Family Traveller Excellence Awards 2019 Winner. The seven mile beach area is beautiful for walking and photo opportunities. Below are our recommendations for the best months to dive in The water is about 100 feet deep, and there is a good variety of soft and hard corals. Rum Point Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned diver, Grand Cayman has a dive site for you. Choose from a selection of more than 250 vessels and 18,000 trips worldwide. 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. Here youll find more than 50 dives sites including the famous Bloody Bay. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Eagle Ray Pass is located along the North Wall in Grand Cayman. 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. Most of the units for rent are 2-bedroom and 2-bathroons units. We are proud to off-set 100% of the carbon generated by our clients' flights. Find & Book Adventures Book your fun dives, snorkelling trips and courses online with thousands of PADI Dive Centers. He is the author of four books about cruising in the Caribbean, Alaska and Mexican Riviera. There is also a small restaurant and dive resort. Access to tools and resources at your fingertips, curated to enhance your diving experience. You may see hammerhead sharks if you are lucky. Find the best and most popular products and review them. View thelive availability of some of the best liveaboards in the Cayman Islandsand book online at the best price or check out our sidebar for land-based options! Drift dives are possible here depending on your operator. So, either way, the experience is well worth the money. 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. 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 are in the right place at the right time to see the very best It is an amazing sight, and a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience. I have been diving in Grand Cayman several times. For us divers, the financial self-sufficiency of the Cayman Islands is only the icing on the cake. This British overseas island is home to mystical caves, unscaled escarpments, tropical forests, diverse wildlife and a plethora of other unique experiences. Topside, the community is expanding with ongoing construction. Look along the ledge by the mooring for crabs and check out the four massive barrel sponges. 310-915-6677 Visibility in the Cayman Islands is wonderful, averaging between 60 and 100 feet (18-30 meters). There is a reason you won't find under a 5-star review for Silver Thatch, they are the best. For water sports lovers, there are great spots for snorkeling including night snorkeling with bioluminescence, options to go sailing or on a catamaran cruise. Cayman Turtle Centre. 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. "High Season" at the hotels is mid-December to mid-April, so rates will be higher then. The worst time is September during the hurricane season. You will need little more (and some prefer less) than a 3 mm full length wetsuit. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Grand Cayman is the most commercial island, with a lot of resorts, great nightlife, and more tourist attractions. Grab your gear and dive into the crystal clear waters of Grand Cayman! 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. Frugal travel planners can look for good deals during these months while keeping an eye on the 10-day weather forecast. 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 . If you love nature, you can go hiking or explore some caverns and caves. Other highlights include barracudas, yellowtail snappers, hawksbill turtles, and stingrays that sleep in the sand. Orange Canyon is a popular dive site on the west-side of Grand Cayman. divemasters and lovers of all things underwater, know the best time The sea is always warm in the Cayman Islands, with surface temperatures never dropping below around 25 o C (78 o F). All levels of divers can enjoy the site as there is plenty to see at shallow depths or at deeper parts. 4. 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. 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 highlight of the dive is the photo opportunity with this Cayman reefs most famous resident. Navigate backward to interact with the calendar and select a date. All content is copyright protected by either DIVEIN.com or respected copyright holders, Disclosure: We are reader supported, and earn. Enjoy the comfort of an airport lounge with free drinks and snacks, even if you're flying economy. Book your next cruise vacation on one of these floating megaresorts. 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. 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. 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. 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. Little Caymans Bloody Bay is home to some of the most dramatic and spectacular drop-offs and swim-throughs in the Carribean. 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. And when you have the right product, youre a little bit happier which affects the people around you! PrivacyPolicy, 2023 Original Diving | Web Design by D3R. Roundabout is located along the North Wall in Grand Cayman. You need to take a boat to reach this wreck. Bloody Bay Wall is considered the epicenter of scuba diving in this marine park. Divers of all levels can explore the engines, pistons, and pieces of the wreck that are scattered at 18m/60ft. Apart from the elephant ear sponges, keep your eyes peeled for blacktip Carribean reef sharks in the blue. 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. Founder of Georges Watersports & Thingstodocayman.net. December rainfall drops back down to about three inches. Kittiwake Shipwreck and diver in Grand Cayman - photo from Canva. 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. If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. Here, you can take diving lessons, go on a guided dive, or rent tanks and gear. With virtually no currents and outstanding underwater visibility, Cayman has amazing wall dives, coral reefs and wrecks for you to explore and discover. 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. June to October brings . Over 200 permanent boat moorings are installed to avoid damaging corals with the dropping of boat anchors. Grand Cayman is a beautiful dive destination with many options for accommodations and for diving. Best Time to Visit The Cayman Islands are mostly sunny and warm year-round, but it may be best to visit between March and June when the hotel rates drop. The Cayman Diving Season The islands are very much a year round diving destination. 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. Find the best travel insurance for you with these U.S. News ratings, which factor in expert and consumer recommendations. It's the kind of peaceful place where you will make your own fun. 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. If you want to escape the crowds of cruise ship passengers, the East End is the place to go. 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. Grand Cayman is the most visited island in the Cayman Islands by Scuba Divers. These Florida Keys resorts are ideal for family getaways and romantic retreats. These hot temperatures start in May and last into November. The Cayman Islands are a premier diving destination, boasting 365 dive sites, as well as the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame . Address. Exploring this site requires you to descend to 10 meters (33 feet) deep where you will arrive at the top portion of the reef. This is a wall that drops 2000 meters to the sea floor. Eels, rays, sharks, and turtles are frequently seen. There is also a restaurant, bar and dive shop at Macabuca. