best time to dive cayman islands

Plus, along the wall, you can meet triggerfish, eagle rays, turtles, lobsters and many more! Address. Drift dives are possible here depending on your operator. to save My Ideas for later. September and October are the riskiest months to visit Grand Cayman because of the higher than normal amounts of rain. The North Wall is one of the most visited diving sites and plunges to a depth of 6000 feet (1800 meters). I know there are shore dives that can be done, and we plan to do some of those next time. Once you decide which route you want to go, it's time to get in the water! Here, you can take diving lessons, go on a guided dive, or rent tanks and gear. Cayman Brac offered multiple relaxed dive spots on reefs all along the edge of the island. If you enjoy snorkeling, then check out our article where we discuss the top 25 snorkel spots in Grand Cayman. Grand Cayman Island probably has the best diving as it has the North Wall deep drop-off dive and the USS Kittiwake wreck dive. Cayman Turtle Centre. However, as we just mentioned, diving in the Cayman Islands is possible all year round. 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. 1. While you can get some rain, it's not as common as during the summer. Theyre not timid and as they surround you, these rays seem happy to receive a gentle stroke or two. The best time to visit Grand Cayman is March and April. The Cayman Islands-- Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac--have been attracting scuba divers for decades, including beginners! 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. Bloody Bay Coral Reef Wall - one of the most beautiful dive sites in the Cayman Islands It's time to head back underwater for another jaw-dropping location: the Bloody Bay Wall. This spot is about 20-feet deep, and has a lot of coral. Now it has become a beautiful artificial reef and home for colorful sponges, groupers, barracudas and other marine life. 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. MV Capt. Sign up to get the latest updates, offers and more. This is an especiallygreat time to visit clear, calm waters are perfect for snorkeling, diving, sailing and fishing. Macro photographers should keep an eye out for the neck and decorator crabs who make their homes here. 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. Wonderful restaurants nearby. She met her end on the reef in the late 70s, allegedly due to mutiny aboard. It was then sunk in Grand Cayman in 1980 to make a new dive site. That's is how we pay ourselves. 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;}. A favourite stop for those diving and snorkeling lovers, the Bay Islands' important three islands are Roatan, Utila and Guanaja. 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. Settle on the sand at just 3.7 meters (12ft) and have hordes of southern stingrays glide gracefully around you. Northerners also want to get away from the cold and snow of winter. Watch your buoyancy and head out into the blue, look back to really appreciate the Great Walls sheer size and impressive drop-off. Though scuba diving in the Cayman Islands is mostly known for close encounters with stingrays, it has much more to offer. We did see some nurse sharks, sea turtles and a few rays. It is 330-feet in length, and was sunk in Cayman Brac in 1996. Here youll find more than 50 dives sites including the famous Bloody Bay. You need to take a boat to reach this wreck. If wall diving is your thing, check out diving in Turks & Caicos. While the gazebo itself is actually an arch, this small dive site never fails to please. But its not just the heat that matters when visiting the Cayman Islands. 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. Grand Cayman also offers accessible shore diving on great coral reefs with little to no current. It lays at 60 ft (20 m) and scuba divers are able to explore all five levels of this 250 ft (75 m) vessel. Data sourced from the National Climatic Data Center. 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. Although this is a wall dive, the cut in the sites name comes from the swim-through many divers use upon descent. While the tropical vacation destination does see fewer crowds, this is the rainiest season in the Cayman Islands so you may have to contend with some showers. Our reviews: We can make the world a little bit better with great in-depth reviews. Phone +1 345-949-7111. Trinity Caves is one Cayman dive site that never disappoints. 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. 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! Swim throughs, ledges, overhangs, and an average depth of 12 meters (40ft) make this a Cayman dive site for all experience levels to explore. Nature lovers are lured to diverse hiking trails, caves, and a variety of flora and fauna around the island. It is common to see barracudas and schools of horse-eye jacks in this area. Best Time to Dive in Little Cayman. A 2018 poll listed Bonaire as the best dive spot for beginners, conservation, freediving, macro diving, shore diving, and snorkeling. Lighthouse Point is located in West Bay in Grand Cayman. He is the author of four books about cruising in the Caribbean, Alaska and Mexican Riviera. A few great choices are the Sunset House Hotel in Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac Beach Resort and the Little Cayman Beach Resort. This is a must-do dive for people vacationing in Grand Cayman. Besides scuba diving, there are plenty of other things to do on the Cayman Islands. 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. Only ten miles long and one mile wide, this is a place where you can truly focus on your opportunity to relax. The water is about 100 feet deep, and there is a good variety of soft and hard corals. Also, check out our article where we review the top 25 things to do in Grand Cayman. There are lots of beautiful beaches to visit and to relax. Continue with Recommended Cookies. For scuba diving, the best time to dive the Cayman Islands is pretty much any time except peak hurricane season. 