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Grand Cayman

Grand Cayman is the largest and westernmost of the island chain. Spanning around 76 square miles and 22 miles long, it offers abundant activities, accommodations, and attractions for all explorers. Visitors experience a captivating blend of art, culture, and nature. This island effortlessly weaves these elements into a perfect Caribbean atmosphere. Starting at the Seven Mile Beach on the west side, this is an endless stretch of award-winning sand for relaxation. Nearby, North Sound offers the unique "Stingray City," where you can interact with graceful stingrays and leave with a heartwarming memory. Venture to George Town, where luxury meets tradition and modern treats. Explore duty-free shopping and engage with native vendors, unearthing global and local treasures. Visit the eastern district, home to rare Blue Iguanas at Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park. Savor freshly caught fish at nearby restaurants, a culinary delight intertwined with local tales.

The first dive shop opened by scuba pioneer Bob Soto in 1957. Today, Cayman is one of the top Caribbean dive destinations, offering more than 40 operators and 365 sites marked with moorings.

Cayman gives both the novice and the experienced some of the best diving in the world, as environmentally protected reefs surround each of our three islands. Our secluded locale, far from other landmasses, is what keeps our oceans clean and our coral healthy. Here you’ll happen upon the most spectacular seawalls in the Caribbean as our islands rest on submerged mountains.

Whether you’re shore diving or off a boat, the waters are about 25°C year-round with some of the best visibility in the world. You can even rent propulsion vehicles and see multiple sites in just one dive, making the most of your time under the water.

One of our favorite resorts on Grand Cayman is Sunset House.

Grand Cayman popular dive sites include:

USS Kittiwake - entered service in 1946 and retired in 1994. She was sunk off Seven Mile Beach to create an artificial reef and dive site.

Eden Rock & Devil’s Grotto - Eden Rock and the Devil’s Grotto sit next to each other. Start at the cruise ship port and walk for 10 minutes. Accessible from the shoreline, Eden Rock is brimming with colorful coral and tropical creatures. Then venture to the underwater caves of Devil’s Grotto and see schools of silver sprats and tarpon.

Macabuca - accessed from the shore, with ladders installed to help access the water safely. Here divers get up close and personal with the magic of Cayman’s fish and coral.

Cayman Brac

Named for its breathtaking bluff, Cayman Brac is off the beaten track but remains charming, allowing thrill-seekers and nature-lovers to get up close and personal with rare flora and fauna. Brac is a short 30-minute flight from Grand Cayman. The villages include West End, Watering Place, Cotton Tree Bay, Creek, and Spot Bay. Laidback accommodations offer ideal places to unwind after a day’s adventures and diving. Limestone caves and sinkholes contrast waters with dive sites along seawalls and even a sunken ship.  Images courtesy of Climbing Magazine and X-Ray Magazine.

Our favorite resort on this island is the Brac Reef Beach Resort

Cayman Brac dive sites:

Wildneress Wall – located on the southern side of Cayman Brac, this site is a much-beloved dive spot for locals and visitors alike. Divers are amazed exploring this deep wall that drops hundreds of feet into the abyss.

MV Captain Keith Tibbetts - built by the Soviet Union specifically for the Cuban Navy in 1984, its short life ended when it was sunk off Cayman Brac in 1996.

Fry Cove – near Salt Water Point is a hidden gem of the Cayman Brac diving scene. Depending on the conditions, this moderate swell dive will take you to a cave and wall laden with pillar and elk-horn corals. Experience sergeant majors and snapper, and in the summer, spot swarms of silverside minnows as they school.

Little Cayman

At only ten miles long and one mile wide, there may be more peace and quiet per-square-inch on Little Cayman than anywhere else. Bask on empty beaches with soft sand and only the sound of the breeze rustling the palm trees, or take a bike or a scooter up and down the shore.

Venture to South Hole Sound Lagoon for a secluded swim in water that is every shade of blue. Or row out to the unofficial fourth island in Cayman. Just a kayak away off the coast of Little Cayman, Owen Island offers seascapes in their purest form, making you feel as if you were the last person on the planet.

