ScubaDiveGeek.com also participates in other affiliate programs and Google Adwords and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these and other companies. You will see a lot of tarpon at this spot, as well as coral and other fish. Located in the Bloody Bay marine park on Little Caymans north side, Marilyns Cut is largely unspoiled and offers up pristine soft and hard corals. 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. you are in the right place at the right time to see the very best Bloody Bay Wall. Grand Cayman's North Wall plunges deeper than 1800 metres/6000 feet and offers beautiful wall diving with opportunities to see spotted eagle rays and sea turtles. Divers of all levels can explore the engines, pistons, and pieces of the wreck that are scattered at 18m/60ft. Use Add to ideas + to collect your trip ideas, share with friends or make Seven Mile Beach is considered the most popular tourist area in the Cayman Islands, thanks to its stunning white sand beaches and crystal-clear waters. Enjoy the comfort of an airport lounge with free drinks and snacks, even if you're flying economy. 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. . There is also a dive shop and restaurant. As for temperature and weather, the Cayman Islands are tropical, meaning it's warm 365 days a year. Get forecasts each morning for every major island. In effect, there are more registered businesses in Cayman Island as compared to its local population. Drift dives are possible here depending on your operator. 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. Photographers will love Greenhouse for its varied macro life. Sharp-eyed divers can find leopard flatworms and the tunnels are also popular hangouts for rays and green moray eels. We understand that annual leave is precious so we can ensure that If you want to go a little more remote, try Little Cayman. The winter and early spring months are the most popular time in the Cayman Islands. They can offer up their first-hand If you enjoy diving, then you need to visit the USS Kittiwake during your vacation to Grand Cayman. The wreck can be penetrated in some parts but speak for your guide or instructor beforehand. 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. Babylon- Grand Cayman Island is surrounded by a wall, but what makes the Babylon site special is the pinnacle with a canyon cutting the north wall. No worries, the diving is world class on Bloody Bay Wall. 1. Besides the thick black corals, keep an eye out for tarpon, large yellow tube sponges, and ginormous barrel sponges. Seven Mile Beach 4. 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 . Besides scuba diving, there are plenty of other things to do on the Cayman Islands. Although the rays who made this site their home permanently have moved on, there is still a good chance of spotting them here. In a nutshell, its an island full of land and water adventures. The Cayman Islands-- Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac--have been attracting scuba divers for decades, including beginners! The water clarity is typically amazingly clear. Instead, they pass through the vicinity and bring heavy rains and wind to the island. 4. 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. 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. 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. I make money by sharing links to services that I personally use and recommend. Before the USS Kittiwake was sunk, the Oro Verde was the wreck dive of choice in the Caymans. You need to protect your fingers from the eager snappers though. A 50% deposit is required at the time of booking with the final 50% . I am the father of the best two children in the world and husband to the most patient woman on this planet. Away from the reef, divers can look around the LCM David Nicholson wreck. The water depth here is around 18-meters. Scott S. Bateman is a professional journalist who has traveled widely throughout the Caribbean and the Americas. . From spotting blue iguanas to kayaking in a bioluminescent bay to diving through intricate shipwrecks, here is a guide to making the most out of a first-time visit to Grand Cayman. View Map. The famous diver and explorer Jacques Cousteau said that Bloody Bay Wall is one of the top dive sites in the world. While at first the Oro Verde was a complete ship, rough seas and tumultuous weather have dispersed the wreckage. Greenhouse is a nice medium-depth reef dive with plenty of grooves and gullies to explore. There is a reason you won't find under a 5-star review for Silver Thatch, they are the best. For shark diving, we suggest the Maze, Scuba Bowl and the Grouper Grotto which is also filled with lots of good-size groupers. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. After exploring the area, here are some of the best dive sites in the Cayman Islands: 1. Wilderness Wall starts at 15 meters (50ft) before plunging down into the depths. Scuba Divers can experience the world's best 12ft dive site at Stingray City, the beautiful Starfish Point and Bloody Bay . January and February are the coolest months with average lows in the high 60s. We were lucky enough to see the tail end of silversides on the wreck of the Balboa right in the Harbor too. 