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. There is a lot of marine life among the coral and resident angelfish and groupers are found at the stern of the ship. Here are a few of our favourite dive sites in Grand Cayman: 1. 4. Collect your trip ideas, share with friends or make an enquiry. Most dive operators will take you there. Eden Rock has lots of coral and fish, and Devils Grotto has underwater caves that you can explore. Resident Nassau groupers often keep divers company and if you look closely, you may be rewarded with seahorses and lettuce-leaf slugs. 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. In the Cayman Islands, spring is in full force. "High Season" at the hotels is mid-December to mid-April, so rates will be higher then. There are plenty of great dive resorts available, but liveaboard is the best option if you want to dive around all three islands. The dives are shallow and you can closely observe them swimming around or above you. April is an especially good choice because it has the warmest weather of the entire five-month dry season. The wreck was specifically set up for safe penetration, giving divers many interior rooms to explore. Click the link below to read our article where we explain the difference between Deep Stingray City and Stingray City Sandbar: Macabuca is located in West Bay in Grand Cayman. It's the kind of peaceful place where you will make your own fun. 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. Dive Shop and Front desk is open 7 days per week | 7am to 6pm and can be reached directly on (345)-640-7500 Courtesy of Sunset House Resort, Grand Cayman. PADI Dive Resorts for all budgets, in the best dive locations around the world. The rainiest months in Grand Cayman are September and October during the height of the annual hurricane season. 7. Get forecasts each morning for every major island. Top dives include the famous 1000 Steps, the Hilmer Hooker wreck, and Bari Reef. You can enter different swim-through areas where the wall drops to great depths. Our Original Diving experts, made up of marine biologists, Erwin Poliakoff, Baton Rouge, Louisiana USA Nikon D7000, Tokina 10-17 zoom, Nikkor 60mm, 85mm, and 105mm macros, Nauticam housing With world class conditions and a robust dive industry, the Cayman Islands is one of the best places to learn how to dive. The best part about the dive is the . Cayman Islands, as well as our suggestions for the best places to Find & Book Adventures Book your fun dives, snorkelling trips and courses online with thousands of PADI Dive Centers. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. There is a lot of soft coral here, which makes for an interesting experience. Divers of all levels can explore the engines, pistons, and pieces of the wreck that are scattered at 18m/60ft. My poker stick resembled the dive guides spears, so they followed me closely and would even "show" me where the lion fish were, confused when I didn't feed them. 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. The top of the wall is around 9 meters (30ft) so the site can be enjoyed as a shallow or deep dive. Were a free review guide run by passionate Divers, Sports, and Outdoor fanatics. September and October are clearly the least popular months to go because of a high risk of heavy rains along with hot temperatures. From 5 star restaurants to fish frys at the local gas station. As a diver, with a PADI account you can access your eLearning along with many more tools to help you on your adventures. Located 8 kilometers (5 miles) east of Little Cayman is another elongated island that is popular with anglers and scuba divers. DIVEIN.com was founded in 2009 by the two brothers Torben and Nicolai. Hop to the other islands by hiring a private boat operator, or better yet, arrange for a liveaboard tour and explore as many Cayman Islands diving sites as you can. Eels, rays, sharks, and turtles are frequently seen. 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. It was named Orange Canyon because of the large orange Elephant Ear Sponges that can be found here. They can offer up their first-hand Along the drop-off, crevices and canyons cut through the reefs face. The Kittiwake is a 76.5 meter (250ft) former submarine support ship. The ship has been opened up with large access holes so that you can swim through the interior of the ship. Book an introductory scuba diving package to learn the basics of diving from certified PADI instructors. Roundabout is located along the North Wall in Grand 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;}. The best diving depth at this Cayman site, between 30 and 40 meters (98-130ft) means its best for deep certified advanced divers. 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. We are proud to off-set 100% of the carbon generated by our clients' flights. 2. but the best time to visit is between May and October. They became my favorite focus on the reef. . 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. Bay Islands, Honduras. Despite the name, there arent actually caves here. If you want to escape the crowds of cruise ship passengers, the East End is the place to go. I would appreciate if you don't as these referral links are what keep me posting and sharing on this blog. The Cayman Islands dollar is legal tender in these islands. Instagram, My Ideas For macro subjects, you can see angelfish, morays, lettuce slug nudibranchs and many more. The sea is always warm in the Cayman Islands, with surface temperatures never dropping below around 25 o C (78 o F). You will find Nassau gropers, triggerfish, and other unique marine life at the Bloody Bay Wall.