. Some of those services give me a small percentage of what you pay as commission for my referral. Phone +1 345-949-7111. Moray eels and angelfish move among the coral, and turtles are often seen cruising over the reef. For deep divers, we highly suggest you explore the elephant-ear sponge laden reef of the Orange Canyon or go cave diving in Bonnies Arch. 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. Click the link below to read our article where we explain the difference between Deep Stingray City and Stingray City Sandbar: Macabuca is located in West Bay in Grand Cayman. We could easily get to reefs and wrecks by ourselves from shore and take as much time as our tanks allowed. Seahorses - While the Cayman Islands are best known for their stunning coral reefs and diverse marine life, don't forget about the amazing small critters that call these waters home . The best time to visit the Cayman Islands is between March and June when the hotel rates drop.
Best Time to Dive in Cayman Islands - Original Diving Scuba diving in Little Cayman and Cayman Brac | ZuBlu 1. The best time to visit the Cayman Islands is between March and April. Some resorts offer "Hurricane protection". Use Add to ideas + to collect your trip ideas, share with friends or make There are also usually direct flights from Boston, Chicago, and New York.
Cayman Islands Liveaboard Diving | Scuba Diving Earth The shore diving was really easy to access with actual ladders or stairs and even showers at some sites.
Best Dive & Stay Packages in the Cayman Islands - Ocean Frontiers Best Diving sites in Cayman Islands - Scuba dive reviews by Divezone You may see hammerhead sharks if you are lucky. Press the question mark key to get the keyboard shortcuts for changing dates. Macro photographers should keep an eye out for the neck and decorator crabs who make their homes here. Exploring this site requires you to initially descend to 18 meters (60 feet) deep where the wall starts. It exceeds six inches in August and jumps again to more than eight inches in September and October. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. 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. Instagram, My Ideas Plus, the water temperature ranges between 78-82F (26-28C). Pelagics are attracted to the wall while schools of reef fish populate the shallows, swimming around the many purple, red, and yellow sponges. PADI Dive Resorts for all budgets, in the best dive locations around the world.
Top 12 Beautiful Places to Visit in the Cayman Islands A First Timer's Guide to Grand Cayman Island - AFAR Media A favourite stop for those diving and snorkeling lovers, the Bay Islands' important three islands are Roatan, Utila and Guanaja. The boat dives were offered mostly in the mornings, and we were on our own in the afternoons. Divers can observe the bow guns and go along the rails to make some great photos. If you want to go a little more remote, try Little Cayman. Eagle Ray Pass is located along the North Wall in Grand Cayman. If you love nature, you can go hiking or explore some caverns and caves. The Cayman Islands are one of the Best Liveaboard Destinations in the World. Drop us a comment below and tell us your favorite site! Below are our recommendations for the best months to dive in
The Best Scuba Diving Experiences On Grand Cayman 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. Seven Mile Beach 4. Jackson's Bight- Located also in the Bloody Bay Marine Park, it does not fail to provide scuba divers with an amazing dive. 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. If you find a good deal on DIVEIN, you click to the retailer, and you buy the product, we get a commission of the sale. In addition, you're more likely to snag a hotel deal during these months. 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. The water depth here is around 18-meters. It does not make the product pricier for you. Now large groups of southern stingrays are lurking around daily. December and July are good times for families because children are out of school for the holidays and summer. Hurricanes rarely hit Grand Cayman directly. Its not often divers can see a mermaid on a dive, but at Sunset Reef they can.
11 Best Things to Do in Cayman Islands | U.S. News Travel Orange Canyon is a popular dive site on the west-side of Grand Cayman. Located in Little Cayman, the Bloody Bay Wall dive site is noted for its high visibility, rich marine life, and the presence of a sheer wall that drops 2000 meters into the deep ocean. 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. Often you can see massive tarpons, barracudas, and schools of silversides. Roundabout is located along the North Wall in Grand Cayman. This is how we pay ourselves. Honduras coast hosts the Bay Islands which is a compilation of eight islands and 53 small cays and these islands are one of the best scuba diving places in the world. Just be prepared for a rain shower or two, as this is the start of the region's wet season. Sidetrip: Visit Little Caymans Booby Pond Nature Reserve.
