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. This site is well-known and popular with divers, snorkelers, and glass-bottom boaters alike. But the main reason for diving here are the sharks, especially hammerheads. Best Diving in the Caribbean - Top 12 - Bluewater Dive Travel If you're looking for great diving and hotel prices, the best time is between March and June when the rates all drop. The best dive site is either Bloody Bay Wall in Little Cayman or the USS Kittiwake in Grand Cayman. 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. Navigate forward to interact with the calendar and select a date. 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. I am Dan, this site is my blog where I document my research on the best diving spots in the world. Best Resorts in the Cayman Islands | Islands 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. Click the link below to read our article about Eden Rock: Deep Stingray City is located in Grand Cayman. While accessible from shore, it is a long surface swim so diving the Oro Verde by boat is recommended. The Cayman Islands are home to some of the best spots for scuba diving and snorkeling in the world. Trinity Caves is a popular dive site that is located off the coast of West Bay in Grand Cayman. It sounds like the best time overall, based on the posts so far. 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. . 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. 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. The best time to go to the Cayman Islands is in March and April because there is spring break from school and April has a combination of warm temperatures and a low risk of rain. 2. 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. 6. 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. Choose from a selection of more than 250 vessels and 18,000 trips worldwide. Manage Settings 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 Cayman Islands are widely regarded as the birthplace of recreational scuba diving, thanks to some pioneering efforts by local operators in the 1980s. The winter and early spring months are the most popular time in the Cayman Islands. There is shopping, bars to hang out in, and live music. With over 40 operators and 365 sites marked with moorings, thrill-seekers from all over take the plunge here. 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. The months of January and February are the coldest, with average lows in the low 60s. Dive Into the Cayman Islands | Cond Nast Traveler 1 is a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom unit. Flights to Grand Cayman arrive at Owen Roberts International Airport. The top of the wall is around 9 meters (30ft) so the site can be enjoyed as a shallow or deep dive. This is really a divers paradise. 10 Best Scuba Diving Companies In Grand Cayman (2023) Best Time to Dive in Little Cayman. The ship was originally built for the US Army Transportation Corps over 70-years ago. Discover these empowering women's history destinations selected by the U.S. News travel editors. Head to the turret guns for a superb photo opportunity and keep your eyes peeled for barracuda, bright sponges, and schooling reef fish. If you are vacationing in Cayman Brac, then you need to visit this spot. Everything here is very low key and there is a small local population. The dive schedule would include a deep wall dive followed by a shallower reef or wreck. The 5 Best Dive Sites In Grand Cayman - DesertDivers Continue with Recommended Cookies. The entire experience is about 3 hours long from the time we pick you up from your hotel or condo along Seven Mile Beach to drop off. Best Time to Dive in Cayman Islands - Original Diving Little Cayman, Cayman Islands. 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. Dive Shop and Front desk is open 7 days per week | 7am to 6pm and can be reached directly on (345)-640-7500 It's the kind of peaceful place where you will make your own fun. 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. Best Time to Dive in Little Cayman - Original Diving He is the author of four books about cruising in the Caribbean, Alaska and Mexican Riviera. Their sister company, Tortuga Divers, operates from Morritts Tortuga Club in East End. The main dive spot of Little Cayman is located on the northwest coast in a marine protected area the Bloody Bay Marine Park. Nature lovers are lured to diverse hiking trails, caves, and a variety of flora and fauna around the island. Bert Brothers Boulders is also a great spot to see flying gurnards at around 5.5 meters (18ft). The Cayman Islands are one of the Best Liveaboard Destinations for Beginners. The islands are warm year-round with average highs holding steady in the 80s. 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). Sunset Reef is a popular shore dive just 60 meters (200ft) off the Sunset House Resorts pier. Look along the ledge by the mooring for crabs and check out the four massive barrel sponges. The Cayman Islands hosts one of the best dives in the World: Bloody Bay Wall on Little Cayman. Roberts Wall is located on the North Wall in Grand Cayman. You can also go wreck diving as there are some shipwrecks that can be explored like the remains of USS Kittiwake. Scuba diving in the Cayman Islands: an experience of a lifetime The Caymans have one major event that also may impact the best times to go there. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Exploring this site requires you to descend to a depth of 18 meters (60 feet) where the entrance of this elaborate tunnel system starts. 