Divers can observe the bow guns and go along the rails to make some great photos. It seems the dive guides hunt the lionfish and then feed the groupers, so they joined us right away each dive. Another great wall diving site in Little Cayman is Joys Joy. Find & Book PADI Adventures App This is really a divers paradise. I would like to mention 2 points though, one that it is a bit expensive, both the accommodations and the diving, and secondly, it looks like they allow open water divers to do the deeper wall dives, where you can be as deep as 100 feet, just an FYI, in case youre not comfortable at that depth. You will need little more (and some prefer less) than a 3 mm full length wetsuit. The units are privately owned and furnished, but they have 21 accommodations available for rental use. 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. He is the author of four books about cruising in the Caribbean, Alaska and Mexican Riviera. 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. 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. "High Season" at the hotels is mid-December to mid-April, so rates will be higher then. 6. 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. September and October are the riskiest months to visit Grand Cayman because of the higher than normal amounts of rain. December through April are especially popular times to go because of low risk of rainfall and more moderate temperatures. Apart from the elephant ear sponges, keep your eyes peeled for blacktip Carribean reef sharks in the blue. Best Scuba Diving Destinations in the World - The Cayman Islands Penetration is encouraged but to get the most out of the experience, take a torch. The Eden Rock Dive Center has everything you need for an unforgettable day underwater in the Cayman Islands. Hotel prices are sourced from a sample of U.S. News Best Hotels rates through 2015-2016. Perhaps because of this, the coral isnt looking a healthy as it could. Best Time To Visit Cayman Islands - Travel Tips For Every Season As you enter the cave, you will realize that it is not totally dark as it is illuminated by streaking sunlight streaming from overhead cracks and crevices. This area is an international tourist destination and can be crowded. Data sourced from the National Climatic Data Center. 10 Best Scuba Diving Companies In Grand Cayman (2023) Both are wonderful underwater. This is an especiallygreat time to visit clear, calm waters are perfect for snorkeling, diving, sailing and fishing. Which Cayman island has the best diving? | ZuBlu 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;}. Phone +1 345-949-7111. 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. Manage Settings The amazing strawberry sponges were in abundance there. 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. Best Time to Dive in Little Cayman. If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. There are 365 dive sites throughout the islands, offering something for all levels of experience. 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. There is also a restaurant, bar and dive shop at Macabuca. Hurricane Ivan in 2004 cleaved the 100m/328ft ship in half but divers can still explore both sections of the wreckage. Tieneke, Joe, and Kevin went out of their way to accommodate our dive group and show us a really great time. U.S. News rates the cheapest travel insurance options, considering expert and consumer recommendations. Cayman Brac Beach Resort. It was named after the famous free-diver Penny Ventura. Both Grand Cayman and Little Cayman have great diving. 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. Before the USS Kittiwake was sunk, the Oro Verde was the wreck dive of choice in the Caymans. Its not often divers can see a mermaid on a dive, but at Sunset Reef they can. Sign up to get the latest updates, offers and more. Grand Cayman also offers accessible shore diving on great coral reefs with little to no current. . You may see hammerhead sharks if you are lucky. . 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. Discover these empowering women's history destinations selected by the U.S. News travel editors. Both of these sites are accessible from shore. Below are our recommendations for the best months to dive in Cayman Islands, as well as our suggestions for the best places to dive in each month of the year. Red Sail Sports have been Scuba Diving in Cayman for 40 years. Our mission has been to do this with the best crew, using the best equipment while offering the most competing Cayman Islands dive packages. The three islands that make up the nation, Cayman Brac, Grand Cayman, and Little Cayman, are diverse and have distinct diving. Top dives include the famous 1000 Steps, the Hilmer Hooker wreck, and Bari Reef. December rainfall drops back down to about three inches. Click the link below to read our article about Macabuca: Tarpon Alley is located at the North Wall in Grand Cayman. As for temperature and weather, the Cayman Islands are tropical, meaning it's warm 365 days a year. 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. Plus, along the wall, you can meet triggerfish, eagle rays, turtles, lobsters and many more! 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. Despite the name, there arent actually caves here. Cayman Islands Diving - Everything You Need to Know Reservations Office is open Monday-Friday | 8:30am-5:30pm Cayman Islands time. In general, the tourism industry in the Cayman Islands is designed with divers in mind. 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. 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. When diving the Cayman Islands you can see a lot of large sponges, some good macro, and some tiny fish. Located 133 kilometers (83 miles) northeast of Grand Cayman is its little sister island Little Cayman. Below are our recommendations for the best months to dive in Sharp-eyed divers can find leopard flatworms and the tunnels are also popular hangouts for rays and green moray eels. 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. Sidetrip: Visit Little Caymans Booby Pond Nature Reserve. Cayman Brac is the last of the islands and also much less traveld than Grand Caymen. 1. Crabs and lobsters are among the critters hiding in the crevices. Top 12 Beautiful Places to Visit in the Cayman Islands Enjoy the comfort of an airport lounge with free drinks and snacks, even if you're flying economy. Some resorts offer "Hurricane protection". 1. Is this the world's best place to learn to scuba dive? - thetimes.co.uk No worries, the diving is world class on Bloody Bay Wall. Over 200 permanent boat moorings are installed to avoid damaging corals with the dropping of boat anchors. There are also usually direct flights from Boston, Chicago, and New York. Grand Cayman scuba diving is also more popular than on the other islands due to the stingray population there. See and be seen at these stunning natural wonders. Northerners also want to get away from the cold and snow of winter. On Grand Cayman, I stayed at hotels on the west end along Seven Mile beach. It is 330-feet in length, and was sunk in Cayman Brac in 1996. Interested in diving the Cayman Islands? Learn to Dive in Cayman - Beginners and Refresher Courses but the best time to visit is between May and October. 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. 390 S Church St, George Town KY1-1106, Cayman Islands. We were lucky enough to see the tail end of silversides on the wreck of the Balboa right in the Harbor too. 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. With world class conditions and a robust dive industry, the Cayman Islands is one of the best places to learn how to dive. 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.