Grand Cayman is the most visited island in the Cayman Islands by Scuba Divers. Perhaps because of this, the coral isnt looking a healthy as it could. Resident Nassau groupers often keep divers company and if you look closely, you may be rewarded with seahorses and lettuce-leaf slugs. Part of the Bloody Bay wall, descending from the mooring here reveals a brightly colored vertical reef packed with sponges, corals, and vertebrate and invertebrate marine life. Its also the historical rainfall patterns. Exploring this site requires you to descend to 10 meters (33 feet) deep where you will arrive at the top portion of the reef. The visibility at Donnas Delight on Little Cayman is typically good and the relaxed and easy diving here is suitable for all levels. When diving the Cayman Islands you can see a lot of large sponges, some good macro, and some tiny fish. Our team will meet you at the airport and fast-track you through. The main dive spot of Little Cayman is located on the northwest coast in a marine protected area the Bloody Bay Marine Park. Please Sign-in or Register to save My Ideas for later, Our social channels Black groupers, sergeant majors, yellowtail snapper, and moray eels are just a few of the species you can expect to see. 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(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.
Best Scuba Diving Destinations in the World - The Cayman Islands [What You Need to Know]. The ship has been opened up with large access holes so that you can swim through the interior of the ship. 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. 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. Tieneke, Joe, and Kevin went out of their way to accommodate our dive group and show us a really great time. This pristine wall on the south side of Cayman Brac features an abundance of hard corals, gorgonians, and massive red, orange, green, and purple sponges. I have lived in the corporate world for a few years now with very little excitement in my life. For example, let's look at one airline flying from Miami to Grand Cayman. Our travel experts have highlighted our favourite places to visit each month, Terms & Conditions If you like diving in caves and grottos, Trinity Caves on Grand Caymans west side is the site for you. May through November, and especially September and October, are the riskiest months to visit. Welcome to my scuba diving bucket list. I have traveled to the Cayman islands many times. Navigate backward to interact with the calendar and select a date. Penetration is encouraged but to get the most out of the experience, take a torch. Little Cayman was first discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1503.
Diving the Cayman Islands - SCUBA Travel Before the USS Kittiwake was sunk, the Oro Verde was the wreck dive of choice in the Caymans. There is decent shore diving from their dock. 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. Over 200 permanent boat moorings are installed to avoid damaging corals with the dropping of boat anchors. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. See and be seen at these stunning natural wonders. With over 40 operators and 365 sites marked with moorings, thrill-seekers from all over take the plunge here. It seems the dive guides hunt the lionfish and then feed the groupers, so they joined us right away each dive. iFrameResize({log:true, enablePublicMethods:true}); I am the father of the best two children in the world and husband to the most patient woman on this planet. On top of being generally warm, the waters are clear with underwater visibility running from 18 30 meters (60 100 feet). From April to October water temperature are at least 27 o C (81 o F) and can . The Caymans have one major event that also may impact the best times to go there. They became my favorite focus on the reef. 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 . However, there are large coral canyons that provide exciting swim-throughs for divers. If you are vacationing in Cayman Brac, then you need to visit this spot. 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. Both are wonderful underwater. If you enjoy diving, then you need to visit the USS Kittiwake during your vacation to Grand Cayman. Exploring this site requires you to descend to a depth of 18 meters (60 feet) where the entrance of this elaborate tunnel system starts. Grand Cayman has more dive sites than Little Cayman. 6.
