underwater visibility at grand cayman

[JeffreyFischman]

just came back from 4 days diving at grand cayman--my first time there. The diving was absolutely great for me (warm, calm seas, beautiful coral reef, etc) but the visibility was actually poor (compared to my experience in bahamas) -- about 30 feet. I am thinking of booking another trip but would like to know if I should expect this visibility all year round or better visibility at different times of year--(did about 10 dives over this period and visibility was equal at all sites -- last week)
thanks
Jeff

 

[Lopez116]

I love GC. I dove in Aug last year and April this year. Viz was never below 60/70ft. Most dives closer to 100ft viz. I've heard that it can get really really good viz of 150+ft at times as well.

My dives were all from shore as well...no issues here!

 

[vincent54]

I think it all depends on how windy and for how long. I have had excellent visibility year around, but find the summer months the calmest and clearest. Except when hurricanes come in. Cheers

 

[caymaniac]

just came back from 4 days diving at grand cayman--my first time there. The diving was absolutely great for me (warm, calm seas, beautiful coral reef, etc) but the visibility was actually poor (compared to my experience in bahamas) -- about 30 feet. I am thinking of booking another trip but would like to know if I should expect this visibility all year round or better visibility at different times of year--(did about 10 dives over this period and visibility was equal at all sites -- last week)
thanks
Jeff

I've never heard of that bad of visibility on Grand Cayman, try Little Cayman the worst I've ever seen there was 60 to 70 but the best viz was 200+

Hmmm, first post, I want to say welcome to the board...hope this isn't a troll.

 

[bbarnett51]

I've never heard of vis like that. It was 100 plus when I've been there. That stinks and I would think I rare occurrence.

 

[Alex777]

30 foot viz is rare and what we would call "bad". You can usually count on 70' to 125' (my estimate).

 

[-hh]

just came back from 4 days diving at grand cayman--my first time there. The diving was absolutely great for me (warm, calm seas, beautiful coral reef, etc) but the visibility was actually poor (compared to my experience in bahamas) -- about 30 feet. I am thinking of booking another trip but would like to know if I should expect this visibility all year round or better visibility at different times of year--(did about 10 dives over this period and visibility was equal at all sites -- last week)

I was over on the Brac for 12-26 April, then 26-27 on Grand (for flights home), which overlaps with your trip dates.

Weather-wise, the winds were seasonal and from the SE-ESE for the first week, then turned to be more northerly on the weekend of the 20th ... but also drop to <<10mph, which resulted in great weather on Mon/Tues ... flat both sides. Overall, I didn't see anything that I'd consider to be any sort of weather which would have meaningfully influenced UW visibility out in the Sister Islands - - in general, the viz out there was in the "honest 75+ft" range for the entire time...generally nice and not any sort of concern.

However, there were a few days of exceptions, where I a pocket of "bad" visibility - - probably in the 30ft range in one case - - and what it was due to was spawning barrel sponges. IMO, its different/fun to watch the big barrels with a big plume of "SMOKE" rising from each of them. Hopefully my UW photos of this have turned out well.


-hh

 

[Testudo]

Not sure of how it relates to diving depths, but the visibility last week on Grand Cayman at snorkeling depth was less than 40' all week on both the West and North shores, less than 20' on Sunday (5th) morning on North Side. Winds all week were out of the SW moving clockwise round to the to due N by the 5th; versus the usual E, SE which usually results in 75'-100'+ viz.

Picture below shows the ~35' visibility at 20 foot depth..

 

[ron_dodge]

just came back from 4 days diving at grand cayman--my first time there. The diving was absolutely great for me (warm, calm seas, beautiful coral reef, etc) but the visibility was actually poor (compared to my experience in bahamas) -- about 30 feet. I am thinking of booking another trip but would like to know if I should expect this visibility all year round or better visibility at different times of year--(did about 10 dives over this period and visibility was equal at all sites -- last week)
thanks
Jeff

Which side of the island were you staying / diving from?