This last winter was a long and frigid one for us here at DRIS. It was one spent with an ice scraper in hand and visions of tropical dive destinations dancing through our minds. Now that the weather is starting to warm up and the gears of our minds are working once again we decided it was high time to begin a series of staff picks for amazing dive destinations. With that in mind we are hopeful that we will not disappoint our loyal readers with this inaugural installment! So, without further ado we present this month’s pick!
Dive(and Relax) The Cayman Islands
For a warm dive destination with a plethora of topside and underwater activities the Cayman islands is a true winner here. With three islands; Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman you will never be at a loss for epic dive sites whether you enjoy shore diving or diving from a charter boat. Shallow to deep this place has it all….and it’s warm, yeah warm! For your surface interval you can find amazing tours and nightlife. A fan of the good ole’ irish pub and hearty fare? Check out places like Fidel Murphy’s on Grand Cayman. Want the island style experience? Saunter into Abacus for some amazing Caribbean fare and tropical libations! So, what does each island feature for diving? Let’s take a look!
Grand Cayman Diving
Grand Cayman is the first island of the Cayman’s that we will take a look at. According to the Dive Cayman 365 website: “Divers can choose from a multitude of dive sites. With more than 240 sites it’s all here: steep, deep walls adorned with sponges and corals in a stunning array of colours; shallow reefs filled with schooling solitary fish and small invertebrates; as well as wrecks featuring photogenic structures and curious marine residents.” If you just want to stay shallow and relax, Grand Cayman has what is proclaimed to be the best 12 foot deep dive in the world at a site named “Stingray City”. Of course I would be remiss if I didn’t give honorable mention to the USS Kittiwake and the marine park that surrounds it as it is often said to be a “bucket list” dive for many divers.
Cayman Brac and Little Cayman Diving
Venture off of Grand Cayman for some epic dive experiences on the island of Cayman Brac. You are free to choose from any of 65 dive sites ranging from novice to advanced level diving. The Cayman Brac dive experience even features a one of a kind wreck diving experience as it boasts having the only diveable Russian Warship in the Western Hemisphere, the MV Captain Keith Tibbetts which was sunk intentionally in 1996 as an artificial reef. The younger brother of the islands, Little Cayman also fails to disappoint as a must do dive site on your Cayman dive adventure. Boasting 60 dive sites and a wall that drops down to 6,000 feet this smaller, less developed island is the perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of the other islands!
Join Dive Right In Scuba In The Caymans
Does reading this have you dreaming of fruity umbrella drinks and packing your dive gear and sunscreen? Well, the crew at DRIS has got you covered! We are featuring a trip through the shop August 22-29, 2015. So join us for some amazing diving and memories! Trust us, your boss will approve!