Jackson's Bight- Located also in the Bloody Bay Marine Park, it does not fail to provide scuba divers with an amazing dive. Live like a local and get under the skin of a destination with our in-country concierges. Named for a historical anchorage, Anchor Point features a tight chimney-like descent at the beginning of the dive. Find & Book Adventures Book your fun dives, snorkelling trips and courses online with thousands of PADI Dive Centers. But these aren't the only good and bad times. December through April are especially popular times to go because of low risk of rainfall and more moderate temperatures. Cayman Islands, as well as our suggestions for the best places to 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. Choose your design and prove your PADI certified diver status across the world with a recycled plastic card, eCard or both. // Best Time To Visit Cayman Islands - Travel Tips For Every Season The depths start at around 12m/40ft and end at 30m/98ft. Apart from the elephant ear sponges, keep your eyes peeled for blacktip Carribean reef sharks in the blue. 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. 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). The worst time is September during the hurricane season. Questions about Cayman Island Diving | FAQs | Cayman Turtle Divers Kittiwake Shipwreck and diver in Grand Cayman - photo from Canva. This is one of the top island destinations in the United Kingdom. It's the kind of peaceful place where you will make your own fun. [What You Need to Know]. No worries, the diving is world class on Bloody Bay Wall. Bloody Bay Marine Park is one of Cayman's best known dive sites and is named after the battles that took place between the British navy and its privateers following the outlaw of piracy. Stingrays, stingrays, and more stingrays is what draws divers to this Cayman site. For scuba diving, the best time to dive the Cayman Islands is pretty much any time except peak hurricane season. Its not often divers can see a mermaid on a dive, but at Sunset Reef they can. On Grand Cayman, I stayed at hotels on the west end along Seven Mile beach. Often you can see massive tarpons, barracudas, and schools of silversides. From classic wide-brimmed hats to water-repellent trucker hats, find your ideal style. June to October brings higher topside temperatures (up to 33C, 91F). The wreck of the Captain Keith is unusual it is the only Soviet-made warship that divers can visit in the western hemisphere. There is a reason you won't find under a 5-star review for Silver Thatch, they are the best. 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. Replace or update your card, buy a Special Edition or Project AWARE version of your PADI certification card, or go digital with the purchase of a PADI eCard. Three Fathom Wall is a popular night dive when eels, lobsters, and reef squid make an appearance. Each time has been a wonderful underwater adventure. Eden Rock & Devils Grotto are two dive sites that are next to each other. ASK US HERE! StingRay City on scuba with a small group was so much fun feeding the rays. Little Cayman was first discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1503. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Located in popular Bloody Bay, Donnas Delight is home to some classic Cayman wall diving: Giant barrel sponges, arching sea fans, and bright corals. Some resorts offer "Hurricane protection". Best Time to Dive Cayman Islands. Along the drop-off, crevices and canyons cut through the reefs face. Cayman Turtle Centre. Their sister company, Tortuga Divers, operates from Morritts Tortuga Club in East End. 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. 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. Settle on the sand at just 3.7 meters (12ft) and have hordes of southern stingrays glide gracefully around you. However, the Cayman Islands can be impacted by hurricanes primarily between June and November. Live a life others only dream about. The Seven Mile Beach area and the main city, Georgetown, are very developed with large hotels and resorts, restaurants, shops, etc. Cayman Brac offered multiple relaxed dive spots on reefs all along the edge of the island. 