On land, peaceful Little Cayman offers a calm, serene landscape where the bustle of the birds at the Booby Pond Nature Reserve may be the loudest commotion on land. Little Cayman is so calm because all the activity is set aside for the fish in the surrounding reefs. Bloody Bay Wall Marine Park is one of the most popular dives. With a dramatic drop-off over 5,000 feet, Bloody Bay Wall gives divers the opportunity to glimpse Cayman’s underwater life in a dramatic backdrop. Just 100 feet below the surface, the island’s native sharks, stingrays and turtles can be viewed against the stunning backdrop of the Wall.

Want to dive Little Cayman, book the Little Cayman Beach Resort with us..!

Little Cayman dive sites:

Bloody Bay Wall - Cousteau famously declared this spectacular 2km-drop sea wall one of nature's greatest marvels — a prime diving destination for intrepid adventurers seeking to explore its depths! Explore gorgeous coral reefs and get up close to experience fascinating sea creatures. From arrow crabs to octopuses, you'll see a variety of exotic marine life making this one dive that will truly stay with you forever. Sites here include Randy’s Gazebo and Lea Lea’s Lookout.

Jackson Bight – the Mixing Bowl offers sloping reefs and sandy boulevards and you may experience many pelagic species including sharks, groupers, and turtles.

Dumaguete is located on the island of Negros, near Cebu Island. It is a quick one-hour flight from Manila. Most resorts and dive sites are located south of the city along the coast of Dauin. Many of the Dumaguete resorts offer amazing house reefs.

Dumaguete's main draw for travelers is the selection of resorts, from high-end resorts to accommodations for the budget traveler. Although the local dive sites are known for macro dives, there are great reefs and wide-angle subjects like large coral reefs, schools of jacks, and groupers just a short boat ride away. 

Dumaguete is a year-round destination where rich marine life is found all year around. The weather is tropical with April being the driest month, but from December thru June, the weather is usually sunny. July to mid-Nov is the rainy season and even a monsoon can happen. Monsoons generally affect the northern part of the Philippines, with Dumaguete affected less. 

The water temperature is generally about 27C / 81F but in January and February, this can drop to around 25C / 77F. A 3mm full wetsuit is recommended. Visibility around Dauin is about 12 meters / 40 feet and near Apo 24 meters / 80 feet.

Best dive sites include Apo Island which is about an hour boat ride. Apo features amazing healthy hard coral reefs and abundant marine life.

Our favorite resort in this area is the Atlantis Dumaguete: https://www.liquiddivingadventures.com/resort/atlantisdumaguete

1. Hanifaru Bay: Famous for its seasonal gatherings of manta rays and whale sharks, providing an incredible opportunity for snorkelers to witness these majestic creatures in their natural habitat.

2. Dhonfan Thila: An underwater pinnacle known for its vibrant coral formations and diverse marine life, offering an exciting dive experience for both beginners and experienced divers.

3. Maavaru Kandu: A channel dive site featuring strong currents and an abundance of marine life, including sharks, rays, and schools of colorful fish.

4. Dhigali Haa: This dive site showcases beautiful coral formations, large sea fans, and a variety of reef fish species, making it a perfect spot for underwater photography enthusiasts.

5. Kudarah Thila: Known for its caves and overhangs, Kudarah Thila offers a chance to spot various pelagic species like tuna and barracuda along with a wide array of reef inhabitants.

Raa Atoll

1. Maa Uthuru Thila: A submerged pinnacle with excellent visibility and frequent encounters with eagle rays, sharks, and other large marine species.

2. Madivaru Corner: This corner site is renowned for its strong currents, attracting big fish like grey reef sharks, Napoleon wrasses, and schools of trevallies.

3. Fushivaru Thila: A great place to observe white tip reef sharks and explore overhangs covered with colorful soft corals and sponges.

4. Maakurathu Beyru: With a diverse topography and an abundance of marine life, this site offers sightings of turtles, moray eels, and various reef fish.

Rasdhoo Atoll

1. Hammerhead Point: An exciting dive spot where divers have a chance to see hammerhead sharks cruising in the deeper waters.

