September is the worst month of the Caribbean hurricane season, which officially goes from June through November. Located 2.5 kilometers (1.6 miles) northwest of the Capital City of George Town is one of the most popular dive sites, not just in the Cayman Islands, but in the Caribbean the Stingray City which is classified as a sandbar that has been naturally aggregated with southern stingrays that have been accustomed to human presence because of feeding. 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. Live a life others only dream about. 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. Bloody Bay Wall Bloody Bay Wall is located in Little Cayman. Cayman Islands has an average water temperature ranging from 26 29C (78 84F). Under its 1986 declaration covering an area of hectares (23 acres) are dive sites that are popular to tourists and divers alike. 3. A favourite stop for those diving and snorkeling lovers, the Bay Islands' important three islands are Roatan, Utila and Guanaja. If you want to go a little more remote, try Little Cayman. When to go Best time Low season Off season Where to go when that the underwater world (and overwater, if you plan on surfacing Elkhorn corals adorn the tops of the ridges while large gorgonians, tube sponges, and hard corals occupy the gullies. The best dive site is either Bloody Bay Wall in Little Cayman or the USS Kittiwake in Grand Cayman. PrivacyPolicy, 2023 Original Diving | Web Design by D3R. You could spend . It is common to see barracudas and schools of horse-eye jacks in this area. 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. It is only a 10-minute walk from the cruise ship port in George Town to Eden Rock. Bloody Bay Wall. The best time to visit the Cayman Islands is between March and June when the hotel rates drop. While Grand Cayman receives the most publicity and visitors, all three Cayman Islands - Cayman Brac and Little Cayman being the other two -- offer outstanding scuba diving. The Cayman Islands are a premier diving destination, boasting 365 dive sites, as well as the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame . 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. Crabs and lobsters are among the critters hiding in the crevices. With virtually no currents and outstanding underwater visibility, Cayman has amazing wall dives, coral reefs and wrecks for you to explore and discover. marine life, be it the tiny critters or bigger beasts of the ocean. It now rests in an upright position at a depth of 27meters (89feet). Trinity Caves is one Cayman dive site that never disappoints. "High Season" at the hotels is mid-December to mid-April, so rates will be higher then. While at first the Oro Verde was a complete ship, rough seas and tumultuous weather have dispersed the wreckage. Divers can observe the bow guns and go along the rails to make some great photos. (Closed Circuit Rebreathers/CCR) allows you to massively extend your dive time. iFrameResize({log:true, enablePublicMethods:true}); The Cayman Diving Season The islands are very much a year round diving destination. They were all guided dives. This is one of the top island destinations in the United Kingdom. Manage Settings Exploring this site requires you to initially descend to 18 meters (60 feet) deep where the wall starts. Bert Brothers Boulders is also a great spot to see flying gurnards at around 5.5 meters (18ft). View Map. Penetration is encouraged but to get the most out of the experience, take a torch. Grand Cayman Monthly Weather: Rain, Temperatures, Grand Cayman Vacation Tips: Hotels, Attractions, Weather, Cayman Islands overnight visitor statistics; Caribeez.com. Top dives include the famous 1000 Steps, the Hilmer Hooker wreck, and Bari Reef. We'll whisk you through the security queues (where available). The Cayman dollar is exchanged at a rate fixed to the US dollar (CI $1 equals US $1.25). 1-800-652-1972. The wreck was specifically set up for safe penetration, giving divers many interior rooms to explore. 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. The main gateway to the Cayman Islands is through Grand Cayman. Stingrays, stingrays, and more stingrays is what draws divers to this Cayman site. They can offer up their first-hand 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. Get certified to scuba dive. 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. Now large groups of southern stingrays are lurking around daily. Grand Cayman is somewhat unique among major Caribbean destinations because it is one of the few islands that has average daytime temperatures exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer and fall. Grand Caymans North Wall plunges deeper than 1800 metres/6000 feet and offers beautiful wall diving with opportunities to see spotted eagle rays and sea turtles. Find the best and most popular products and review them. 