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. In a nutshell, its an island full of land and water adventures. Divers of all levels can explore the engines, pistons, and pieces of the wreck that are scattered at 18m/60ft. Press the question mark key to get the keyboard shortcuts for changing dates. Cayman Brac offers a good mix of wall, wreck and reef diving for all experience levels. Were a free review guide run by passionate Divers, Sports, and Outdoor fanatics. The Cayman Islands are one of the Best Liveaboard Destinations for Beginners. When we talk about Fiji, what immediately comes into our mind is a tropical dream holiday. Generally, even with up to four dives per day on offer Cayman Islands scuba diving . Canyons and drop-offs provide a varied topography making the site a firm favorite with photographers. Hurricanes rarely hit Grand Cayman directly. MV Capt. Greenhouse is a nice medium-depth reef dive with plenty of grooves and gullies to explore. Closer to the reef, turtles, groupers, horse-eyed jacks, and an over-abundance of lionfish make this colorful site even more interesting. Water Temperatures: Ranges from around 22C (72F) in December to 29C (84F) in July. At night, this popular Caymans dive site is great for spotting octopus, lobster, and shrimp. Grand Cayman is a beautiful dive destination with many options for accommodations and for diving. It was named Orange Canyon because of the large orange Elephant Ear Sponges that can be found here. 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 . They are located in George Town in Grand Cayman. link to Fiji: Dive the Soft Coral Capital of the World, link to United Arab Emirates: Unspoiled Dive Sites, Wall diving, drift diving, cave diving, shore diving, boat diving, deep diving, and wreck diving, 100 different species of hard and soft corals plus over 500 species of tropical fish like the South-Atlantic stingrays, eagle rays, manta rays, nurse sharks, Caribbean reef sharks, flying gurnards, Nassau groupers, tarpon fish, Grand Cayman: Snorkeling at Stingray City, visit Dolphin Cove, hiking in the Mastic Trail, Pedro St. James National Historic Site, Cayman Islands National Museum, and the Cayman Turtle Farm. It exceeds six inches in August and jumps again to more than eight inches in September and October. Web Visit website. Grand Cayman is the most visited island in the Cayman Islands by Scuba Divers. 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. 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. I stayed at an all inclusive where the food was exceptional, prepared by a world class chef. Trinity Caves is a popular dive site that is located off the coast of West Bay in Grand Cayman. Bloody Bay Wall. We have put together a comprehensive collection of packages to suit your needs. 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. 4. The prices of hotels and short excursions that would normally be prohibitively expensive fall to more reasonable levels during this time. Plus, the water temperature ranges between 78-82F (26-28C). Manage Settings The seven mile beach area is beautiful for walking and photo opportunities. This world-class scuba destination is colorful, bright, and teeming with life. "High Season" at the hotels is mid-December to mid-April, so rates will be higher then. Grand Cayman Monthly Weather: Rain, Temperatures, Grand Cayman Vacation Tips: Hotels, Attractions, Weather, Cayman Islands overnight visitor statistics; Caribeez.com. Our Exclusive Dive-only Packages in the Cayman Islands - Ocean Frontiers As a diver, with a PADI account you can access your eLearning along with many more tools to help you on your adventures. December to April is also the busiest time of year for tourism, so it's important to book your dive trips in advance. Dive Shop and Front desk is open 7 days per week | 7am to 6pm and can be reached directly on (345)-640-7500 This site is my attempt to live the adrenaline my life is missing and be able to live real-life storybook stories with my wife and children. Here youll find more than 50 dives sites including the famous Bloody Bay. The Cayman Islands is a land of breath-taking experiences. When shopping and eating out, be sure to identify which currency prices . 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. For water sports lovers, there are great spots for snorkeling including night snorkeling with bioluminescence, options to go sailing or on a catamaran cruise. 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! 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. Cayman Islands Diving | Silver Thatch Water Sports | Breakers dive in each month of the year. Visibility in the Cayman Islands is wonderful, averaging between 60 and 100 feet (18-30 meters). The islands are warm year-round with average highs. Sidetrip: Grand Cayman is the biggest island and it is where most accommodations and restaurants are located. The boat dives were offered mostly in the mornings, and we were on our own in the afternoons. I know there are shore dives that can be done, and we plan to do some of those next time. Best Cayman Islands Dive Centers and Resorts - TripSavvy Fiji: Dive the Soft Coral Capital of the World. 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;}. Facebook Scuba diving in the Cayman Islands: an experience of a lifetime . Bloody Bay Marine Park is a particularly popular diving destination as it is home to 12 different dive sites, gorgeous coral, and diverse marine life. Stingray City is in only 12ft (4m) of water and is a huge draw for divers and underwater photographers. Top 12 Beautiful Places to Visit in the Cayman Islands Get in touch with our specialists for even more in-depth travel advice. The water drops over a hundred feet. 