Scuba Diving in the Cayman Islands

If there's one place that knows scuba diving, it is the Cayman Islands. Known as the birthplace of recreational diving in the Caribbean, the Cayman Islands were pioneers in scuba diving as a recreational sport to be enjoyed by the general public in the Caribbean and the rest of the world as well. In 1957, the first dive shop was opened on Grand Cayman. Today, there are more than 40 dive shops in operation offering excursions to more than 200 dive sites.

It is made up of three islands that are actually the exposed top of an underwater mountain. The islands are the Grand Cayman, the Cayman Brac, and the Little Cayman. The mountainous nature of the islands contributes to numerous coral structures and vertical walls directly offshore. In fact, most scuba diving locations here can be reached directly offshore or within a few hundred yards of shore.

Scuba diving in the Cayman Islands is as diverse as the marine life that adds awe and beauty to this great place. There is plenty to see and do for every level of diver no matter if you are a first timer, still learning, looking to improve, or are considered a master. You can dive in as little as 20 feet or plunge to the depths of 350 feet or more. The bottom line is that you can find any type of scuba diving experience that you desire and maybe even a few that you haven't thought of yet.

Here is a brief overview of the three islands and of the scuba diving to be found on each:

Grand Cayman - It is the largest of the 3 islands and offers for main areas for scuba diving: the North Wall, the South Side, the East End, and Seven-Mile Beach. Prevailing Southeasterly winds make scuba diving off of the South Side a rarity but the experience is well worth waiting for favorable conditions.

Little Cayman - It is a sister to the Cayman Brac. It is most famous for the Bloody Bay Wall located in the Bloody Bay Marine Park which starts at a depth of only 20 feet. The best scuba diving on the Little Cayman can be found on the north and south sides but all sites are not accessible year round. Another great attraction of this area is the Jackson Bay Area.

Cayman Brac - It is most famous for being home to the only Russian Shipwreck that can be reached by scuba diving in the Caribbean. It rests at a depth of 330 feet and is an amazing sight to behold.

In addition to sheer vertical drops and shipwrecks, scuba diving in the Cayman Islands will bring you into intimate contact with numerous coral reefs and colorful fish and marine life that you have only imagined existed.

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Diving Florida's East Coast

by Wallace Haile

From Saint Augustine to Key West, there is a smörgåsbord of diving adventures awaiting you with a pointed difference in each of the regions diving Florida's East Coast.

South Florida's visibility is much more clear than in the northern part of the state. And there are great wreck dives and rock ledges off the Central East Coast. More reef area off the Southern East Coast of Florida makes underwater photography a memorable addition to your dives.

Starting in the North East Coast of Florida from around Saint Augustine, diving the artificial reef systems and spear fishing are popular diver activities. The best time of year to venture up here for a dive is during the summer months when your visibility is around thirty to fifty feet. Expect a seven to twenty mile ride out to dive at depths of sixty to one-hundred feet. Try to spot a Hogfish while you are out taking in the site of the Triggerfish and Grouper.

Diving Central Florida's East Coast offers a variety of challenging dives from WWII freighters and Monster Hole, to spear fishing and bug snatching. You can bag a monster lobster here. Summer months, again, are the best time of year to dive with visibility fluctuating between twenty five to seventy five feet, the best visibility being off shore approximately eight to twenty miles.

Areas for beach dives start becoming frequent as you progress south beginning with Vero Beach. As you venture out around two to four hundred feet the views begin happening of sponges, soft corals and tropical fish hanging by the rocky reefs in depths of ten to thirty feet.

The city of Fort Pierce leads the introduction to the diving off Florida's South East Coast. Three particular dives stand out in this section, a Civil War era paddle wheeler, the site of Urca de Lima Florida's first Underwater Archaeological Preserve, and then there is Inlet Park which has a large variety of rock formations and ledges, with monster lobsters and outstanding fish observation or photography.

Stuart, Florida dives are not for the beginning diver. Visibility is low, the massive rock reef system begins about three miles offshore at depths of sixty to sixty five feet, and the outer ledges are at depths of one-hundred and twenty to one-hundred and sixty feet. Fewer divers mean a large variety of fish and monster lobster, but take this with a local Dive Master.

Florida reefs really start to emerge as you take the plunge diving Florida's East Coast. A drift diving paradise from West Palm south to the Florida Keys offers reefs, wrecks, cleaning stations, multiple species of marine life, and the commencement of the warmer waters with good visibility.

Getting down toward the Keys, dives are more regulated, but beautiful and brilliant with lots of wrecks and marine life. Bring your camera on these dives, you might run into a Goliath Grouper, Moray Eel, or Caribbean Reef Shark. Some of the best photo opportunities diving Florida's East Coast can be found in South Florida. Always check with your local dive shop for current conditions, plan your dive and dive your plan.