Big Tunnels Liveaboard Diving

Liveaboard Diving in Big Tunnels

WHAT TO EXPECT ON A BIG TUNNELS LIVEABOARD

Liveaboards trips that visit Big Tunnels dive site in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands will be taking divers on a spectacular underwater tour of this famously scenic dive site. It's a popular dive site in West Bay, Grand Cayman. Located just north of Seven Mile Beach along the West Wall, this site offers a unique and thrilling setting of swim-throughs for the adventurous diver.

Big Tunnels was originally discovered in the 1980s, and today has become one of the most requested dive sites of the Cayman Islands. Your Cayman Islands liveaboard vessel can moor directly onto the mooring line of this site, enabling divers to be right on top of the site when jumping in. Begin the dive around a large limestone pinnacle rising from the ocean floor below. Enter the notorious tunnel through a hole in the top of the reef. Within the tunnels exist many different branches veering throughout the canyon system. Navigate the oversized main channel as you slowly descend to the edge of the wall. Here at the tunnel exit is the major highlight of this dive sites colossal coral archway that opens up at a depth of 105ft onto the sheer wall approximately 300ft in length. This feature is a phenomenal photo opportunity for the underwater photography enthusiast.

WHAT YOU CAN SEE

A dive cruise to Big Tunnels is a beautiful sight to see below sea level. Among the branching system of canyons and crevices grow a stunning array of healthy hard and soft coral; brain coral, star coral, and black coral, as well as barrel sponges, rope sponges, orange tube sponges, sea whips, sea fans, and colonies of anemone.

Within the tunnels large schools of silversides and tarpon can be found, along with yellowtail snapper, pufferfish, and a variety of brightly colored reef fish. Keep eyes peeled around the overhangs and ledged indentions where spiny lobsters seek shelter. Fan favorite larger sightings include Spotted Eagle Rays, Hawksbill Turtles, and Green Sea Turtles.

GETTING TO BIG TUNNELS

Big Tunnels is best visited from a Cayman Islands liveaboard dive boat. This area of West Bay has no shortage of fun and exciting dive sites just waiting to be explored. With up to 5 dives a day, diving this site via a liveaboard cruise enables you to go from one dive site to the next in a much shorter time frame than those diving from land with a maximum of a two tank dive. Adding this site to your liveaboard itinerary ensures that you spend less of your island time traveling back and forth, and more time doing what you came to do . . . . diving!

When taking an international flight, fly into Grand Cayman via the Owen Roberts International Airport conveniently located in George Town. George Town is also the location of the port of departure for liveaboard dive trips. Depending on the time of year of your trip, either depart for your liveaboard dive tour from the George Town Tourist Dock or the Ann Drive Docks in North Sound Estates.

Flights to and from the U.S., Canada, Cuba, Honduras, Jamaica, and the UK are offered on a weekly basis. A connecting flight will be necessary for flights departing from different countries. Airlines that offer service to Owen Roberts International Airport are Cayman Airways, Air Canada, American Airlines, British Airways, Delta, JetBlue, United, and West Jet.