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. 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. 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 Grand Cayman is March and April. You will find the Cayman Islands to be very diverse, from quiet Little Cayman, to bustling Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman. Theyre not timid and as they surround you, these rays seem happy to receive a gentle stroke or two. Hurricanes rarely hit Grand Cayman directly. Water temperatures are usually low 80's F. Marine life is plentiful and varied. Best Time to Dive Cayman Islands. You can spot eagle rays, reef sharks, sailfin blennies, tilefish, peacock flounders, garden eels, or yellow-headed jawfish. You will find Nassau gropers, triggerfish, and other unique marine life at the Bloody Bay Wall. All levels of divers can enjoy the site as there is plenty to see at shallow depths or at deeper parts. Best time to dive in Cayman Islands The diving is great year round in the Caribbean, something that is promoted with the dive 365 program. 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. Grand Cayman is a beautiful dive destination with many options for accommodations and for diving. You can go hiking in the Mastic Trail where it has really nice views from the harbors and the beaches. April is an especially good choice because it has the warmest weather of the entire five-month dry season. 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. 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;}. Both of these sites are accessible from shore. There are also lots of tarpon and small silver sprats in this area. As the name suggests, this Cayman dive site is known for eagle rays. 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. June to October brings . There are plenty of great dive resorts available, but liveaboard is the best option if you want to dive around all three islands. As a diver, with a PADI account you can access your eLearning along with many more tools to help you on your adventures. Courtesy of Sunset House Resort, Grand Cayman. Our team will meet you at the airport and fast-track you through. 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. 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. Before the USS Kittiwake was sunk, the Oro Verde was the wreck dive of choice in the Caymans. We dived 3 days in February 2014, and they were all excellent and memorable dives. Around the coral fingers, stingrays, eagle rays and yellowhead jawfish rest on the sandy patches. Sharks and turtles are frequent visitors as are snappers, groupers, and grunts. As said earlier, Grand Cayman has over 50 dive sites and we will not leave this section without mentioning other noted dive spots. If you enjoy diving, then you need to visit the USS Kittiwake during your vacation to Grand Cayman. The three islands that make up the nation, Cayman Brac, Grand Cayman, and Little Cayman, are diverse and have distinct diving. 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! Read more about diving in Bonaire. 4. And when you have the right product, youre a little bit happier which affects the people around you! These Florida Keys resorts are ideal for family getaways and romantic retreats. 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. Cayman Turtle Centre. They were all guided dives. 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. Greenhouse is a nice medium-depth reef dive with plenty of grooves and gullies to explore. The shore diving was really easy to access with actual ladders or stairs and even showers at some sites. There is a lot of marine life among the coral and resident angelfish and groupers are found at the stern of the ship. Diving in Little Cayman | PADI Below are our recommendations for the best months to dive in 310-915-6677 It is an amazing sight, and a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience. We highly advise you ask your local dive shop on the dos and donts in diving a particular dive site. It is worth noting however that from June until October is the hurricane season in the Caribbean. Here are a few of our favourite dive sites in Grand Cayman: 1. 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. Pinterest However, there are large coral canyons that provide exciting swim-throughs for divers. 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. Best 5 Dive Resorts In Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands - Trip101 Theres also Little Cayman thats the least developed of the 3 islands. Roundabout is located along the North Wall in Grand Cayman. [CDATA[ 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. Family Traveller Excellence Awards 2019 Winner. Cayman Islands has an average water temperature ranging from 26 29C (78 84F). It was then sunk in Grand Cayman in 1980 to make a new dive site. The water is about 12-feet deep here. 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. In general, the tourism industry in the Cayman Islands is designed with divers in mind. On Grand Cayman, I stayed at hotels on the west end along Seven Mile beach. Get in touch with our specialists That's is how we pay ourselves. Stingray City has very large, friendly stingrays. A shallow dive site, the colors here really pop making it a good choice for photographers. The majority of travel agents will advise you that the best time to visit Grand Cayman in order to get the most bang for your buck on a vacation to the Cayman Islands is between the months of March and June. 