Learn to Dive in Cayman - Beginners and Refresher Courses Trinity Caves is a popular dive site that is located off the coast of West Bay in Grand Cayman. Although the rays who made this site their home permanently have moved on, there is still a good chance of spotting them here. While Grand Cayman, the most popular island, has a mix of accessible shore and boat diving. The Cayman Islands are one of the Best Liveaboard Destinations for Beginners. You can dive from shore because they have ladders that you can use to enter and exit the water. Our Original Diving experts, made up of marine biologists, 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. Pinterest December to April is also the busiest time of year for tourism, so it's important to book your dive trips in advance.
Diving Cayman Islands: Best Wall Dives in the World For this reason, wreck junkies and aficionados often have the Keith on their to-dive lists. The sea is always warm in the Cayman Islands, with surface temperatures never dropping below around 25 o C (78 o F). Dining can be pricey but the meals I have had have been wonderful. 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.
Best 5 Dive Resorts In Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands - Trip101 In the Cayman Islands, spring is in full force. Find & Book Liveaboards Choose from a selection of more than 250 vessels and 18,000 trips worldwide. On Grand Cayman, I stayed at hotels on the west end along Seven Mile beach. 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. North Wall 2. stingray city 3. As of 2023, you can renew your passport online. The chart to the right using data from the Caribbean Tourism Organization shows that March is the most popular month of the year to visit followed by December and July. StingrayCity. This is a wreck worth a dive or two. Give the perfect gift for your favorite ocean lover and explorer. The amazing strawberry sponges were in abundance there. But its not just the heat that matters when visiting the Cayman Islands. "High Season" at the hotels is mid-December to mid-April, so rates will be higher then. The best time to dive is between December and April when the water is at its warmest and the visibility is at its best. I have worked in the corporate world and had little time for adventure. Apart from the elephant ear sponges, keep your eyes peeled for blacktip Carribean reef sharks in the blue. If you have time, you should also take a flight to Little Cayman from Grand Cayman, and dive at Bloody Bay Wall. StingRay City on scuba with a small group was so much fun feeding the rays. Little Caymans Bloody Bay is home to some of the most dramatic and spectacular drop-offs and swim-throughs in the Carribean. 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. Beginners can enjoy another smaller chimney instead. Click the link below to read our article about Macabuca: Tarpon Alley is located at the North Wall in Grand Cayman. This is a must do dive. 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. The North Wall is one of the most visited diving sites and plunges to a depth of 6000 feet (1800 meters). Named for a historical anchorage, Anchor Point features a tight chimney-like descent at the beginning of the dive. Web Visit website. Grab your gear and dive into the crystal clear waters of Grand Cayman! Facebook While at first the Oro Verde was a complete ship, rough seas and tumultuous weather have dispersed the wreckage. Rainfall starts to climb in May. And when you have the right product, youre a little bit happier which affects the people around you! June to October brings higher topside temperatures (up to 33C, 91F). They can offer up their first-hand knowledge to ensure you know when to dive to enjoy the very best marine life, be it the tiny critters or bigger beasts of . U.S. News rates the cheapest travel insurance options, considering expert and consumer recommendations. that the underwater world (and overwater, if you plan on surfacing Access to tools and resources at your fingertips, curated to enhance your diving experience. There is also a dive shop and restaurant. Also, check out our article where we review the top 25 things to do in Grand Cayman. Choose your design and prove your PADI certified diver status across the world with a recycled plastic card, eCard or both. I guess thats one drawback of guided dives, everyone is constantly on the move, not ideal for photography, especially macro photography. The Cayman Islands boasts world-class beaches, luxurious properties, worldwide culinary influences, high-end shops, local stores, and everything in between. You will need little more (and some prefer less) than a 3 mm full length wetsuit. December through April are especially popular times to go because of low risk of rainfall and more moderate temperatures. You can go hiking in the Mastic Trail where it has really nice views from the harbors and the beaches. The Cayman Islands is a land of breath-taking experiences.
