Some of the best diving in the hemisphere is a short plane ride away in the laid-back Cayman Islands. According to The Cayman Islands Department of Tourism there are about 40 dive operations and almost 360 mooring-marked dive sites scattered throughout the islands. But what makes this area a Mecca for snorkelers and divers is the visibility, which is usually more than 100 feet and gives you the chance to experience some amazing marine vistas.
Each island – Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman – has its own unique sub-sea appeal. Grand Cayman’s Stingray City and Sand Bar, both in North Sound, are reportedly Grand Cayman’s most-visited snorkeling venues.
One of Cayman Brac’s diving draws is the wreck of the MV Captain Keith Tibbets – a 330-foot Russian-manufactured frigate that belonged to the Cuban Navy. The vessel went down off Cayman Brac’s northwestern coast back in September 1996.
Little Cayman belies its name. There’s a treasure trove of dive opportunities just off this tiny island. Devotees come here to explore the coral walls of Bloody Bay Marine Park. The walls begin at about 20 feet below the surface.
Not a diver, but still want to experience the sea? Book a seat on Atlantis – a dry, cozy submarine that takes you from the shore of Grand Cayman to depths of 100 feet below the Caribbean and through Cayman National Marine Park. The ride is unlike anything you have experienced.
(Image: taminator)
