I quickly learned that if I poked at an area with my stick, the groupers would go right there, a great tool to get them to pose right where i wanted them in my reef scenes. 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. to save My Ideas for later. Orange Canyon is a popular dive site on the west-side of Grand Cayman. Their sister company, Tortuga Divers, operates from Morritts Tortuga Club in East End. Closely packed ridges form huge coral heads between the shore and the reef wall. Visibility in the Cayman Islands is wonderful, averaging between 60 and 100 feet (18-30 meters). For water sports lovers, there are great spots for snorkeling including night snorkeling with bioluminescence, options to go sailing or on a catamaran cruise. Photographers will love Greenhouse for its varied macro life. Occasionally, a nurse shark rest on the sand. If you enjoy diving, then you need to visit the USS Kittiwake during your vacation to Grand Cayman. Jackson's Bight- Located also in the Bloody Bay Marine Park, it does not fail to provide scuba divers with an amazing dive. 1. Enquire The Seven Mile Beach area and the main city, Georgetown, are very developed with large hotels and resorts, restaurants, shops, etc. 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. No worries, the diving is world class on Bloody Bay Wall. 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. Lionfish have become an invasive species and some of the dive operators offer culling excursions. A huge pinnacle branches out, creating a corridor-like passageway that is used by large pelagics cruising up from the abyss. Continue with Recommended Cookies. For example, let's look at one airline flying from Miami to Grand Cayman. The protected Bloody Bay Marine Park lies in Little Cayman and offers magnificent marine life, great visibility, and spectacular bioluminescent corals. Cheeseburger Reef is located in George Town, Grand Cayman. April is an especially good choice because it has the warmest weather of the entire five-month dry season. 310-915-6677 Our mission has been to do this with the best crew, using the best equipment while offering the most competing Cayman Islands dive packages. All levels of divers can enjoy the site as there is plenty to see at shallow depths or at deeper parts. Black groupers, sergeant majors, yellowtail snapper, and moray eels are just a few of the species you can expect to see. Before the USS Kittiwake was sunk, the Oro Verde was the wreck dive of choice in the Caymans. The resident goliath grouper is a popular dive buddy at this Cayman dive site. Click the link below to read our article about Macabuca: Tarpon Alley is located at the North Wall in 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. December rainfall drops back down to about three inches. Cayman Brac Beach Resort. The depths start at around 12m/40ft and end at 30m/98ft. During winter, temperatures can drop down to the low 70s. Twitter Butterflyfish, triggerfish, shrimp, snapper, and more hand out in and around the large coral heads that sit nor far from the waters surface. MV Capt. It does not make the product pricier for you. Elkhorn corals adorn the tops of the ridges while large gorgonians, tube sponges, and hard corals occupy the gullies. 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. The sea is always warm in the Cayman Islands, with surface temperatures never dropping below around 25 o C (78 o F). This is currently number 20 on the 100 Best Dives list.. There are lots of other fish and coral. 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;}. The top of the wall is around 9 meters (30ft) so the site can be enjoyed as a shallow or deep dive. Cayman Islands International Film Festival. If you love nature, you can go hiking or explore some caverns and caves. Both are wonderful underwater. For macro subjects, you can see angelfish, morays, lettuce slug nudibranchs and many more. Water Temperatures: Ranges from around 22C (72F) in December to 29C (84F) in July. dive in each month of the year. With over 40 operators and 365 sites marked with moorings, thrill-seekers from all over take the plunge here. 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. Collect your trip ideas, share with friends or make an enquiry. I thought it might be too touristy, but it was a lot of fun. GOT QUESTIONS ABOUT DIVING IN CAYMANS? 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). We'll whisk you through the security queues (where available). 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. December to April is also the busiest time of year for tourism, so it's important to book your dive trips in advance. I have worked in the corporate world and had little time for adventure. 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. My wife and I are traveling there in February 2015 and are PADI AOW and Nitrox certified with ten years of recreational experience diving. Grand Cayman is the most visited island in the Cayman Islands by Scuba Divers. Usually you will see at least a few tarpon at this spot. Its a very easy and fun dive, we saw some angelfish and eagle rays. Roundabout is located along the North Wall in Grand Cayman. 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. You can dive from shore because they have ladders that you can use to enter and exit the water. Though scuba diving in the Cayman Islands is mostly known for close encounters with stingrays, it has much more to offer. Bloody Bay Wall- Most scuba divers will say this is their favorite dive site in the Cayman Islands. Lemon Reef is a mini-wall dive site located on the North Wall in Grand Cayman. Here youll find more than 50 dives sites including the famous Bloody Bay. This is a shore dive, meaning that you enter the water from the shore, and then swim to Cheeseburger Reef. This wreck is the only Russian warship that can explore in the Western hemisphere. Best Time to Dive in Little Cayman. 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. In a nutshell, its an island full of land and water adventures. The Cayman Islands is a world-class diving destination famous for its reefs, wrecks and rum. 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. Hurricane Ivan in 2004 cleaved the 100m/328ft ship in half but divers can still explore both sections of the wreckage. The wreck was specifically set up for safe penetration, giving divers many interior rooms to explore. This dive site first became popular in the 90s when it was featured in the film The Firm, starring Tom Cruise. 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! 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? Wakatobi Dive Resort, a private island south of Sulawesi, understands thisand that shooters trek to this country, one of the most biodiverse hotspots on the planet, to capture images of every critter possible. 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. 4. 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. Grand Cayman is the most commercial island, with cruise ships visiting, but it has some wrecks and the wall dives are close boat rides. A 50% deposit is required at the time of booking with the final 50% . She met her end on the reef in the late 70s, allegedly due to mutiny aboard. 