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. The sea is always warm in the Cayman Islands, with surface temperatures never dropping below around 25 o C (78 o F). During the day rays, turtles, the occasional barracuda and plenty of reef fish mean theres a lot to keep divers engaged. From the mooring, divers often descend through a cut in the reef and out onto the wall. After being intentionally sunk to become an artificial reef, this former 76 meter (251 feet) long naval vessel now rests at 18 meters (60 feet) deep near the world-renowned Seven Mile Beach. They became my favorite focus on the reef. The depths start at around 12m/40ft and end at 30m/98ft. to dive in Cayman Islands. Scuba Diving the Cayman Islands | Scuba Adventures in Plano Also, check out our article where we review the top 25 things to do in Grand Cayman. Stingrays, stingrays, and more stingrays is what draws divers to this Cayman site. Look in the blue off the wall for passing sharks, rays, and turtles. Address. There is decent shore diving from their dock. December through April are especially popular times to go because of low risk of rainfall and more moderate temperatures. The best time to see whitetip reef sharks in the Cayman Islands is from May to August. Find & Book Adventures Book your fun dives, snorkelling trips and courses online with thousands of PADI Dive Centers. The flight and hotel fares are discounted up to 50 percent this time of year. Also known as the Mixing Bowl, Three Fathom Wall is the point where Jacksons Bight and the Bloody Bay diving areas meet. Great diving. There is a good amount of coral and fish here. Plus, the water temperature ranges between 78-82F (26-28C). If you like diving in caves and grottos, Trinity Caves on Grand Caymans west side is the site for you. Unfortunately, the tarpons that gave this site its name have moved on, but you may be lucky and catch a glimpse of these silver kings. I make money by sharing links to services that I personally use and recommend. Drift dives are possible here depending on your operator. Would also recommend spending an afternoon at Rum Point, where you can relax and also do some snorkeling if you like. Best Time to Dive Cayman Islands Diving is available year-round. Usually you will see at least a few tarpon at this spot. 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. Three Fathom Wall is a popular night dive when eels, lobsters, and reef squid make an appearance. If you have time, you should also take a flight to Little Cayman from Grand Cayman, and dive at Bloody Bay Wall. Though scuba diving in the Cayman Islands is mostly known for close encounters with stingrays, it has much more to offer. If you want to go a little more remote, try Little Cayman. Best and Worst Times to Visit Grand Cayman - Caribeez.com If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. I have stayed there several times at a dive resort with on-site dive operation. Cayman Islands Diving | Silver Thatch Water Sports | Breakers Generally, even with up to four dives per day on offer Cayman Islands scuba diving . The boat dives were offered mostly in the mornings, and we were on our own in the afternoons. 1. We were lucky enough to see the tail end of silversides on the wreck of the Balboa right in the Harbor too. Live like a local and get under the skin of a destination with our in-country concierges. Settle on the sand at just 3.7 meters (12ft) and have hordes of southern stingrays glide gracefully around you. In the shallows, flamingo tongues cling onto sea fans while lobsters, eels, and jewfish can be found hiding in the ridges and gullies. Cayman Islands Seasonal Dive Planner The Caymans' hottest period is from May to November. Occasionally, a nurse shark rest on the sand. The protected Bloody Bay Marine Park lies in Little Cayman and offers magnificent marine life, great visibility, and spectacular bioluminescent corals. Your dive profile in Stingray City is relatively shallow since your maximum depth is just only 6 meters (20 feet) when you reach the sandy seafloor. A 2018 poll listed Bonaire as the best dive spot for beginners, conservation, freediving, macro diving, shore diving, and snorkeling. 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. They have ladders that you can use to enter and exit the water safely. Keith Tibbets- This Soviet-built Frigate that was owned by the Cuban navy was given to the Cayman Islands to purposefully sink it. 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. A direct flight from Miami to Grand Cayman takes only 70 minutes. Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman house over 300 dive sites, making up the breathtaking Cayman dive map. This is a shore dive, meaning that you enter the water from the shore, and then swim to Cheeseburger Reef. The USS Kittiwake is an ex-US Navy ship that was purposely sunk in Grand Cayman to create a new dive site. Best Time to Dive in Little Cayman. With virtually no currents and outstanding underwater visibility, Cayman has amazing wall dives, coral reefs and wrecks for you to explore and discover. GOT QUESTIONS ABOUT DIVING IN CAYMANS? You need to take a boat to reach this area. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a country in Western Asia located at the northeast end of the Arabian Peninsula in the Persian Gulf. 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. 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! Cayman Islands, as well as our suggestions for the best places to Cayman Islands Travel Guide - Cayman Islands Travel Tips & Attractions Named for a historical anchorage, Anchor Point features a tight chimney-like descent at the beginning of the dive. East End 5. 