is estimated based on in-market destination search query interest from Google and on travel.usnews.com in 2015-2016. They make a difference for anyone visiting the Caymans by cruise who plans to spend more time shopping, dining and visiting attractions than spend time on the beaches. The North Wall is one of the most visited diving sites and plunges to a depth of 6000 feet (1800 meters). Bert Brothers Boulders is one of the most beautiful dive sites on Cayman Brac. For this reason, wreck junkies and aficionados often have the Keith on their to-dive lists. All the information you need to plan your dive vacations anywhere in the world. Before the USS Kittiwake was sunk, the Oro Verde was the wreck dive of choice in the Caymans. September and October are clearly the least popular months to go because of a high risk of heavy rains along with hot temperatures. Grand Cayman is somewhat unique among major Caribbean destinations because it is one of the few islands that has average daytime temperatures exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer and fall. Overall it is a place worth seeing. There is slightly more rain during the summer months. 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. However, the Cayman Islands can be impacted by hurricanes primarily between June and November. The Cayman Islands hosts one of the best dives in the World: Bloody Bay Wall on Little Cayman. Often you can see massive tarpons, barracudas, and schools of silversides. You can also go wreck diving as there are some shipwrecks that can be explored like the remains of USS Kittiwake. Elkhorn corals adorn the tops of the ridges while large gorgonians, tube sponges, and hard corals occupy the gullies. The Cayman Islands are one of the Best Liveaboard Destinations in the World. Sea temperature varies little, from a high of 86F/30C in August/September to a low of 80F/26.5C in February. Stingrays, stingrays, and more stingrays is what draws divers to this Cayman site. Devilishly deep drop-offs, wicked wreck dives and some of the coolest coral in the Caribbean have made the Cayman Islands a world-class dive destination. 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. Tarpon Alley is part of the North Wall with depths between 15 to 25 meters (50-80ft). Trinity Caves is one Cayman dive site that never disappoints. There are also usually direct flights from Boston, Chicago, and New York. MV Capt. 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. 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. We conduct this course from our shore location where the water is ideal for new divers! Head to around 30m/98ft for some of the best wall views. The months of January and February are the coldest, with average lows in the low 60s. While at first the Oro Verde was a complete ship, rough seas and tumultuous weather have dispersed the wreckage. If you're looking for great diving and hotel prices, the best time is between March and June when the rates all drop. Stingrays and turtles are known to swim here. It exceeds six inches in August and jumps again to more than eight inches in September and October. View Map. Indonesia. I've stayed at hotels and used independent dive operators and I have stayed at dive resorts with on-site dive operations. This site is well-known and popular with divers, snorkelers, and glass-bottom boaters alike. 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. Northerners also want to get away from the cold and snow of winter. Diving is available year-round. He is the author of four books about cruising in the Caribbean, Alaska and Mexican Riviera. The famous diver and explorer Jacques Cousteau said that Bloody Bay Wall is one of the top dive sites in the world. There is also an air pocket in a decompression chamber that you can pop into and chat with your buddy!! It is possible to go scuba diving in Little Cayman all year round and the water temperature only varies from 21-27 degrees. A 2.75 meter (9ft) bronze statue of Amphitrite (the wife of the mythological god Poseidon) rises up from the base of the reef. Located 8 kilometers (5 miles) east of Little Cayman is another elongated island that is popular with anglers and scuba divers. The people of the island are friendly and culturally diverse. As the name suggests, this Cayman dive site is known for eagle rays. 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. Originally coined 356, this wreck is now called the M/V Captain Keith Tibbetts after a well-known Cayman Brac politician. 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). 20 Best Dive Sites In The Cayman Islands (2023) In this article, we review the top 20 scuba dive sites in the Cayman Islands. 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 boat dives were offered mostly in the mornings, and we were on our own in the afternoons. The main dive spot of Little Cayman is located on the northwest coast in a marine protected area the Bloody Bay Marine Park. Perhaps because of this, the coral isnt looking a healthy as it could. Facebook Settle on the sand at just 3.7 meters (12ft) and have hordes of southern stingrays glide gracefully around you. Bloody Bay Wall- Most scuba divers will say this is their favorite dive site in the Cayman Islands. As of 2023, you can renew your passport online. 