When planning a vacation to the Cayman Islands, you may want to consider scuba diving. There are several great dive sites in the area, including Sunset Reef, Donna’s Delight, and Bloody Bay Wall. The following article offers tips for scuba diving in the Cayman Islands. Read on for more information! We’ll cover a few of our favorites.
Cayman Islands scuba diving
When planning your Cayman Islands scuba diving trip, you should be prepared to explore many different types of tropical fish. These creatures are abundant on the reefs that dot the islands. Turtles frolic in the coral branches, and you can also see huge schools of juvenile fish. You should be prepared for a variety of different types of water animals, including sharks, lobsters, and shrimp. Listed below are just some of the creatures you can see while diving in the Cayman Islands.
The Cayman Islands’ diving scene is characterized by a thriving extended-range subculture. Those with proper equipment and training can visit the sponge belt at 200 feet and beyond. Other divers are content with shallow dives in the vicinity of the reefs, as they don’t like to be in the water for too long. Those who want to see more varied marine life should look for a dive site that offers the right kind of visibility.
Bloody Bay Wall
If you’re curious about the local marine life, go scuba diving in the Cayman Islands. There are a number of popular dive sites, including ‘The Chimney’, which has a high concentration of black coral. Intermediate divers can also try the smaller chimney, which is a favorite of local dive masters. On the ledge, you can see sandbar sponges.
The Cayman Islands’ water temperatures range from 26-29°C or 78-84°F. Despite the mild climate, you can expect the visibility to be between 18-30 meters. The main diving areas are Little Cayman and Grand Cayman. There are several popular wreck dives in the Caymans, including the famous MV Capt. Keith Tibbetts.
Donna’s Delight
If you are a scuba diver, you might have already heard about Donna’s Delight, a dive site on the north side of the island. The area is characterized by its abundance of Flamingo Tongue shells. This dive site also features a variety of other marine life, including Nurse Sharks, Flying Gurnards, and a Sailfin Blenny. These little creatures are one-half to two inches long and are known for their spectacular dances above their burrows.
Guests of Donna’s Delight can choose between diving in the shallows or deep waters. There are canyons, sand flats, and sharks throughout the island. Whether you prefer a standard lens or a wide-angle lens, this dive site provides a beautiful backdrop. One of the dive sites on the North Shore, Sarah’s Set is also home to friendly French Angels, Queen Triggers, Jaw Fish, and Sand Tile Fish.
Sunset Reef
The Cayman Islands are known worldwide as the birthplace of recreational scuba diving. Local operators began pioneering the sport in the 1980s and have since focused on conservation. While visiting the Cayman Islands is a great way to explore the underwater world, be sure to plan a vacation to all three islands so that you can get the full experience.
You may want to check out the wreck of the USS Arizona, which lies at a depth of 15 to 24 meters or 49-79 feet. It’s home to over a hundred tarpon that range in size from one to two meters. Other creatures that you can spot include stingrays, yellowtail snapper, and barracuda. If you’re a photographer, you’ll want to visit this dive site and try to capture the spectacular underwater scenery.
MV Capt. Keith Tibbetts
The MV Captain Keith Tibbetts has become a popular dive vessel known for its beautiful scenery and the unique opportunity to see the islands while scuba diving. The vessel was named after the late scuba diver, Keith Tibbetts, who died in 1996. Tibbetts’ death led the Cayman Islands to purchase his former dive vessel from the Russian government and deploy it as an artificial reef. The reef is located at 330 feet off the Cayman Islands’ Cayman Brac. You can dive to depths of 25 feet.
The MV Captain Keith Tibbetts is the only diveable Russian warship in the Western Hemisphere. It was designed for use as a warship for the Cuban Navy in the 1980s but was eventually scuttled. Now you can experience the wreckage of this ship and see more than 100 species of marine life. The MV Captain Keith Tibbetts is a popular dive location, so make sure to book a trip!
