Grand Cayman in January

[CathyI8205]

My husband's next dive needs to be an easy dive. He's been beat up in Florida (Maytag effect) and his next dive is a do or sell the equipment dive. We were thinking about Grand Cayman in January. What are the conditions there then? Are the waters calm and warm?

Thanks

 

[Drew Sailbum]

No guarantees in January.

January can be quite a windy month. Typical winds that time of year are from the ENE, but fronts can drop down from the Gulf and bring winds from the NW.

If the winds are from the ENE, then the west side of the island should provide reasonably calm seas. There can still be some significant currents around Northwest Point.

If a Nor'wester blows in, then the most sheltered diving is out on East End on the southeast corner. The west side dive ops will dive South Sound, but seas can be variable depending upon the precise wind direction.

Water temps will be about 80F. That's warm enough for some, but a 3mm wetsuit is advised for most divers.

 

[caymancase]

Drew is correct that January can bring some winds. But, as he said, there is always a leeward and relatively calm side of the island to dive. If the winds are out of the East/ North East, then the West Side of the island will have calm waters. If we have Nor'wester, then South Side and East End are generally nice. And on Grand Cayman, a "rough water" day is probably like a "calm day" in most other places... we are very spoiled!

 

[champ]

Grand Cayman is the best place to take him if you want to keep on diving. It is the easiest diving I have done anywhere. The vis is always GREAT, no currents, extra safe dive masters (too conservative for me). There are short boat trips to the sites on the west side (right out from the hotels), I like the dive sites on the North the best but I've done these from shore.