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. Water temperatures are usually low 80's F. Marine life is plentiful and varied. The three islands that make up the nation, Cayman Brac, Grand Cayman, and Little Cayman, are diverse and have distinct diving. See and be seen at these stunning natural wonders. The reef slopes gradually from 5 to 17 meters (17-55ft), and is covered in hard corals, sea whips, small sponges and gorgonians. For beginners or those who get nervous in enclosed spaces, there are plenty of decks around the exterior to check out. Closely packed ridges form huge coral heads between the shore and the reef wall. 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. Cruise lines can reduce the number of ships that visit Grand Cayman in the fall, but hotels and resorts cant reduce the number of rooms. 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). July has a jump in visits for families in part because school children are out for the summer. If you're looking for great diving and hotel prices, the best time is between March and June when the rates all drop. Both are wonderful underwater. Little Cayman GoPro Video Workshop: April 2023, Best Liveaboard Destinations for Beginners, shifted the Kittiwake from her original position. [CDATA[ Diving is available year-round. Little Cayman, Cayman Islands. 6. Diving in the Cayman Islands - Bluewater Dive Travel Although this is a wall dive, the cut in the sites name comes from the swim-through many divers use upon descent. It is rich with tunnels, chutes, cervices, and beautiful reefs. The Best Scuba Diving Experiences On Grand Cayman The Pedro St. James National Historic Site is a great place for photography, or you can visit Rum Point for a true Caribbean beach experience. 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. at any point on your diving holiday) has to offer. You will find the Cayman Islands to be very diverse, from quiet Little Cayman, to bustling Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman. Named for the bright orange elephant ear sponges that characterize this site, Orange Canyon doesnt contain a closed canyon per se, but an open channel with lively reef on either side. The highlight of the dive is the photo opportunity with this Cayman reefs most famous resident. 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. to dive in Cayman Islands. Keith Tibbets- This Soviet-built Frigate that was owned by the Cuban navy was given to the Cayman Islands to purposefully sink it. 0 Head to the turret guns for a superb photo opportunity and keep your eyes peeled for barracuda, bright sponges, and schooling reef fish. 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. 1-800-652-1972. We understand that diving the best Grand Cayman Dives is the primary goal of your Grand Cayman Dive vacation. This is one of the deepest sea-walls in the world. The Cayman dollar is exchanged at a rate fixed to the US dollar (CI $1 equals US $1.25). You could spend . Scuba diving in Little Cayman and Cayman Brac | ZuBlu PrivacyPolicy, 2023 Original Diving | Web Design by D3R. If you want to go a little more remote, try Little Cayman. The resident goliath grouper is a popular dive buddy at this Cayman dive site. If you enjoy diving, then you need to visit the USS Kittiwake during your vacation to Grand Cayman. Why? From our 24hr helpline to our expert local guides and selection of handpicked reading lists. 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. Though scuba diving in the Cayman Islands is mostly known for close encounters with stingrays, it has much more to offer. This is a wreck worth a dive or two. 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. Macro photographers should keep an eye out for the neck and decorator crabs who make their homes here. You will find Nassau gropers, triggerfish, and other unique marine life at the Bloody Bay Wall. The Caymans have one major event that also may impact the best times to go there. Still great for diving with great walls for all levels of divers and the walls and the Russian destroyer 356 aka Russian destroyer. 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. 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. Grand Cayman has beautiful beaches and probably the most topside activities or restaurants anyone would want. It was quite crowded with dive and snorkel boats when we got there, but it was no big deal once we got in the water. Besides scuba diving, there are plenty of other things to do on 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. The most striking and common marine life for me were the brightly yellow colored tube sponges. There is also a small restaurant and dive resort. Resident Nassau groupers often keep divers company and if you look closely, you may be rewarded with seahorses and lettuce-leaf slugs.