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. There are also lots of tarpon and small silver sprats in this area. Grandview Condominiums are located on the south end of 7 Mile Beach in George Town on the scuba diving island of Grand Cayman. 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. The Cayman Islands is a world-class diving destination famous for its reefs, wrecks and rum. However, as we just mentioned, diving in the Cayman Islands is possible all year round. 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. We conduct this course from our shore location where the water is ideal for new divers! But these aren't the only good and bad times. Take a walk along the coast line or rent a bicycle and ride around the island. 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. Three long, wide tunnels, accessible to the majority of divers, extend from the sand flats to open out onto the reef wall. The best time to dive is between December and April when the water is at its warmest and the visibility is at its best. If wall diving is your thing, check out diving in Turks & Caicos. Our DSD is $99 USD per person and includes all equipment needed and a fantastic shallow dive to a max depth of 40ft. Eden Rock Dive Center. The best time to visit the Cayman Islands is any time of year, but hotel rates drop in March and June and temperatures rise to around 80 degrees. Indonesia. The most striking and common marine life for me were the brightly yellow colored tube sponges. Click the link below to read our article about Macabuca: Tarpon Alley is located at the North Wall in 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. The water clarity is typically amazingly clear. Schools of bright snappers brightened the reefs among colorful sponges. The Cayman Islands continues to receive global recognition and top the charts for diving. Our team will meet you at the airport and fast-track you through. Cayman Brac is the last of the islands and also much less traveld than Grand Caymen. If you don't feel comfortable using my referral links, you can always go directly to their site and bypass me. On top of being generally warm, the waters are clear with underwater visibility running from 18 30 meters (60 100 feet). Great Wall is the kind of dive that makes you feel like a tiny speck in the ocean as you hang near a wall that drops dramatically to more than 1,800 meters (6,000ft). Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. From April to October water temperature are at least 27 o C (81 o F) and can . 7. 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. The Kittiwake is a 76.5 meter (250ft) former submarine support ship. If you want to enjoy these five dive sites . Wheres the best place(s) to stay when looking into a diving trip in the Caymans? 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. All levels of divers can enjoy the site as there is plenty to see at shallow depths or at deeper parts. Answer 1 of 11: Does anyone have firsthand experience with any of the dive operators on Little Cayman that they will share? Cayman Islands Seasonal Dive Planner The Caymans' hottest period is from May to November. It's the kind of peaceful place where you will make your own fun. Bloody Bay Wall- Most scuba divers will say this is their favorite dive site in the Cayman Islands. Seven Mile Beach 4. Lighthouse Point is located in West Bay in Grand Cayman. My wife and I are traveling there in February 2015 and are PADI AOW and Nitrox certified with ten years of recreational experience diving. For water sports lovers, there are great spots for snorkeling including night snorkeling with bioluminescence, options to go sailing or on a catamaran cruise. Greenhouse is a nice medium-depth reef dive with plenty of grooves and gullies to explore. Enjoy 20% OFF select PADI eLearning programs, FREE ReActivate online refresher, subscription to Scuba Diving magazine + so much more when you join PADI Club. Recommended Level: Beginner Intermediate Advanced Dive Type: Boat Reef Wall Macro Wreck Canyon Shore Night Shallow Shark Cave Stingray Swim-Through Drift Liveboard Deep Great Wall East and West Little Cayman Great Wall West - Turtle Watch on 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. The water is about 12-feet deep here. Grand Cayman, the main island, is often one of the most popular destinations in the Caribbean, especially with western Caribbean cruises. Cracks in the ceilings let in plenty of natural light making it easy to search the nooks and crannies for the many crustaceans and other marine creatures that occupy the tunnels. 4. Little Cayman GoPro Video Workshop: April 2023, Best Liveaboard Destinations for Beginners, shifted the Kittiwake from her original position. The wreck can be penetrated in some parts but speak for your guide or instructor beforehand. In the 2019 Scuba Diving Magazine Readers Choice Awards, the Islands were named one of the Best Overall Dive Destination in the Caribbean/Atlantic and scored first place for Best Advanced Diving and Underwater Photography. 