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. July has a jump in visits for families in part because school children are out for the summer. Each time has been a wonderful underwater adventure. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. 5. It is common to see barracudas and schools of horse-eye jacks in this area. The islands are warm year-round with average highs. We understand that diving the best Grand Cayman Dives is the primary goal of your Grand Cayman Dive vacation. December and July are good times for families because children are out of school for the holidays and summer. but the best time to visit is between May and October. 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. Data sourced from the National Climatic Data Center. The most interesting topside activities for us were exploring the island in a rental car and driving on the left side of the road. Not to be confused with the Anchor Point dive sites in Scotlands Loch Fyne, the Solomon Islands, or Sri Lanka, the Cayman dive site is located on Grand Cayman and is characterized by swathes of black coral. Rainfall starts to climb in May. The rainy season spans from May through October though showers usually only last for a few hours at a time. As a diver, with a PADI account you can access your eLearning along with many more tools to help you on your adventures. We dived 3 days in February 2014, and they were all excellent and memorable dives. The protected Bloody Bay Marine Park lies in Little Cayman and offers magnificent marine life, great visibility, and spectacular bioluminescent corals. 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. Fiji: Dive the Soft Coral Capital of the World. Diving in the Caymans offers something for everyone, whether divers are taking their very first fin stokes or have years of experience under their weight belts. Today, Cayman is one of the top dive destinations anywhere. Cayman Islands Seasonal Dive Planner The Caymans' hottest period is from May to November. Find & Book PADI Adventures App Northerners also want to get away from the cold and snow of winter. 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. 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. 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. Out in the open, expect schools of Nassau groupers, turtles, and snappers. Welcome to my scuba diving bucket list. It's the kind of peaceful place where you will make your own fun. A highlight dive is the Tibbets wreck with great structure and lots of life. It is possible to go scuba diving in Little Cayman all year round and the water temperature only varies from 21-27 degrees. Plus, the water temperature ranges between 78-82F (26-28C). This site is well-known and popular with divers, snorkelers, and glass-bottom boaters alike. Orange Canyon is a popular dive site on the west-side of Grand Cayman. 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. Only ten miles long and one mile wide, this is a place where you can truly focus on your opportunity to relax. Away from the stingray action, there are a number of coral heads with a variety of life to check out. During winter, temperatures can drop down to the low 70s. Bloody Bay Wall is located in Little 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. Theres good diving, with great Walls and of course stingray city, where you can see and feed stingrays. 2. From classic wide-brimmed hats to water-repellent trucker hats, find your ideal style. A 2.75 meter (9ft) bronze statue of Amphitrite (the wife of the mythological god Poseidon) rises up from the base of the reef. The Cayman Islands is a land of breath-taking experiences. 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. I have been diving in Grand Cayman several times. This is one of the deepest sea-walls in the world. 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. Grand Cayman is a sophisticated Caribbean island with great nightlife, great resort options, and the wonderful attraction of stingray city, and very good wall diving. There are actually around two dozen dive sites within the bay, with Bloody Bay Wall top of the list. This is a deep wall that drops several hundred feet into the abyss. I thought it might be too touristy, but it was a lot of fun. Yes, that is true and get ready since the 333 islands of Fiji will take you into a quintessential South United Arab Emirates: Unspoiled Dive Sites. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a country in Western Asia located at the northeast end of the Arabian Peninsula in the Persian Gulf. With world class conditions and a robust dive industry, the Cayman Islands is one of the best places to learn how to dive. Tieneke, Joe, and Kevin went out of their way to accommodate our dive group and show us a really great time. Because great in-depth gear reviews will help you select the right products for your specific needs, budget, and interests. 