2. Rasdhoo Madivaru: Known for its beautiful coral formations and regular sightings of sharks, including grey reef sharks and white tips.

3. Rasdhoo Reef: A shallow reef suitable for snorkeling and diving, teeming with colorful coral and a variety of marine life.

Ari Atoll

1. Maaya Thila: One of the most famous dive sites in the Maldives, Maaya Thila offers encounters with sharks, rays, and an incredible diversity of fish species, both day and night.

2. Fish Head: Also known as Shark Point, this site is a submerged pinnacle attracting large schools of fish, sharks, and occasional manta rays.

3. Maalhos Thila: A vibrant and picturesque reef with overhangs, where divers can spot nudibranchs, eels, and various macro critters.

4. Broken Rock: An interesting site with a split in the reef that creates a swim-through, housing a variety of marine life and corals.

5. Kudarah Thila: Note: This site was mentioned under Baa Atoll as well. It's a popular dive site in the Maldives, featuring caves, overhangs, and a diverse range of marine species.

Vaavu Atoll

1. Miyaru Kandu: A channel dive with strong currents, attracting large pelagic species like sharks, eagle rays, and tunas.

2. Fotteyo Kandu: Known for its impressive soft coral formations, this channel dive site offers encounters with various sharks and schools of fish.

3. Alimatha House Reef: Perfect for night dives, this reef is home to nurse sharks and offers an opportunity to see them during their feeding frenzy.

South Male Atoll

1. Guraidhoo Corner: An exhilarating drift dive along the outer reef, where divers can observe sharks, turtles, and sometimes even manta rays.

2. Embudu Kandu: A thrilling dive site with strong currents, attracting large schools of fish, sharks, and occasional eagle rays.

3. Cocoa Thila: A submerged pinnacle with a variety of marine life, including sharks, rays, and schools of fusiliers.

4. Kandooma Thila: A popular site featuring caves, overhangs, and abundant marine life, providing an excellent opportunity for underwater photography.

These dive sites in the Maldives offer incredible underwater experiences for divers and snorkelers, showcasing the region's diverse and abundant marine life.

2. The Brothers Islands, Egypt:

Situated in the middle of the Red Sea, the Brothers Islands are a magnet for experienced divers. These two small islands offer thrilling drift dives, deep walls, and the opportunity to encounter large pelagic species such as hammerhead sharks, thresher sharks, and even the elusive oceanic whitetip shark. The stunning coral formations and dense schools of fish make the Brothers Islands a must-visit destination for advanced divers. Photo courtesy of AlertDiver / Marcello Di Francesco

3. SS Thistlegorm, Egypt:

The SS Thistlegorm is a famous World War II shipwreck located near Sharm El Sheikh. This well-preserved wreck, sitting at a depth of 30 meters, is a paradise for wreck diving enthusiasts. Exploring the cargo holds filled with military vehicles, motorcycles, and even train carriages is like stepping back in time. The marine life surrounding the wreck is equally captivating, with large groupers, barracudas, and an array of colorful fish making it their home.

4. Elphinstone Reef, Egypt:

Situated off the coast of Marsa Alam, Elphinstone Reef is a marine sanctuary that offers a thrilling drift dive experience. This narrow reef is known for its steep walls covered in soft corals and its encounters with sharks, including oceanic whitetips and the occasional hammerhead. The vibrant colors and abundant marine life at Elphinstone Reef make it a favorite among underwater photographers. Photo courtesy of Egypt Independent.

5. Dahab Blue Hole, Egypt:

Dahab's Blue Hole is a world-renowned dive site that attracts divers from all corners of the globe. This unique site features a captivating underwater sinkhole that drops to a depth of over 100 meters. The Blue Hole offers a stunning coral wall dive, and experienced divers can explore the "Arch," a passage that connects the Blue Hole to the open sea. The marine life here includes turtles, schools of fish, and even the occasional reef shark. Photo courtesy of Naama Blue Hotel.

