Title: Dive into the Cayman Islands
1PRESENTED BY
2The Caribbean's Premier Dive Destination
- One Destination, Three Unique Island
Experiences. - Celebrating six decades as the Caribbean's
- premier dive destination.
- 365 unique dive sites to discover.
- Long-established dive infrastructure with
- professional standards.
- Wide range of world-class resorts to suit every
taste and budget. - Ideal for everyone from new divers to
- experienced repeat visitors.
3The Clearest Waters
- The Cayman Islands are located in the clean
waters of the central Caribbean, far from
developed coastlines. - Limestone shorelines are not subjected to runoff
from coastal rivers. - Islands sit atop huge underwater cliffs
- where oceanic waters come close to shore.
- Proactive conservation efforts ensure water
quality and reef health.
4- 1951 Capt. Marvin Ebanks brings snorkelers to
Stingray City. - 1957 Bob Soto establishes the Caribbean's first
- dive operation.
- 1958 Southern Cross Club opens on Little
Cayman Island.
- 1966 Cayman Tourist Board created to promote
diving and travel.
The Birthplace of Recreational Diving Milestones
in the History of Cayman Islands Diving
- 1974 Cayman Islands Department of Tourism
established as government entity.
- 1980 Local dive operators founded the Cayman
Islands Water Sports Association to promote the
islands dive potential.
- 1984 Cayman Aggressor liveaboard is launched
as the first of today's world-wide Aggressor
fleet.
- 1986 Marine parks are established in the waters
off Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman
Islands.
- 1994 Divetech establishes Cayman's first
technical diving facility. - 2000 International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame
founded in by the Cayman Islands Ministry of
Tourism. - 2019 Marine Park system expands to include
nearly 50 percent of all Cayman Island shorelines.
5Traveling To The Cayman Islands Convenient, Safe
and Friendly
- Easily accessible via nonstop service from North
America and the United Kingdom. - English is the official language.
- Visa-free travel for US, Canadian and UK
citizens. - Excellent Internet and cellular communications
infrastructure for secure connectivity.
6Grand Cayman
- An island ringed by 240 dive sites.
- Lodging options from small dive
- lodges to five-star resorts.
- Home to some of the Caribbean's top-rated
restaurants. - Diving is complemented by a variety of water
sports and land activities.
7Grand Cayman West End Diving
- Signature Sites Within Easy Reach
- Home to many of the island's most
- famous and popular dive sites.
- Exceptional diversity of underwater experiences
from shore dives and shallow reefs to wrecks,
coral canyons and walls. - Typically, calm conditions and exceptional
visibility throughout the year. - The site of Grand Cayman's signature
- wreck, the USS Kittiwake.
- A favorite with photographers and macro marine
life enthusiasts.
8Grand Cayman North Shore Diving
- The Island's Most Dramatic Underwater Landscapes
- Big walls with dramatic vertical profiles
- begin close to shore.
- Known for pinnacles that attract schooling fish
and deep canyons with black coral groves. - Chance of reef shark and hammerhead shark
sightings near Tarpon Alley. - In Summer months many sites are visited by
squadrons of eagle rays.
9- Numerous sites with moderate depths allow for
long bottom times. - Many sites feature long tunnel-like coral
grottoes and overhangs that become havens for
huge seasonal schools of silverside herring.
Grand Cayman South Coast Diving
- Walls start deeper and are often punctuated by
impressive coral buttresses and pinnacles.
Mid-Depth Mazes And Prominent Pinnacles
- Best in winter months and other periods when
prevailing winds and waves moderate.
10Grand Cayman East End Diving
- A Grab Bag Of Diving Diversity
- The less-visited side of the island, offering
uncrowded dive sites and unique underwater
experiences. - Networks of shallow reefs and Swiss cheese-like
caverns are filled with an abundance of small
marine life. - Mid-depth sites feature mini walls, archways and
coral grottoes patrolled by large groupers and
tarpon. - Canyons and chutes lead to walls facing blue
water where there are opportunities for
encounters with sharks and pelagic species.
11Stingray City
World's Best 12-foot Dive
- The world's original
- stingray encounter.
- A must-do surface interval adventure.
- Can be enjoyed by divers and snorkelers like.
- Family-friendly, with relaxing boat rides over
calm waters.
12Extended Range Opportunities
- Going Deeper Or Staying Longer
- Dive operations provide full support for
- advanced diving practices.
- A favorite destination for rebreather divers.
- Mixed-gas divers can explore the island's deep
sponge belt and the Carrie Lee wreck. - Several operators offer DPV diving.
Image Credit Ocean Frontiers
13Shore Diving
Easy Entries And Short Swims
- Eden Rock High profile corals honeycombed with
caverns, caves and interconnecting tunnels. - Devils Grotto caverns and swim throughs where
huge schools of silverside herring gather in
summer months. - Sunset Reef Coral-encrusted limestone
formations, a wreck the iconic Amphitrite
mermaid statue.
14Cayman
Brac
- 65 dive sites.
- Low overall diver traffic ensures uncrowded
sites and pristine corals. - The majority of boat diving sites are
- just minutes from shore.
