Cayman Islands SCUBA Dive Sites

Amazing Dive Sites in the Cayman Islands

If you love scuba diving, and you’ve never been to the Cayman Islands, it’s time to book a trip. Check out some of our favorite dive sites in the Cayman Islands, book mark your favorites, and get your next scuba vacation planned!

Bloody Bay Wall, Little Cayman

Lonely Planet says that Bloody Bay Wall is the best scuba site in the Caymans. But don’t let the name of the site intimidate you: there’s a ton of marine life to be observed, like neon-yellow tube sponges, waving fans, and corals for miles. Plus, you’ll probably come across turtles, lobsters, triggerfish, and more. This site is unique for its 200-meter drop; jump in and check it out for yourself!

Babylon, Grand Cayman

On the North Wall of the island, the best site is Babylon. This is a good spot for novice divers to check out the sandy flats, but there are also good spots to dive a bit deeper. You’ll see black coral, purple sea fans, parrot fish, barracuda, eagle rays, and more. It’s one of the most remote sites on the North Wall, so it’s very undisturbed. You can spend the whole day diving out there, and you’ll never see the same thing twice.

Stingray City, Grand Cayman

If you love stingrays, check out Stingray City off of Grand Cayman. The site is known for a tame stingray population, who originally came to the area to check out the fishermen who were cleaning their local catches in the area. The stingrays are relatively friendly, so you can feed them by hand during your dive.

The Cayman Islands are unique for their environmental protections, which is why their reefs and wildlife are so well preserved. Plus, you’ll enjoy calm waters, comfortable water temps, the world’s best safety standards when it comes to scuba diving, excellent and experienced instructors, and easy transport to the dive sites when you go with SPE Dive School. Sign up for a trip today!

SCUBA Myths

Five Things People Get Completely Wrong About Scuba Diving

There are some people who are under the assumption that they need to invest hundreds and, in some cases, even thousands of dollars in order to start scuba diving. This myth couldn’t be further from the truth! When you work with a company like SPE Dive School, you can start scuba diving right away without spending a fortune on scuba equipment. This isn’t the only myth about scuba diving that exists, either. Here are five other common myths:

You need to be a competitive swimmer to keep up in scuba diving

Being a strong swimmer will certainly help you when scuba diving. But many people believe you need to be an excellent swimmer to start scuba diving in the first place. This isn’t true. As long as you have some experience swimming and don’t mind learning how to swim with all of your scuba gear, you will be just fine when you get into the water.

You can’t scuba dive if you have a medical condition

There are some medical conditions that will prevent you from scuba diving. But there are others, like asthma and diabetes that are no longer the roadblocks they used to be when it comes to scuba diving. You may need to take extra precautions because of them, but by working with your doctor, you can figure out which conditions will keep you out of the water and, more importantly, which ones won’t.

You will damage your ears if you scuba dive

If you don’t equalize the pressure in your ears before doing a deep dive while scuba diving, you may feel some discomfort in them. But this is an easy fix. By using what’s called the Valsalva maneuver and blowing against your nostrils while pinching your nose, you can provide yourself with some relief and avoid any uncomfortable feelings in your ears.

You have to be a man to scuba dive

What?! This one might be the worst myth of all. While many scuba divers were men many years ago, there are men and women who enjoy scuba diving in 2017. Regardless of your gender, you will enjoy it once you try it.

You can get the same experience snorkeling as you would scuba diving

Snorkeling can be a lot of fun. But make no mistake about it: Snorkeling and scuba diving are not one in the same. Scuba diving will allow you to experience something completely different than snorkeling will. So if you’ve only ever been snorkeling, you should open yourself up to the new experience that scuba diving will provide.

Would you like to give scuba diving a try? Register for classes with SPE Dive School or call us at 301-657-2266 for more information on how we can help you start scuba diving today!

 

Do You Know the History of Scuba Diving?

Scuba diving may be a trendy activity these days, but did you know that this popular sport has a long history?

Breathing underwater has been important to humans for centuries, as our ancestors sought ways to collect food and gather artifacts from beneath the surface of the sea. The ancient Greek writer Herodotus told of Scyllis, a sailor who used a reed to breathe underwater as he cut the moorings of enemy ships during a naval campaign.

Over time, scientists invented devices that would become critical to modern scuba diving. For example, Italian Guglielmo di Loreno developed the first diving bell in 1535, and German scientist Otto von Guericke developed the first air pump in 1650.

Modern recreational scuba diving began to flower in the 1950s, ten years after the world-famous French explorer Jacques Cousteau and engineer Emile Gagnan worked together to invent the Aqua-Lung, the first successful rebreathing device and the diving regulator used for the first scuba equipment. The Silent World, a documentary co-directed by Cousteau and Louis Malle, sparked widespread interest in the underwater world.

Given the sport’s popularity, John Cronin and Ralph Erickson decided to establish a professional organization to certify instructors and regulate diving courses. Their organization, PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors), now has over 6,000 dive shops and resorts worldwide.

Now that you know the history of scuba diving, why not book a beginner’s class? If you’re in the DC area and are ready to book a scuba class, call SPE Dive School today at 301-657-2266. We have the best scuba dive lessons and certification in the area and we can’t wait to help you find your passion!