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. The heat may be less of an issue for anyone planning to spend a week there mainly on the beaches during the day and shopping or having fun in the cooler evenings. At night, this popular Caymans dive site is great for spotting octopus, lobster, and shrimp. Plenty of schooling reef fish call Ghost Mountain home and the pinnacle is also carpeted in deep, bloody-red finger sponges. In addition, you're more likely to snag a hotel deal during these months. Cathy Church has a shop at Sunset House where you can often meet her and see her beautiful underwater photos from the area. Head to the turret guns for a superb photo opportunity and keep your eyes peeled for barracuda, bright sponges, and schooling reef fish. Best Time to Dive Cayman Islands Diving is available year-round. Drop us a comment below and tell us your favorite site! An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. 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. Diving is available year-round. If the forecast looks good, they should consider taking a last-minute trip to Grand Cayman if they also spot an attractive discount. "High Season" at the hotels is mid-December to mid-April, so rates will be higher then. The main gateway to the Cayman Islands is through Grand Cayman. I am Dan, this site is my blog where I document my research on the best diving spots in the world. 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. Cayman Islands Seasonal Dive Planner The Caymans' hottest period is from May to November. Please Sign-in or Register to save My Ideas for later, Our social channels Press the question mark key to get the keyboard shortcuts for changing dates. You need to take a boat to reach this wreck. Most dive operators will take you there. 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. They became my favorite focus on the reef. It is Batabano, the countrys biggest festival, which is scheduled for early May each year. Stingrays, stingrays, and more stingrays is what draws divers to this Cayman site. 1. Tourism volume is estimated based on in-market destination search query interest from Google and on travel.usnews.com in 2015-2016. I hope my research also helps you make a decision on your next scuba diving vacation.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[120,600],'scubadivegeek_com-large-billboard-2','ezslot_9',102,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-scubadivegeek_com-large-billboard-2-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[120,600],'scubadivegeek_com-large-billboard-2','ezslot_10',102,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-scubadivegeek_com-large-billboard-2-0_1'); .large-billboard-2-multi-102{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none !important;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:15px !important;margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-top:15px !important;max-width:100% !important;min-height:600px;padding:0;text-align:center !important;}. You could spend . Find & Book PADI Adventures App 6. 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. Generally, even with up to four dives per day on offer Cayman Islands scuba diving . Look in the blue off the wall for passing sharks, rays, and turtles. They pickup from the Westin, Ritz and Kimpton Seafire beaches for their West Dives, which is one of their standout features. Grand Cayman makes a good dive vacation, but for us it was a great stop with plenty of good diving over 3 days on the way home from Cayman Brac. We highly advise you ask your local dive shop on the dos and donts in diving a particular dive site. If wall diving is your thing, check out diving in Turks & Caicos. 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. 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. The wall dive also has several other topographical features including swim-throughs and tunnels. Little Cayman was first discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1503. Great diving. Settle on the sand at just 3.7 meters (12ft) and have hordes of southern stingrays glide gracefully around you. Find the best and most popular products and review them. There are also lots of tarpon and small silver sprats in this area. January and February are the coolest months with average lows in the high 60s. If you like diving in caves and grottos, Trinity Caves on Grand Caymans west side is the site for you. Because the site is prone to strong currents, it isnt frequently dived which makes a trip to this very healthy reef even more special. If you don't feel comfortable using my referral links, you can always go directly to their site and bypass me. 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. Don't forget to visit Stingray City before leaving Grand Cayman. 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. It was then sunk in Grand Cayman in 1980 to make a new dive site. Theres plenty to do if you are not diving. This gives the unique Caymans dive site a blend of steep vertical walls, sloping reefs, and coral-crusted fingers. 5. 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. With the wall beginning at just 6 meters (20ft), the site is popular with both divers and snorkelers. Three Fathom Wall is a popular night dive when eels, lobsters, and reef squid make an appearance. Stingray City has very large, friendly stingrays. Sidetrip: Grand Cayman is the biggest island and it is where most accommodations and restaurants are located. The main dive spot of Little Cayman is located on the northwest coast in a marine protected area the Bloody Bay Marine Park. 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. Grand Cayman Island probably has the best diving as it has the North Wall deep drop-off dive and the USS Kittiwake wreck dive. Some of those services give me a small percentage of what you pay as commission for my referral. That's is how we pay ourselves. He is the author of four books about cruising in the Caribbean, Alaska and Mexican Riviera. 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. 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 . Divers can observe the bow guns and go along the rails to make some great photos. July has a jump in visits for families in part because school children are out for the summer. Closer to the reef, turtles, groupers, horse-eyed jacks, and an over-abundance of lionfish make this colorful site even more interesting. September and October are clearly the least popular months to go because of a high risk of heavy rains along with hot temperatures. If you have time, you should also take a flight to Little Cayman from Grand Cayman, and dive at Bloody Bay Wall. Eagle Ray Pass is located along the North Wall in Grand Cayman. "High Season" at the hotels is mid-December to mid-April, so rates will be higher then. This is a fun dive spot that you can access from shore. There is a good amount of coral and fish here. (Closed Circuit Rebreathers/CCR) allows you to massively extend your dive time. 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.

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