3. And, thanks to a keen focus on conservation, many of the country's famous underwater spectacles are still well worth a visit today. We'll whisk you through the security queues (where available). There is a lot of marine life among the coral and resident angelfish and groupers are found at the stern of the ship. 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. Grand Cayman has beautiful beaches and probably the most topside activities or restaurants anyone would want. Booming and sprawling are not just words describing the tourism facilities in Little Cayman, but it can also be used to describe its world-class dive sites. Black coral and colorful sponges decorate the near-vertical face and the shallows are dotted with large coral heads teeming with marine life. Grand Cayman, the main island, is often one of the most popular destinations in the Caribbean, especially with western Caribbean cruises. [What You Need to Know]. While the upper part of the reef is already teeming with corals, it becomes denser as you traverse the vertical limestone where it is now intermixed with sponges and sea fans. So, what are you waiting for? Intermediate divers can begin their dive at the chimney, a narrow tunnel starting at 12m/40ft and ending at 24m/80ft. 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. 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. This dive site first became popular in the 90s when it was featured in the film The Firm, starring Tom Cruise. Kittiwake- Though this wreck has been sunken rather recently and has not developed much coral yet, it is still a fantastic dive site for all levels. Take a walk along the coast line or rent a bicycle and ride around 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. Exploring its underwater habitats allows you to see an incredible reef that starts at 6 meters (20 feet) deep and slowly slopes down towards a vertical limestone wall that drops down up to 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) deep. It is Batabano, the countrys biggest festival, which is scheduled for early May each year. Visibility in the Cayman Islands is wonderful, averaging between 60 and 100 feet (18-30 meters). 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. This is an especiallygreat time to visit clear, calm waters are perfect for snorkeling, diving, sailing and fishing. I guess thats one drawback of guided dives, everyone is constantly on the move, not ideal for photography, especially macro photography. You will then follow a sloping reef up to 25 meters (82 feet) deep where the wall starts and drops down up to 900 meters (2,950 feet) deep. This gives the unique Caymans dive site a blend of steep vertical walls, sloping reefs, and coral-crusted fingers. Grand Cayman Island probably has the best diving as it has the North Wall deep drop-off dive and the USS Kittiwake wreck dive. The shore diving was really easy to access with actual ladders or stairs and even showers at some sites. Eels, rays, sharks, and turtles are frequently seen. 4 of the Best Places to Go Shore Diving in Grand Cayman. Megan Johnson|Sharael KolbergMarch 3, 2023, Holly Johnson|Erin EvansFebruary 28, 2023, U.S. News Travel EditorsFebruary 28, 2023, Kyle McCarthy|Catriona KendallFebruary 22, 2023. It is 330-feet in length, and was sunk in Cayman Brac in 1996. The wreck was specifically set up for safe penetration, giving divers many interior rooms to explore. Moray eels and angelfish move among the coral, and turtles are often seen cruising over the reef. The wreck of the Captain Keith is unusual it is the only Soviet-made warship that divers can visit in the western hemisphere. 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. This area is an international tourist destination and can be crowded. Jackson's Bight- Located also in the Bloody Bay Marine Park, it does not fail to provide scuba divers with an amazing dive. Drop us a comment below and tell us your favorite site! This British overseas island is home to mystical caves, unscaled escarpments, tropical forests, diverse wildlife and a plethora of other unique experiences. The Seven Mile Beach area and the main city, Georgetown, are very developed with large hotels and resorts, restaurants, shops, etc. Tourism volume is estimated based on in-market destination search query interest from Google and on travel.usnews.com in 2015-2016. Click the link below to read our article about Cheeseburger Reef: Sunset House is located on the south-side of Grand Cayman, near George Town. From the mooring, divers often descend through a cut in the reef and out onto the wall. Often you can see massive tarpons, barracudas, and schools of silversides. Exploring this site requires you to descend to 10 meters (33 feet) deep where you will arrive at the top portion of the reef. From April to October water temperature are at least 27 o C (81 o F) and can . //
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