Scuba diving in the Cayman Islands: an experience of a lifetime Boasting strong diving infrastructure, diverse types of diving, incredible walls and wrecks, and great visibility. Each time has been a wonderful underwater adventure. There are plenty of great dive resorts available, but liveaboard is the best option if you want to dive around all three islands. Even if they are stingrays and have the potential to inflict painful wounds via their tail, do not panic as they are not in their aggressive or defensive mode. 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. But these aren't the only good and bad times. Would also recommend spending an afternoon at Rum Point, where you can relax and also do some snorkeling if you like. Reservations Office is open Monday-Friday | 8:30am-5:30pm Cayman Islands time. "High Season" at the hotels is mid-December to mid-April, so rates will be higher then.
10 Best Dive Sites in Caribbean Islands in 2023 1 is a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom unit. This dive site first became popular in the 90s when it was featured in the film The Firm, starring Tom Cruise. They were all guided dives. Lighthouse Point is located in West Bay in Grand Cayman. The best time to see whitetip reef sharks in the Cayman Islands is from May to August. Of the three main islands, Grand Cayman is where most divers go where you can explore over 50 dive sites allowing you to do virtually all types of diving and is suited for all levels of certification.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[120,600],'scubadivegeek_com-box-4','ezslot_16',103,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-scubadivegeek_com-box-4-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[120,600],'scubadivegeek_com-box-4','ezslot_17',103,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-scubadivegeek_com-box-4-0_1'); .box-4-multi-103{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;}. 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. For us divers, the financial self-sufficiency of the Cayman Islands is only the icing on the cake. . Stingrays, stingrays, and more stingrays is what draws divers to this Cayman site.
Great views, amazing stay - Review of Ocean Cabanas Dive Resort, West The Cayman Islands dollar is legal tender in these islands. 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. Cayman Islands, as well as our suggestions for the best places to 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. She met her end on the reef in the late 70s, allegedly due to mutiny aboard. This is one of the best dive sites in Cayman Brac, and is a must-do experience. 5. The winter and early spring months are the most popular time in the Cayman Islands. Cactus coral, sea fans, great star coral, and tube sponges blanket the reef and provide refuge for a variety of sea creatures. The Kittiwake is a 76.5 meter (250ft) former submarine support ship. Best time to dive When to dive in the Cayman Islands entirely depends on your own personal preferences. Its land area is slightly bigger than Little Cayman with a measurement of 19 x 2 kilometers (12miles x 1.2miles). Cathy Church has a shop at Sunset House where you can often meet her and see her beautiful underwater photos from the area. They pickup from the Westin, Ritz and Kimpton Seafire beaches for their West Dives, which is one of their standout features. There are 365 dive sites throughout the islands, offering something for all levels of experience. Lionfish have become an invasive species and some of the dive operators offer culling excursions. Little Cayman is a lovely, quiet little island with a population of less than 170. 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). 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. The water is about 100 feet deep, and there is a good variety of soft and hard corals. Look along the ledge by the mooring for crabs and check out the four massive barrel sponges. The wreck was specifically set up for safe penetration, giving divers many interior rooms to explore. 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. 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. Although this is a wall dive, the cut in the sites name comes from the swim-through many divers use upon descent. 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. Live a life others only dream about. 7. Here youll find more than 50 dives sites including the famous Bloody Bay. At night, this popular Caymans dive site is great for spotting octopus, lobster, and shrimp.
Best Dive Sites in the Cayman Islands for a Magical - pickyourtrail Crabs and lobsters are among the critters hiding in the crevices. Everything most divers want. Collect your trip ideas, share with friends or make an enquiry. The islands are warm year-round with average highs holding steady in the 80s. Cayman Brac is the last of the islands and also much less traveld than Grand Caymen.
5 of the Best Scuba Diving Sites in the Cayman Islands However, as we just mentioned, diving in the Cayman Islands is possible all year round.
Living The Dream Divers Diving Packages | Grand Cayman Indonesia. Elkhorn corals adorn the tops of the ridges while large gorgonians, tube sponges, and hard corals occupy the gullies. You can spot eagle rays, reef sharks, sailfin blennies, tilefish, peacock flounders, garden eels, or yellow-headed jawfish.