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. In the Cayman Islands, spring is in full force. Grand Cayman has beautiful beaches and probably the most topside activities or restaurants anyone would want. 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. Now it has become a beautiful artificial reef and home for colorful sponges, groupers, barracudas and other marine life. Get certified to scuba dive. Its not often divers can see a mermaid on a dive, but at Sunset Reef they can. Don't forget to visit Stingray City before leaving Grand Cayman. Perhaps because of this, the coral isnt looking a healthy as it could. Corals and sponges are plentiful. From Rolex watches to Caymanite earrings to a shell necklace. #6 inBest Cheap Destination Wedding Locations, #4 inBest Places to Visit in January 2023. Eels, rays, sharks, and turtles are frequently seen. divemasters and lovers of all things underwater, know the best time Having done a lot of dives in Florida, one thing we did notice was that there were not as many fishes on the reefs in Grand Cayman as in south Florida, but after looking at my pictures after this trip I did notice many small fishes and critters. 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 a wreck worth a dive or two. There is also a restaurant, bar and dive shop at Macabuca. Bloody Bay Wall. Each time has been a wonderful underwater adventure. Click the link below to read our article about Macabuca: Tarpon Alley is located at the North Wall in Grand Cayman. It is Batabano, the countrys biggest festival, which is scheduled for early May each year. This gives the unique Caymans dive site a blend of steep vertical walls, sloping reefs, and coral-crusted fingers. Macro photographers should keep an eye out for the neck and decorator crabs who make their homes here. When diving through the cut itself, look under and in crevices, plenty of little critters make homes for themselves here. Book your fun dives, snorkelling trips and courses online with thousands of PADI Dive Centers. My wife and I are traveling there in February 2015 and are PADI AOW and Nitrox certified with ten years of recreational experience diving. In a nutshell, its an island full of land and water adventures. Fiji: Dive the Soft Coral Capital of the World. 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. Aside from taking photos at the solid bronze emblem at one of its 5 decks or at the stern with the propeller, penetration can be done with the USS Kittiwake courtesy from multiple sunlit entries and exit points. . Founder of Georges Watersports & Thingstodocayman.net. Tieneke, Joe, and Kevin went out of their way to accommodate our dive group and show us a really great time. iFrameResize({log:true, enablePublicMethods:true}); Eden Rock & Devils Grotto are two dive sites that are next to each other. Despite the name, you arent guaranteed to see tarpon here. Give the perfect gift for your favorite ocean lover and explorer. Visibility in the Cayman Islands is wonderful, averaging between 60 and 100 feet (18-30 meters). Besides the thick black corals, keep an eye out for tarpon, large yellow tube sponges, and ginormous barrel sponges. However, the Cayman Islands can be impacted by hurricanes primarily between June and November. The Cayman Islands is a land of breath-taking experiences. Little Caymans Bloody Bay is home to some of the most dramatic and spectacular drop-offs and swim-throughs in the Carribean. This is one of the deepest sea-walls in the world. The worst time is September during the hurricane season. Its a very easy and fun dive, we saw some angelfish and eagle rays. Find the best travel insurance for you with these U.S. News ratings, which factor in expert and consumer recommendations. Share your love of diving, experience new adventures, expand your dive skills, and help save the ocean. 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. Today, Cayman is one of the top dive destinations anywhere. Beginners can enjoy another smaller chimney instead. Often you can see massive tarpons, barracudas, and schools of silversides. 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.. The Eden Rock Dive Center has everything you need for an unforgettable day underwater in the Cayman Islands. Plenty of schooling reef fish call Ghost Mountain home and the pinnacle is also carpeted in deep, bloody-red finger sponges. Hotel prices are sourced from a sample of U.S. News Best Hotels rates through 2015-2016. Both are wonderful underwater. Best Time to Visit Cayman Islands - tripbirdie.com So, either way, the experience is well worth the money. 5. Frugal travel planners can look for good deals during these months while keeping an eye on the 10-day weather forecast. Best Liveaboard Destinations in the World, Vaccines recommended: Hep A; Typhoid if you will travel to rural areas, Visa: None needed for US citizens or European Union, Safety: Generally safe but petty theft can occur. Erwin Poliakoff, Baton Rouge, Louisiana USA Nikon D7000, Tokina 10-17 zoom, Nikkor 60mm, 85mm, and 105mm macros, Nauticam housing There is a separate fee to dive this wreck that goes towards conservation, and you also get a nice yellow diver medallion to keep. Press the question mark key to get the keyboard shortcuts for changing dates. Grand Cayman has more dive sites than Little Cayman. 1-800-652-1972. 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.