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. 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. 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. There are lots of options for great photography and for posing for memorable photos, such as by the Kittiwake sign, swimming by the prop, or pretending to steer the helm on the bridge. #6 inBest Cheap Destination Wedding Locations, #4 inBest Places to Visit in January 2023. For diving, the reefs are easy to reach from many dive operators and offer a diversity of schooling fish, sponges, turtles, rays, and even sharks. Among the dive sites in Scuba Cayman Brac, the remains of a 100meter (330feet) long Russian Koni class frigate is considered one of the best underwater attraction in the Cayman Islands. The North Wall is one of the most visited diving sites and plunges to a depth of 6000 feet (1800 meters). If you want to enjoy these five dive sites . There are also usually direct flights from Boston, Chicago, and New York. Sharp-eyed divers can find leopard flatworms and the tunnels are also popular hangouts for rays and green moray eels. This is the most famous dive site in the Cayman Islands - and with good reason. 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. It is possible to go scuba diving in Little Cayman all year round and the water temperature only varies from 21-27 degrees. I make money by sharing links to services that I personally use and recommend. The prices of hotels and short excursions that would normally be prohibitively expensive fall to more reasonable levels during this time. The dive schedule would include a deep wall dive followed by a shallower reef or wreck. 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. Babylon- Grand Cayman Island is surrounded by a wall, but what makes the Babylon site special is the pinnacle with a canyon cutting the north wall. 7. The Cayman Islands boasts world-class beaches, luxurious properties, worldwide culinary influences, high-end shops, local stores, and everything in between. Plus, the water temperature ranges between 78-82F (26-28C). Sign up to get the latest updates, offers and more. It seems the dive guides hunt the lionfish and then feed the groupers, so they joined us right away each dive. 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. As for temperature and weather, the Cayman Islands are tropical, meaning it's warm 365 days a year. A huge pinnacle branches out, creating a corridor-like passageway that is used by large pelagics cruising up from the abyss. 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. It was named Orange Canyon because of the large orange Elephant Ear Sponges that can be found here. Cayman Islands Seasonal Dive Planner The Caymans' hottest period is from May to November. In effect, there are more registered businesses in Cayman Island as compared to its local population. It exceeds six inches in August and jumps again to more than eight inches in September and October. Interested in diving the Cayman Islands? Find a Liveaboard -Practical Information - Book a Trip. While the Cayman Islands are famous for its encounters with stingrays in Stingray City where the rays are said to be almost tame, there are many more sites that the islands offer. This gives the unique Caymans dive site a blend of steep vertical walls, sloping reefs, and coral-crusted fingers. After exploring the area, here are some of the best dive sites in the Cayman Islands: 1. Click the link below to read our article about Macabuca: Tarpon Alley is located at the North Wall in Grand Cayman. While the upper part of the reef is already teeming with corals, it becomes denser as you traverse the vertical limestone where it is now intermixed with sponges and sea fans. 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. to dive in Cayman Islands. Courtesy of Sunset House Resort, Grand Cayman. Stingray City has very large, friendly stingrays. Despite the name, there arent actually caves here. On Grand Cayman, I stayed at hotels on the west end along Seven Mile beach. The units are privately owned and furnished, but they have 21 accommodations available for rental use. Scuba Divers can experience the world's best 12ft dive site at Stingray City, the beautiful Starfish Point and Bloody Bay . iFrameResize({log:true, enablePublicMethods:true}); I have stayed there several times at a dive resort with on-site dive operation. The best time to visit the Cayman Islands is between March and June when the hotel rates drop. This is a must-do dive for people vacationing in Grand Cayman. It was then sunk in Grand Cayman in 1980 to make a new dive site. The largest among the three islands, Grand Cayman is highly popular among SCUBA divers from all over the world. Manage Settings Take your camera and get a snap with one of the abandoned bicycles that have also found a home here. Both Grand Cayman and Little Cayman have great diving. They have ladders that you can use to enter and exit the water safely. 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.. Today, Cayman is one of the top dive destinations anywhere. Please Sign-in or Register This wreck is the only Russian warship that can explore in the Western hemisphere. Plenty of schooling reef fish call Ghost Mountain home and the pinnacle is also carpeted in deep, bloody-red finger sponges. As a photographer, I never lacked for subjects both wide angle and macro and anything in between. 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! Its a very easy and fun dive, we saw some angelfish and eagle rays. The water is about 12-feet deep here. Along the drop-off, crevices and canyons cut through the reefs face. 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. 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 main dive spot of Little Cayman is located on the northwest coast in a marine protected area the Bloody Bay Marine Park. Canyons and drop-offs provide a varied topography making the site a firm favorite with photographers. The dive boat did make the excursion across to Little Cayman's Bloody Bay wall one day which is very achievable from Cayman Brac. Live like a local and get under the skin of a destination with our in-country concierges. Because the site is prone to strong currents, it isnt frequently dived which makes a trip to this very healthy reef even more special. Everything here is very low key and there is a small local population. ScubaDiveGeek.com also participates in other affiliate programs and Google Adwords and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these and other companies. ASK US HERE! This island is very small and there is little to do, other than dive. Grand Cayman scuba diving is also more popular than on the other islands due to the stingray population there. Aside from tourism promotion, marine conservation is in place in all the dive sites in the Cayman Islands. It also does not lack of options to go visit some museums, art galleries, go on walking eco-tours or historical tours, do some shopping and even have a blast at some amazing festivals.