Best Diving

A TOP DIVE DESTINATION

If you are dive-curious, then Cayman is one of the best places to get certified. You’ll find 365 different dive sites to explore, including easily accessible wrecks, caves and shallow reefs plus more challenging deep walls. Cayman’s warm, clear waters also provide outstanding visibility and a vast array of marine life. Once you are certified you will be free to join boat dives or navigate your own shore dives. Two tank boat dives are a great way to get out on the water and explore new dive sites. A dive instructor will lead both dives, they’ll know where they’re going and be able to show you the best that a dive site has to offer. They will also set up your dive gear and provide water.

GETTING UNDERWATER

There are several ways to get your first taste of scuba diving:

• Discover Scuba Diving Course (DSD)/

Resort Course In shallow water you will learn how to use the equipment before diving in about 30 feet of water. If you catch the dive bug then this course can be used towards your full certification. • Open Water Certification With an organisation such as PADI you can complete the certification in two stages.

First you must pass the e-learning which can be done at home. You’ll then take to the water to learn how to use the equipment in shallow water. Once you have passed a series of underwater skill tests you will undertake four open water dives before obtaining your certification.

The whole process takes four days. • Children’s Dive Courses Children aged 10 and up can become Junior Open

Water divers. For those under 10 there are plenty of fun water-based scuba/ snorkel activities to participate in.

Shore Diving Options

Shore Diving

There are a number of great dive sites accessible from the shore and a short swim can take you to wrecks, caves, reefs and wall drop-offs. See map on pages 50-51.

A Turtle Reef Located at the Cracked Conch restaurant in West Bay. A short swim will take you to the mini wall and a tarpon cave. Expect to see beautiful coral and lots of fish. SEE PAGE 60

b Lighthouse Point See the 13ft statue of the mythological creature ‘Guardian of the Reef’ which sits 65ft under water.

C

D Eden Rock Discover caves and tunnels. In the summer months you’ll witness millions of silversides which fill the tunnels. South of George Town.

C Sunset House A shallow dive where you’ll see ‘Amphitrite’, a 9ft, 600lb mermaid statue who stands in 55ft of

water. SEE PAGE 113

Dive Operators

Cayman has plenty of highly qualified and experienced dive instructors who are keen to teach you about their passion. Sunset Divers SEE PAGE 113 Located in South Sound. (345) 946 6789.

Sun Divers SEE PAGE 60 Located at Macabuca in West Bay. (345) 949 6606.

WHERE To GET your GEAR:

Your dive operator can provide you with rental gear for boat dives. For shore dives, equipment can be rented, along with tanks from Divers Supply (345) 949 7621 or Divers World (345) 949 8128.