Cayman Islands Five Ways – New Diver
Grand Cayman's Doc Poulson
Getty Images
After finally graduating from the pool to open water, I’ll never forget that first real “underwater breath.” I was just out of college and Grand Cayman-bound — so long, swimming pool. Little did I know I was trading one pool for another, with Cayman’s barely-there current, 100-plus-feet viz and temps hovering at a steady 78 degrees. And that’s just on Grand Cayman. Once there, you won’t get far without hearing veteran divers speak of the sister islands, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac, beloved for similar conditions and an even more-remote feel. My only concern was trying to fit all of them into one trip.
The islands are known for spectacular walls, and topping the bucket list is Little Cayman’s Bloody Bay Wall. Favorite sites like Lea Lea’s Lookout, the Meadows and Blacktip Boulevard offer newer divers the rush of a wall without intimidating conditions or depths. With some walls starting at 60 feet or shallower, new divers can check out the wall while the more-experienced divers can explore the Volkswagen-size caverns and sunlit swim-throughs found at deeper depths.
Similar to her sisters, Cayman Brac has walls with swim-throughs that seem big enough to park a Mack truck. Sites like Public Beach and Sergeant Major Wall showcase opal-colored hogfish, massive lobsters and vibrant yellow tube sponges.
Sunset Reef's Amphitrite mermaid
Ellen Cuylaerts
For new divers, there’s more to these three sisters than their walls. On Grand Cayman, sites like Aquarium and Tarpon Alley teem with life, including schools of slow-moving tarpon. Babylon and Sunset Reef are shore dives with easy-to-navigate coral heads. And first-time wreck divers will love Grand Cayman’s Kittiwake and Cayman Brac’s Tibbetts.
Trying to fit all three sister islands into one trip might seem overly ambitious, but dedicated newbies, like I once was, will be rewarded with a dive trip that is sure to fuel their passion for the sport.
For more information on scuba diving in the Cayman Islands, visit caymanislands.ky/activities.
Getty ImagesGrand Cayman's Doc Poulson
After finally graduating from the pool to open water, I’ll never forget that first real “underwater breath.” I was just out of college and Grand Cayman-bound — so long, swimming pool. Little did I know I was trading one pool for another, with Cayman’s barely-there current, 100-plus-feet viz and temps hovering at a steady 78 degrees. And that’s just on Grand Cayman. Once there, you won’t get far without hearing veteran divers speak of the sister islands, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac, beloved for similar conditions and an even more-remote feel. My only concern was trying to fit all of them into one trip.
The islands are known for spectacular walls, and topping the bucket list is Little Cayman’s Bloody Bay Wall. Favorite sites like Lea Lea’s Lookout, the Meadows and Blacktip Boulevard offer newer divers the rush of a wall without intimidating conditions or depths. With some walls starting at 60 feet or shallower, new divers can check out the wall while the more-experienced divers can explore the Volkswagen-size caverns and sunlit swim-throughs found at deeper depths.
Similar to her sisters, Cayman Brac has walls with swim-throughs that seem big enough to park a Mack truck. Sites like Public Beach and Sergeant Major Wall showcase opal-colored hogfish, massive lobsters and vibrant yellow tube sponges.
Ellen CuylaertsSunset Reef's Amphitrite mermaid
For new divers, there’s more to these three sisters than their walls. On Grand Cayman, sites like Aquarium and Tarpon Alley teem with life, including schools of slow-moving tarpon. Babylon and Sunset Reef are shore dives with easy-to-navigate coral heads. And first-time wreck divers will love Grand Cayman’s Kittiwake and Cayman Brac’s Tibbetts.
Trying to fit all three sister islands into one trip might seem overly ambitious, but dedicated newbies, like I once was, will be rewarded with a dive trip that is sure to fuel their passion for the sport.
For more information on scuba diving in the Cayman Islands, visit caymanislands.ky/activities.
