4 of the Best Places to Go Shore Diving in Grand Cayman. The boat dives were offered mostly in the mornings, and we were on our own in the afternoons. 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. at any point on your diving holiday) has to offer. The wreck of the Captain Keith is unusual it is the only Soviet-made warship that divers can visit in the western hemisphere. StingrayCity. We understand that annual leave is precious so we can ensure that And when it comes to marine life, there is lots to see! The Cayman Islands are a premier diving destination, boasting 365 dive sites, as well as the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame . This island is very small and there is little to do, other than dive. You can see Spotted Eagle Rays flying passed this area from depths of about 30 to 100 feet. 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. The reef slopes gradually from 5 to 17 meters (17-55ft), and is covered in hard corals, sea whips, small sponges and gorgonians. Otherwise, it is clear that December through April are the best months of the year to visit Grand Cayman, especially early April. Our team will meet you at the airport and fast-track you through. With world class conditions and a robust dive industry, the Cayman Islands is one of the best places to learn how to dive. Often you can see massive tarpons, barracudas, and schools of silversides. Everything most divers want. December rainfall drops back down to about three inches. Most of them are located around the Grand Cayman but a little over sixty sites stay around Cayman Brac and the Little Cayman. Theres also Little Cayman thats the least developed of the 3 islands. 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. At night, this popular Caymans dive site is great for spotting octopus, lobster, and shrimp. Our mission has been to do this with the best crew, using the best equipment while offering the most competing Cayman Islands dive packages. Apart from the elephant ear sponges, keep your eyes peeled for blacktip Carribean reef sharks in the blue. Sunset Reef is a popular shore dive just 60 meters (200ft) off the Sunset House Resorts pier. The amazing strawberry sponges were in abundance there. Erwin Poliakoff, Baton Rouge, Louisiana USA Nikon D7000, Tokina 10-17 zoom, Nikkor 60mm, 85mm, and 105mm macros, Nauticam housing She met her end on the reef in the late 70s, allegedly due to mutiny aboard. Besides the thick black corals, keep an eye out for tarpon, large yellow tube sponges, and ginormous barrel sponges. All content is copyright protected by either DIVEIN.com or respected copyright holders, Disclosure: We are reader supported, and earn. Penetration can be done in this wreck courtesy from its numerous entry and exit points that were made before it was intentionally sunk to become an artificial reef. 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? Grand Cayman is the most visited island in the Cayman Islands by Scuba Divers. 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 is worth noting however that from June until October is the hurricane season in the Caribbean. 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. Its not often divers can see a mermaid on a dive, but at Sunset Reef they can. Grand Cayman is a beautiful dive destination with many options for accommodations and for diving. Answer 1 of 11: Does anyone have firsthand experience with any of the dive operators on Little Cayman that they will share? The ship has been opened up with large access holes so that you can swim through the interior of the ship. Look along the ledge by the mooring for crabs and check out the four massive barrel sponges. If you love nature, you can go hiking or explore some caverns and caves. Access to tools and resources at your fingertips, curated to enhance your diving experience. Little Cayman was first discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1503. This is one of the top island destinations in the United Kingdom. You can enter different swim-through areas where the wall drops to great depths. The most striking and common marine life for me were the brightly yellow colored tube sponges. 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. Eden Rock & Devils Grotto are two dive sites that are next to each other. 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. For shark diving, we suggest the Maze, Scuba Bowl and the Grouper Grotto which is also filled with lots of good-size groupers. (Closed Circuit Rebreathers/CCR) allows you to massively extend your dive time. If you are vacationing in Cayman Brac, then you need to visit this spot. Penetration is encouraged but to get the most out of the experience, take a torch. 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. 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. But which Cayman Island has the best diving? Bloody Bay 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. Grand Cayman and Little Cayman are the main diving areas in the Cayman Islands which are recognized as having one of the best wall dives in the world. 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. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a country in Western Asia located at the northeast end of the Arabian Peninsula in the Persian Gulf. Here youll find more than 50 dives sites including the famous Bloody Bay. 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 . Generally, the off-season is the cheapest time to visit Grand Cayman, from May through November. Get certified to scuba dive. 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. 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 . The most interesting topside activities for us were exploring the island in a rental car and driving on the left side of the road. Little Cayman is a lovely, quiet little island with a population of less than 170. Frugal travel planners can look for good deals during these months while keeping an eye on the 10-day weather forecast. These hot temperatures start in May and last into November. Photographers will love Greenhouse for its varied macro life. 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. Lionfish have become an invasive species and some of the dive operators offer culling excursions. Situated on a wide beach on the island's West End, the property offers 40 air-conditioned rooms (renovated in late 2015 and featuring soothing Caribbean . that the underwater world (and overwater, if you plan on surfacing December and July are good times for families because children are out of school for the holidays and summer. As a diver, with a PADI account you can access your eLearning along with many more tools to help you on your adventures. Take a walk along the coast line or rent a bicycle and ride around the island. For macro subjects, you can see angelfish, morays, lettuce slug nudibranchs and many more. Our travel experts have highlighted our favourite places to visit each month, Terms & Conditions for even more in-depth travel advice. Trinity Caves is a popular dive site that is located off the coast of West Bay in Grand Cayman. Bloody Bay Wall is considered the epicenter of scuba diving in this marine park. Sidetrip: Grand Cayman is the biggest island and it is where most accommodations and restaurants are located. 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. This is a must do dive. Stingray City offers divers the opportunity to fully interact with these amazing creatures. I have lived in the corporate world for a few years now with very little excitement in my life. Little Cayman, 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. From Rolex watches to Caymanite earrings to a shell necklace. They look dark brown without light but the first time my strobes lit one up I was amazed at the super bright rich red color. Water Temperatures: Ranges from around 22C (72F) in December to 29C (84F) in July. A 2.75 meter (9ft) bronze statue of Amphitrite (the wife of the mythological god Poseidon) rises up from the base of the reef. Best Time to Dive Cayman Islands Diving is available year-round. The depths start at around 12m/40ft and end at 30m/98ft. 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. You can also go wreck diving as there are some shipwrecks that can be explored like the remains of USS Kittiwake. Please Sign-in or Register to save My Ideas for later, Our social channels 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. Below are our recommendations for the best months to dive in 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. Little Caymans Bloody Bay is home to some of the most dramatic and spectacular drop-offs and swim-throughs in the Carribean. Sharp-eyed divers can find leopard flatworms and the tunnels are also popular hangouts for rays and green moray eels. There is also a dive shop and restaurant. Your dive profile in Stingray City is relatively shallow since your maximum depth is just only 6 meters (20 feet) when you reach the sandy seafloor. If the forecast looks good, they should consider taking a last-minute trip to Grand Cayman if they also spot an attractive discount. You can hand-feed wild Southern stingrays. 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. This area is an international tourist destination and can be crowded. The best time to visit Grand Cayman is March and April.