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. Bloody Bay Wall is considered the epicenter of scuba diving in this marine park. Grand Cayman scuba diving is also more popular than on the other islands due to the stingray population there. July has a jump in visits for families in part because school children are out for the summer. Because the site is prone to strong currents, it isnt frequently dived which makes a trip to this very healthy reef even more special. 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. 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. 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. Share your love of diving, experience new adventures, expand your dive skills, and help save the ocean. 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. Furthermore, the islands are home to some of the world's best beaches, making them an ideal vacation destination. Wreck of the Oro Verde is located in Grand Cayman. 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. This site is a firm favorite among local dive masters, most likely because of the intriguing geological features but there is plenty of marine life here too. Just be prepared for a rain shower or two, as this is the start of the region's wet season. You can see Spotted Eagle Rays flying passed this area from depths of about 30 to 100 feet. 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. The dive boat did make the excursion across to Little Cayman's Bloody Bay wall one day which is very achievable from Cayman Brac. 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. 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. 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. There is shopping, bars to hang out in, and live music. Eagle rays glide past in the blue water, triggerfish, Nassau groupers, electric yellow sponges and much make this site popular with divers in the Caymans. 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. Here, you can take diving lessons, go on a guided dive, or rent tanks and gear. This is a shore dive, meaning that you enter the water from the shore, and then swim to Cheeseburger Reef. Lighthouse Point is located in West Bay in Grand Cayman. Phone +1 345-949-7111. Give the perfect gift for your favorite ocean lover and explorer. Grand Cayman also offers accessible shore diving on great coral reefs with little to no current. Look along the ledge by the mooring for crabs and check out the four massive barrel sponges. Grand Cayman has more dive sites than Little Cayman. 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. 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. Sidetrip: Visit Little Caymans Booby Pond Nature Reserve. There are 365 dive sites throughout the islands, offering something for all levels of experience. 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 . The water clarity is typically amazingly clear. The wreck can be penetrated in some parts but speak for your guide or instructor beforehand. Canyons and drop-offs provide a varied topography making the site a firm favorite with photographers. Collect your trip ideas, share with friends or make an enquiry. Exploring its underwater habitats allows you to see an incredible reef that starts at 6 meters (20 feet) deep and slowly slopes down towards a vertical limestone wall that drops down up to 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) deep. 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. Do you love diving in the Caymans? Babylon is located on the North Wall in Grand Cayman. Three long, wide tunnels, accessible to the majority of divers, extend from the sand flats to open out onto the reef wall. If the forecast looks good, they should consider taking a last-minute trip to Grand Cayman if they also spot an attractive discount. DIVEIN.com was founded in 2009 by the two brothers Torben and Nicolai. Access to tools and resources at your fingertips, curated to enhance your diving experience. 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. From April to October water temperature are at least 27 o C (81 o F) and can reach over 30 o C (85 o F). 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. Photographers will love Greenhouse for its varied macro life. Clearly Cayman Group Specials - Big savings on 7-night stays! The resident goliath grouper is a popular dive buddy at this Cayman dive site. Even though July is a popular month, it is not necessarily a good time to go because of the reasons below. We could easily get to reefs and wrecks by ourselves from shore and take as much time as our tanks allowed. 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! 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. 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. There is a good amount of coral and fish here. Live like a local and get under the skin of a destination with our in-country concierges. Turtles munched on big sponges with no worries about divers hanging about. In the Cayman Islands, spring is in full force. The ship has been opened up with large access holes so that you can swim through the interior of the ship. 