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Dive Cayman Brac the Caribbean’s Wall Diving Capital

Dive Cayman Brac the Caribbean’s Wall Diving Capital

Written by Nevin
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Published on August 20, 2010

Cayman Brac is a small island just 19km (11.8 miles) long and 2km (1.2 mi) wide that forms one of the three Islands of the Cayman Islands located just south of Cuba in the Caribbean. Grand Cayman is the largest of the three, and just 100 miles or so northeast of it lays Little Cayman and Cayman Brac. During the days of piracy in the Caribbean, Cayman Brac was a safe haven for pirates who would use the Island and its numerous caves for anchorage and replenishment of supplies. Today, the Island is a perfect getaway in the Caribbean renowned for its diving.

Diving conditions in the Caymans is second to none, and with an astonishingly clear underwater visibility usually ranging from 150′ to 200′, the reefs of Cayman Brac are perfect for snorkelers or scuba divers to explore its waters.  While there are dive sites catering to all kinds of divers, Cayman Brac dive sites are renowned primarily for their abundant Wall and Wreck Diving sites. There are over 46 frequented dive sites from which at least 20 are wall diving sites and four ship wrecks to explore.

Out of the four ship wrecks, the Russian Frigate 356 – MV Capt. Keith Tibbetts is perhaps the most popular, and is a 330 foot vessel with its bow in 85 feet of water, and the stern in 60 feet. Sunk in 1996 the wreck is relatively intact and can be visited by both snorkelers and divers. This wreck is a must do dive for anyone visiting Cayman Brac, and there are over 100 species of fish inhabiting the wreck which is partially penetrable and made diver friendly.

The wall diving at Cayman Brac is simply breathtaking. Wall dive sites surround all sides of the island and are teeming with of all types, colors, and sizes of coral and sponges cascading down the wall faces. Each wall is peppered with small caves and ledges that are waiting to be explored. One of the best walls to dive at is located in the Bloody Bay Marine Park which is technically a Little Cayman site, but easily accessible by boat from Cayman Brac. This site has been rated frequently by several dive magazines and sites as one of the best wall diving sites in the world. With underwater ledges starting at 20 feet and dropping suddenly to a few thousand feet honeycombed with caves and crevices, this one mile long wall is near the deepest part of the Caribbean Sea. The abundance of coral life and sponges are second only to the hundreds of species of fish and marine life that inhabit this region. The big-lipped Nassau Grouper and Turtles are regular features of this site.

Getting to Cayman Brac is relatively simple. Tourist can get in from the US Mainland (Miami) through Grand Cayman where smaller aircraft transport you to the airstrip at Cayman Brac. LeisurePro Travel currently offers up amazing Cayman Brac packages for 7 nights on either resort or liveaboard.  The Brac Reef resort package Includes 7 nights Standard accommodations, airport transfers, breakfast and dinner daily and 12 boat dives with Reef Divers, and the second diver gets half off!