From Sport Diver

The three islands that make up this British overseas territory — Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman — have long been known as the Caribbean’s mecca of wall diving. These islands shoot almost straight up from the seafloor, creating spectacular drop-offs, but the islands are far more than a place for divers to get vertical.

While jaw-dropping, Grand Canyon-esque underwater terrain defines the diving off Grand Cayman — whether the North Wall, West Bay or East End. The island also boasts the 251-foot Kittiwake, the opportunity to make technical dives and play with toys galore — from scooters to underwater cameras. Whether you seek enough specialties to build a house of dive cards or simply want to soothe stress on an unhurried shore dive, this is your place. Some of the incredible drop-offs in Little Cayman’s Bloody Bay Marine Park start in only 20 feet of water and plummet thousands of feet. Cayman Brac boasts a 330-foot-long Russian frigate, and a south side made up of canyons and reefs pockmarked with tunnels where sharks frequently hide. Whether your trip extends a week or a month, you won’t tire of this island trio.

Topside Info

The Vibe

Sophisticated, international and moneyed, Grand Cayman is where you won’t go without, whether it’s a well-made espresso, low-key beach bar, five-star fusion dining or packed nightclub. Its stretches of white sand, most notably Seven Mile Beach, are nearly as famous as its dives. For a quieter escape where most highlights belong to nature, try Cayman Brac or Little Cayman.

Brag Worthy

How about a dive site for each day of the year? The Cayman Dive 365 initiative added new moorings off all three islands for a total of 365 named sites. The project is more than a fun challenge for visiting divers though — this eco-conscious effort is designed to help protect the islands’ reefs from overuse, by allowing operators to periodically rest ones that have been heavily dived.

For more on this story go to:

http://www.sportdiver.com/worlds-best-diving-resorts/cayman-islands/2013-worlds-best-diving-resorts-cayman-islands