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. July has a jump in visits for families in part because school children are out for the summer. Trinity Caves is a popular dive site that is located off the coast of West Bay in Grand Cayman. Cayman Brac Beach Resort. The dives are shallow and you can closely observe them swimming around or above you. Divers in the Caymans visit Kittiwake for the wreck itself. you are in the right place at the right time to see the very best Grand Cayman has beautiful beaches and probably the most topside activities or restaurants anyone would want. The best time to visit Grand Cayman is March and April. 4. It lays at 60 ft (20 m) and scuba divers are able to explore all five levels of this 250 ft (75 m) vessel. 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. Still great for diving with great walls for all levels of divers and the walls and the Russian destroyer 356 aka Russian destroyer. As well as healthy coral and large pelagic species, you can expect to catch sight of Nassau groupers, stingrays, angelfish, snappers, horse-eye jacks, and turtles. Stingray City is in only 12ft (4m) of water and is a huge draw for divers and underwater photographers. 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. Often you can see massive tarpons, barracudas, and schools of silversides. Hurricane Ivan in 2004 cleaved the 100m/328ft ship in half but divers can still explore both sections of the wreckage. We understand that diving the best Grand Cayman Dives is the primary goal of your Grand Cayman Dive vacation. You can see Spotted Eagle Rays flying passed this area from depths of about 30 to 100 feet. 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. Besides the thick black corals, keep an eye out for tarpon, large yellow tube sponges, and ginormous barrel sponges. Explore the top-rated styles for every type of trip to the beach. ScubaDiveGeek.com is a participant in the Amazon.com Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. 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. From our 24hr helpline to our expert local guides and selection of handpicked reading lists. You get to enjoy some of the warm weather, which is especially nice if you live in the northern U.S., where it's still winter. If you have time, you should also take a flight to Little Cayman from Grand Cayman, and dive at Bloody Bay Wall. You can dive along this wall and explore the different entrances. Data sourced from the National Climatic Data Center. Why? If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. Because great in-depth gear reviews will help you select the right products for your specific needs, budget, and interests. The wall dive also has several other topographical features including swim-throughs and tunnels. Diving is available year-round. We were lucky enough to see the tail end of silversides on the wreck of the Balboa right in the Harbor too. Macro photographers should keep an eye out for the neck and decorator crabs who make their homes here. We gave our Gear Lovers one job: 310-915-6677 In 2017, Tropical Storm Nate shifted the Kittiwake from her original position. The Eden Rock Dive Center has everything you need for an unforgettable day underwater in the Cayman Islands. Some of the nicest dive resorts in the Caribbean are in the Cayman Islands, and many of them have great shore diving and boat diving. If you enjoy snorkeling, then check out our article where we discuss the top 25 snorkel spots in Grand Cayman. The Cayman Islands-- Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac--have been attracting scuba divers for decades, including beginners! It was named Orange Canyon because of the large orange Elephant Ear Sponges that can be found here. 1. From classic wide-brimmed hats to water-repellent trucker hats, find your ideal style. Choose your design and prove your PADI certified diver status across the world with a recycled plastic card, eCard or both. Roberts Wall is located on the North Wall in Grand Cayman. 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. Were a free review guide run by passionate Divers, Sports, and Outdoor fanatics. Kittiwake Shipwreck and diver in Grand Cayman - photo from Canva. . The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. The Seven Mile Beach area and the main city, Georgetown, are very developed with large hotels and resorts, restaurants, shops, etc. Located 133 kilometers (83 miles) northeast of Grand Cayman is its little sister island Little Cayman. Founder of Georges Watersports & Thingstodocayman.net. an enquiry. Our mission has been to do this with the best crew, using the best equipment while offering the most competing Cayman Islands dive packages. 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. Canyons and drop-offs provide a varied topography making the site a firm favorite with photographers. Situated not far from the north point on Grand Cayman, Ghost Mountain is probably named for the behemoth mushroom-like pinnacle that suddenly emerges from the blue as divers near it.