6. Sha'ab Rumi, Sudan:

Located in the Sudanese Red Sea, Shaab Rumi is famous for its steep walls and strong currents, making it an exciting destination for experienced divers. The site is home to Jacques Cousteau's "Precontinent II" underwater habitat, which served as an experimental station in the 1960s. Divers can explore the remnants of this historical structure while encountering colorful coral formations and an abundance of marine life.

7. Giftun Island, Egypt:

Giftun Island, located near Hurghada, is a popular dive site known for its beautiful coral gardens and vibrant marine life. The island offers a variety of dive sites suitable for all levels of divers, from beginners to experts. The crystal-clear waters provide excellent visibility, allowing divers to observe an array of fish species, including clownfish, angelfish, and butterflyfish. Giftun Island is also a great spot for snorkelers, with shallow coral reefs close to the shore. Photo courtesy of Red Sea Life Dive Center.

8. Fury Shoals, Egypt:

Fury Shoals is a group of reefs and small islands located in the southern Red Sea. This remote and pristine area offers an array of dive sites with breathtaking coral formations and an abundance of marine life. Divers can explore underwater canyons, swim-throughs, and encounter schools of colorful fish, turtles, and even dolphins. Fury Shoals is a true paradise for underwater photographers, with its vibrant coral gardens and crystal-clear waters. Photo courtesy of Blue O2.

9. Abu Nuhas Shipwrecks, Egypt:

The Abu Nuhas reef is known as the "Ship Graveyard" due to the numerous shipwrecks that rest on its seabed. This site near Sharm El Sheikh is a treasure trove for wreck diving enthusiasts. Among the famous wrecks are the Giannis D, the Carnatic, and the Chrisoula K, each offering a unique diving experience. The wrecks are covered in colorful corals and attract a wide variety of marine life, including schools of snappers and batfish. Map courtesy of Diving Star Center.

10. Tiran Island, Egypt:

Tiran Island is located at the entrance of the Gulf of Aqaba and offers an unforgettable diving experience. The island is surrounded by pristine coral reefs, including the renowned dive sites of Jackson Reef, Woodhouse Reef, and Thomas Reef. Divers can explore impressive drop-offs, encounter schools of barracudas and snappers, and even spot larger pelagic species like sharks and rays. The clear waters and the abundance of marine life make Tiran Island a top destination for diving enthusiasts. Photo courtesy of Egypt Tours Plus.

The Red Sea is a true paradise for divers, with its incredible dive sites offering a wide range of underwater experiences. Whether you're an experienced diver looking for thrilling encounters or a beginner eager to explore the vibrant coral reefs, the Red Sea has something for everyone. So, grab your gear, dive into the crystal-clear waters, and prepare to be amazed by the beauty and diversity of this underwater wonderland.

WHY DIVE AZORES? 

When thinking about pelagic life, most think about the Caribbean and Asian waters, with countless pelagic fanatics flocking there each year. Most don’t think about European waters like the Azores, an autonomous Portuguese territory consisting of nine islands located 1500 km west of the mainland. The Portuguese-speaking territory has stunning white-sand beaches and some of the most mesmerizing sites in the Atlantic.

ARRIVING AT AZORES - HOW TO GET THERE

Guests arrive in the Azores through the airport Ponta Delagada, located on São Miguel Island. From North America, visitors can fly in from Boston, Toronto, or through most European cities. The flight is usually around 4-5 hours. The other eight islands can be accessed through local flights. Guests can also take ferries between the islands, but the schedules can be inconsistent outside of the summer season. 

DIVING IN AZORES 

As a pelagic hotspot, guests often spot blue sharks, whale sharks, mako sharks, mobula rays, and manta rays in the Azores with rare sightings of Galapagos or smooth hammerhead sharks.  Resident and migratory whales can be seen breaking through the water’s surface, usually during excursions to Pico of Faial in May. Other creatures include crustaceans, cetaceans, yellowmouth barracuda, amberjacks, gully jacks, Atlantic bonito, wahoo, skipjack tuna, bigeye tuna, large groupers, sponges, crusting anemones, moray eels, octopus, nudibranchs, hermit crabs, and unicorn shrimp.