- Day trips give access to Little Cayman dive
sites. - Home to the only diveable Russian
- warship in the Western Hemisphere.
- Surface interval activities include nature
trails, cycling, rock climbing and cave
exploration.
The Low-Key Alternative
15Cayman Brac North Shore Diving
- High Profile Formations And Favorite Wrecks
- Several dive-able wrecks within recreational
depth limits, including MV Captain Keith
Tibbets. - Spur and groove formations create dramatic sand
chutes at the junction of the wall. - Shallow fringing reefs with abundant macro
marine life are ideal for long second dives. - Underwater sculpture garden at Radar Reef.
Image Credit Walt Stearns
16Cayman Brac South Shore Diving
- Hours Of Exploration In Coral Gardens
- Large expanses of shallow to mid-depth coral
heads - to explore.
- High-profile spur-and-groove reef systems with a
resident population of Nassau grouper. - Large strands of elk horn coral and colorful
sponge - colonies.
- Sloping walls begin farther from shore at depths
of 65 feet.
17Little Cayman
The Small Island With The Big Wall
- Quiet, undeveloped island with fewer than 200
residents. - More than 90 percent of the
- island is forest or wetlands.
- Ringed by more than a dozen deserted white-sand
beaches. - A quick commuter flight away from Grand Cayman.
18Little Cayman North Shore Diving
- The Caribbean's Most Dramatic Wall Dives
- Best known for the famous dive
- sites of Bloody Way Wall.
- Walls begin close to shore at depths as shallow
as 30 feet. - Walls are cut by maze-like
- canyons and swim-throughs.
- Lively shallow reefs near shore are ideal for
multi-level profiles or second dives.
19- Many sites are sheltered from prevailing wind and
waves. - Good mix of shallow and deep sites.
- Walls starting farther from shore at 60-foot
depths. - Coral heads and grass beds close to shore are
filled with photo-worthy macro species.
Little Cayman South Shore Diving
Sheltered Shallows Filled With Marine Life
20- A variety of natural wrecks and purpose-sunk
ships. - Dive operators provide regularly- scheduled
trips to popular wrecks. - Most wrecks are suitable for divers of
- all skill levels.
- Some wrecks are accessible from shore.
Cayman Island Wreck Dives
21Signature Wrecks
USS Kittiwake
- 251-foot, five-deck submarine
- rescue vessel.
- Grand Cayman's most popular wreck dive.
- Sitting in calm waters on the island's west
coast, just minutes from shore. - Exploration options for both recreational and
technical divers. - Fun note Caradonna Adventures has sponsored the
Kittiwake Project and plaque with our name can
be seen on any snorkel or dive on the Bell Rower.
Image Credit Michael Gallagher
22Signature Wrecks
MV Captain Keith Tibbetts
- 251-foot, five-deck submarine rescue vessel.
- Cayman Brac's most popular wreck dive.
- Sitting in calm waters on the island's
- west coast, just minutes from shore.
- Exploration options for both recreational and
technical divers.
23Signature Wrecks
The Mermaid and the Guardian
- Iconic bronze sculptures created by noted artist
Simon Morris. - Amphitrite is a nine-foot bronze mermaid sitting
at a 50-foot depth off Grand Cayman's Sunset
House. - Guardian of the Reef is a heroic warrior sitting
at a depth of 65 feet off the islands northwest
point.
24Cayman Wrecks
Grand Cayman
- Kittiwake 251-foot decommissioned sub rescue
vessel, 20 to 65 ft depths. - Doc Poulson 70-foot former cable laying ship,
40 ft depth. - Oro Verde 184-foot Liberty Ship and smuggler's
vessel, 40 to 50 ft depths. - Cali - Scattered remains of 206-foot sailing
vessel, 20 ft depth. - Balboa Remains of a 375-foot freighter sunk in
1932, now a popular night dive 35 ft depth. - LCM David Nicholson 50-foot decommissioned WWII
Landing - craft, 65 ft. depth.
- Carrie Lee Intact 100-foot freighter favored by
extended range divers, 200 ft. depth. - SV Glamis 200-foot iron-hulled sailing vessel
with landmark - anchor, 25-foot depth
25Cayman Wrecks
Cayman Brac
- Cayman Mariner 55-foot crew boat sitting
upright on sand bottom, 60 ft. depth. - Preachers Barge - Coral-encrusted carbo barge,
now a fish haven, 25-foot depth 25 ft. - MV Captain Keith Tibbetts - 330-foot
decommissioned Russian destroyer, 50 to 100 ft
depths. - Kissimmee 39-foot tugboat intentionally sunk
as wreck site, 40 to 45 ft depths. - Prince Frederick - 19th century tall ship Site
No 285 location South Side type of dive
Scuba depth 35 40 ft.
26LEARN MORE ABOUT DIVING IN THE CAYMAN ISLANDS Go
to www.caradonna.com/dive/caribbean/diving-cayman-
islands to learn more. Contact us at
sales_at_caradonna.com or call 800-329- 9989 for
more information on booking travel to the Cayman
Islands.