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. Now it has become a beautiful artificial reef and home for colorful sponges, groupers, barracudas and other marine life. "High Season" at the hotels is mid-December to mid-April, so rates will be higher then. Flights to Grand Cayman arrive at Owen Roberts International Airport. Our Original Diving experts, made up of marine biologists, This is a must-do dive for people vacationing in Grand Cayman. Their sister company, Tortuga Divers, operates from Morritts Tortuga Club in East End. Red Sail Sports have been Scuba Diving in Cayman for 40 years. We gave our Gear Lovers one job: Cayman Brac is the last of the islands and also much less traveld than Grand Caymen. It should not be a surprise that January through April also happen to be popular months to visit the islands via western Caribbean cruises because of their ideal combination of cooler temperatures and low rainfall. Its a very easy and fun dive, we saw some angelfish and eagle rays. Hurricane Ivan in 2004 cleaved the 100m/328ft ship in half but divers can still explore both sections of the wreckage. Click the link below to read our article about the USS Kittiwake: Wilderness Wall is located on the south-side of Cayman Brac. The wreck of the Captain Keith is unusual it is the only Soviet-made warship that divers can visit in the western hemisphere. This is one of the top island destinations in the United Kingdom. Family Traveller Excellence Awards 2019 Winner. Cayman Islands International Film Festival. While the visibility here is often a little clouded, thats thanks to the nutrient-rich flow of water which enriches the corals on the pinnacle. From classic wide-brimmed hats to water-repellent trucker hats, find your ideal style. Trinity Caves is a popular dive site that is located off the coast of West Bay in Grand Cayman. Generally, even with up to four dives per day on offer Cayman Islands scuba diving . The winter and early spring months are the most popular time in the Cayman Islands. Though Kittiwake is a very popular diving site on Grand Island, the shallow and crystal-clear waters of the site make it an equally amazing snorkeling spot as well. I make money by sharing links to services that I personally use and recommend. Once you decide which route you want to go, it's time to get in the water! The non-divers with us were content to lounge by the pool, visit the spa, ride bikes, and go for walks. Click the link below to read our article about Macabuca: Tarpon Alley is located at the North Wall in Grand Cayman. I stayed at an all inclusive where the food was exceptional, prepared by a world class chef. Also known as the Mixing Bowl, Three Fathom Wall is the point where Jacksons Bight and the Bloody Bay diving areas meet. I know there are shore dives that can be done, and we plan to do some of those next time. Purposely sunk in 2011, she now sits upright in the sand at 18 meters (60ft) and is a teeming artificial reef encrusted with coral. A huge pinnacle branches out, creating a corridor-like passageway that is used by large pelagics cruising up from the abyss. Naturally, this is also the most expensive season, and reservations must be made at least three months in advance. Cayman Brac offers a good mix of wall, wreck and reef diving for all experience levels. 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. Booming in the sense that Little Cayman has over 15 dive sites that have attracted divers from all parts of the globe, and sprawling since all the dive sites are teeming with marine life. The best time to see whitetip reef sharks in the Cayman Islands is from May to August. 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. Closer to the reef, turtles, groupers, horse-eyed jacks, and an over-abundance of lionfish make this colorful site even more interesting. Cayman gives both the novice and the experienced some of the best diving in the world, as environmentally protected reefs surround each of our three islands. [CDATA[ 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. With virtually no currents and outstanding underwater visibility, Cayman has amazing wall dives, coral reefs and wrecks for you to explore and discover. Occasionally, a nurse shark rest on the sand. an enquiry. . Little Caymans Bloody Bay is home to some of the most dramatic and spectacular drop-offs and swim-throughs in the Carribean. 5. September and October are the riskiest months to visit Grand Cayman because of the higher than normal amounts of rain. 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. I thought it might be too touristy, but it was a lot of fun. 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. In the shallows, flamingo tongues cling onto sea fans while lobsters, eels, and jewfish can be found hiding in the ridges and gullies. 1. Here youll find more than 50 dives sites including the famous Bloody Bay. This world-class scuba destination is colorful, bright, and teeming with life. Bay Islands, Honduras. Around the coral fingers, stingrays, eagle rays and yellowhead jawfish rest on the sandy patches. Princess Pennies Pinnacle is located on the North Wall in Grand Cayman. But they are sometimes the cheapest months to visit. I guess thats one drawback of guided dives, everyone is constantly on the move, not ideal for photography, especially macro photography.