The Azores has a volcanic underwater landscape that differs from its tropical counterparts; instead of colorful corals, there are underwater canyons, caverns, and gullies. The underwater visibility is up to 40 meters and the water conditions are unpredictable. It is recommended to plan for boat cancellations due to weather. The water temperature is cooler than tropical waters, typically around 21ºC. A 7mm semi-dry suit with a hood and gloves is recommended. 

DIVE CONDITIONS AND WHEN TO VISIT  

The dive season lasts from June to September with waters at their most calm and warm during June and August. The visibility is greater in September, although temperatures drop during this time. Overall, the water temperature ranges from 15ºC to 23ºC, and the air temperature ranges from 14ºC to 25ºC. The most rainfall is from October to March, and the air is consistently humid. 

WHERE TO STAY

We recommend Water and Wind for your Azores liveaboard adventure. The 13-meter Fountaine Pajot catamaran is all-inclusive and hosts up to eight divers. The Azores-based itineraries explore the archipelago and Santa Maria Island.

Ready for your AZORES adventure? Book with us today!

Diving is made easy in the Filipino municipality—dive sites range from a 10- to 20-minute boat ride from most resorts. The healthy, colorful reefs keep divers in a state of awe, and the muck, blackwater, and night diving opportunities make them ready for more. Dives take place from bankgas, which are small boats that seat up to four divers and two to three crew members. The highly experienced crews keep divers safe while pointing out the vast marine life. Popular sightings include shrimp, crabs, nudibranchs, squid, cuttlefish, frogfish, pipefish, seahorses, wonderpus, blue-ringed octopus, and bobbit worms. With such unique experiences, Anilao is also beginner-friendly due to the often calm currents and shallow dive sites. 

While Anilao is known for its small marine life, larger beings like jacks, turtles, and giant seahorses can be spotted. Sites like Manitit Point have strong currents that bring in larger life like reef sharks, hunting barracudas, and giant and bluefin trevally. In deep waters, there are rare sightings of small whale sharks.

With stunning jungles on land, guests also flock to the soft coral forests, which range from 70 to 130 feet deep. The untouched corals feature rare critters like seahorses and rhinopias.

TOP DIVE SITES 

One of Anilao’s iconic dive sites is Twin Rocks, with vibrant life as shallow as 10 feet and as deep as 130. Photographers love this site for the macro life and wide-angle opportunities. Soft corals, jacks, jawfish, and more are just a few of the creatures spotted here.

Beatrice is popular with experienced divers who can brave the strong currents. With more wide-angle shots, Beatrice is known for swarms of anthias and stunning corals. Kirby’s Rock is another macro life mecca with a stunning wall and incredible visibility. For the muck diving fanatic, Secret Bay is a hot spot for mimic octopus, wonderpus, pipefish, and seahorses. Blackwater dive sites vary but spotting one-of-a-kind jellies, larvae, and invertebrates is a guarantee. 

DIVE CONDITIONS AND WHEN TO VISIT  

Waters are calm and warm year-round, ranging from 77°F to 81°F (25°C to 27°C) and a visibility of 40 feet to 50 feet (10m to 15m). The main season is from October to early June, with November and December as the peak. April and May tend to be the most crowded months for resorts. Monsoon season is in July and August, but dive sites can still be accessed.

WHERE TO STAY

Crystal Blue Anilao is set in the bay area and features accommodations for families, groups, and couples. Guests praise the resort for their dive facilities, which include a covered dive deck, rinse tanks, showers, camera rinse tanks, and a camera room. 

Buceo Anilao features a PADI-certified dive shop with Nitrox and air fills. The camera room includes eighteen workstations with air guns, rinse tanks, lockers, matted desks, and shelves. In addition to the iconic muck and macro diving Anilao is known for, Buceo brings guests to wreck and cave dives as well as weekly dive trips to Verde Island. 

While Anilao itself doesn’t have much outside of diving and watersports, the resorts keep guests busy with karaoke, bars, spa treatments, and pools. 

Ready for your Anilao adventure? Book with us today!