Little Cayman as a new diver - what to expect?

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Marie13

Great Lakes Mermaid
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A friend has invited me on a trip to Little Cayman next August as part of a larger group. I am told I will *not* be the only newer diver in the group. My friend has been diving for 15-20 years, but is only a warm water vacation diver. She thinks I am certifiable to be diving dry in cold Midwestern quarries and the Great Lakes (next year).

I've not put down my deposit for the trip yet. It's due in about a month. I wanted to find out what I can expect diving in Little Cayman from others beside my friend.

I only got certified a few weeks ago, and I'd best be described as a "nervous Nellie" at this point. There's been lots of hand holding on my dives so far (9 dives including 5 cert dives, and 2 dives that were underwater pumpkin carving)! All in quarries with crappy viz (30 ft at the most). I am to get a least a few more dives in this season. I had hoped to get down to Florida for a weekend of diving this winter, but that's not in my budget. I do plan to get out on Lake Michigan at least a few times next year before Little Cayman, so I would at least have a bit of experience diving off a boat. So Cayman would be my first time at diving in tropical waters.

My friend has her OW and Nitrox certs, but she's done no other training, even though she says she regularly goes down to 110-120 ft. At this point, I've not been deeper than 35 ft. I do plan to do my AOW next year before the trip, and I'm doing Nitrox right now. I plan on diving a lot next season. Certain aspects of Cayman really appeal to me - better viz, not having to haul my tanks or gear (I've got sciatica in one hip and an iffy knee in the other leg).

So, please be explicit at what I can expect on the trip? Thank you! :)
 
How fortunate you are! ! ! LC was one of my earliest trips and I have returned a number of times . The diving is easy , the water is warm and very clear, navigation is pretty easy. The critters and fish are abundant! I think you will love it . You can find many resources on the Internet that show the dive site maps, videos, etc. Also, they assign you a personal escort (a Nassau Grouper of your very own) as a tour guide . Seriously, I had a well known NG (ask around about Charlie) waiting for me to jump off the boat every dive.

Have a marvelous time ! !

I'm off to Turks and Caicos this morning !
 
Little Cayman is sometimes billed as the best diving in the Caribbean (although some other places also get mentioned; Turks & Caicos by live-aboard, and the Lighthouse Atoll region of Belize). And going with a group will ease you into your 1st dive travel experience. Plus it's a location where you can probably rack up a bunch of dives for the week, building your experience level.

Sounds about as good as a 1st dive trip is likely to get.

Where do you guys plan to stay on Little Cayman? Little Cayman Beach Resort?

Richard.
 
Lucky you... I dove a couple dives at Little Cayman while visiting Cayman Brac. It's probably the best of the 3 islands. I would dive Little Cayman in a heartbeat. Prepare to be spoiled for all other dives in the Caribbean. Most of the best diving will be around 20'-70'. That's where all the color and fish are. There will be some deeper dives, probably up to 90'. If you don't feel comfortable at that depth you can probably stay shallower depending on the terrain. Once you see how clear the water is, you may find yourself going deeper than you realize! Be prepared for some great diving! Two places I would go back to in the Caribbean... Little Cayman Island and the Lighthouse Atoll in Belize. Awesome diving.

I don't think there is anything too overwhelming for a newer diver like yourself as long as you don't dangerously exceed your own comfort level. Try to get as many dives in between now and the trip. Take time to really dial in your weights and buoyancy. Try hovering still/motionless at the beginning of a dive for about 10 mins. Fine tune your sensitivity for being neutral in the water. Feel the water, be "quiet" in the water. Become the water. You will learn a lot by doing so.

Have fun in Little Cayman.
 
I don't think there is anything too overwhelming for a newer diver like yourself as long as you don't dangerously exceed your own comfort level. Try to get as many dives in between now and the trip. Take time to really dial in your weights and buoyancy. Try hovering still/motionless at the beginning of a dive for about 10 mins. Fine tune your sensitivity for being neutral in the water. Feel the water, be "quiet" in the water. Become the water. You will learn a lot by doing so..

The weighting is going to be my biggest challenge. I dive dry. I'm going to get a 3mm wetsuit before the trip, and dive it a few times, but of course, I'll have to adjust weighting for salt water, as I only dive fresh. I am most definitely planning on diving a lot before the trip. My buoyancy is probably the biggest thing I need to work on, but I've got experienced divers who are willing to work with me.

ETA: I will be taking all my own gear. I have a new Halcyon Infinity 40 BP/W that I won at an event last week. I had been diving a 28 lb wing that I think I will probably switch out for the 40 lb wing on the Halcyon rig for LC, as it seems the 40 lb would be too much for warm water. I love the Halcyon harness much better than what I had (much easier to adjust).

Believe me, if I don't feel comfortable doing something, I will not do it. Period.
 
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Worry not. Beautiful, easy, safe diving. Consider doing a buoyancy course there, and get your weighting right for salt and your buoyancy figured out. You don't need AOW yet as a brand new diver.
 
You don't mention which BP you have, but slip a couple of pockets on the cam straps so you can move weight around in order to fine tune your trim. The Halcyon Trim weight pockets are nice, but the ones from XS Scuba(http://www.leisurepro.com/p-xssswpv/xs-scuba-single-weight-pocket?gclid=CK7rkLaP788CFctbhgod5Z8AXQ&kwid=productads-adid^88200967873-device^c-plaid^183379661353-sku^XSSSWPV@ADL4LP-adType^PLA) are cheaper. You're going to love Little Caymen! (And the pet groupers.)
 
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You'll be fine, nitrox cert is the most important, AOW will not hurt you. Your 28 lb wing is what you want to dive. You'll have great time and expand your experience. You can dive with the guides if you and your friend do not feel prepared to dive independently.

The water is warm, the visibility is great, the walls are fantastic, what more would you want?
 

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