Morning dive and afternoon SRC snorkel with the kids--Can it be done?

[C.D.Fish]

I have been to Cayman before and been both diving and to SRC, but this time I will be coming via cruise--I know, I know, but it is being paid for :). Anyway, my question is, do you think I can do a morning dive and still have time to take the family to the sand bar at SRC before we have to be back on-board?

If so, I am interested in maybe chartering a dive boat (there will be 4 divers) instead of joining the heards from the ship, and would like some advice on who I might contact, and which non-SMB dives I could consider (because that is where I dove last time and I would like to see some of the other excellent diving on GC).

Any advice--or ridicule-- would be appreciated ;-)

[Natasha]

Which ship will you be on, and how long will it be in port?
Most ships in Cayman tender, and do not dock, so you need to allow for that time too.

[C.D.Fish]

We will be coming in on the RCC Voyager of the Seas. We are due to arrive at 9:30 AM and to leave at 5:30 PM. (this is in the first week of December)

Since I have never been on a cruise before, I have no idea how much time it will take to get ashore and vice versa, so your input would be greatly appreciated on that as well.

[DocVikingo]

Contact Casey at Neptune's Divers http://www.neptunesdivers.com/ and ask about that charter. I suspect that she may be able to accommodate you. Tell her that I sent you.

Have fun.

DocVikingo

[Natasha]

Doc:
Sounds like you might have met Casey on your last trip to Cayman. I met her on my trip there too. Sweet lady.
I agree 100%, use www.neptunesdivers.com.
Now, as for the other part of your questions..
I have been on 14 cruises. My business partner and sister has been on 45 cruises. We are in our industry considered " Master Cruise Counselors." Fancy title, eh?

#1 Your ship will tender. This means you will drop anchor, and have to take tender boats to shore and back.
The Voyager is a big ship taking over 2000 people. The tenders will be very full.
You will need to try to get off on the first tender to get in for morning dives.
Casey is very flexable and will do all she can to work the times out for you.
I doubt you will be able to get to a dive site before 10:30.
So, roughly figure on getting a two tank dive in, and back to shore could put you up to 2:30 even 3:00.
The last tender will probably leave shore @ 4:30.
Casey knows the ships, and will able to help you with this part of it too.
Have fun!

[C.D.Fish]

Thanks a ton for the help!

Since I have already bothered you about one stop, do you have advice for me at my other stops?

Belize City arrival 8:00 AM departure 6:00 PM
Costa Maya arrival 7:00 AM departure 6:00 PM
Cozumel arrival 7:00 AM departure 5:00 PM

I probably won't be able to dive at each port unfortunately, but I would love to know which ones you would suggest, and who I might want to contact about chartering in these other locations.

Thanks again,

--C.D.Fish

[Natasha]

Hi C.D. Fish:
Looking over the three ports you have left, I would say, be with your family in Belize (Maybe the cave tubing trip) RC offers it in the shore excertion book, and hang with them in Costa Maya.
Be sure to dive in Cozumel.
There are several good dive operators on Coz.
Everyone has their own favorites. Do a "search" at the top of the page, and you can read about all the differences, and see which company is right for you.
The ship will also offer dives, and this will guarentee that you make it back on time. They use big boats usually Aqua World.
I have dove with Aqua World and didn't have a problem with them. However, I prefer Dive Paradise.
Have fun!
(I'll be cruising again in January 04.)

[Drew Sailbum]

You could probably charter a small boat to do one North Wall dive and then do a second stop for diving or snorkeling at Stingray City. Doing a trip back to

VOTS is a huge ship. It will require tendering to shore. Ships usually anchor off of Georgetown, but occasioanlly pull in off Spotts if the wind has turned Northwest or if there are just too many ships.

Just this week, the Cayman government entered into a contract to expand port facilities and to create new port facilities in West Bay in order to increase capacity. Rumor has it that at least one dock space is included in the plans so that at least one ship would not needed to tender to shore.

[jhspb]

Hi Drew any sense of where the expansion will occur? will it be contiiguous and to the N or S, or will it be elsewhere in west Bay?

[jhspb]

Oh and when does enough tourism become too much tourism?

[Drew Sailbum]

The local government doesn't seem to believe that's possible. Leader of Government Business (LGB) McKeeva Bush has previously stated that he wishes Grand Cayman to have the capacity to handle 14 cruise ships daily.

In the newspaper article announcing that the deal has been signed including West Bay port facilities, one statement stood out. (I wish I had the paper for the exact quote.) One of the benefits of putting such facilities in West Bay is said to be that there is no traffic congestion there.

I'm not sure where exactly the various development will occur, but I'd guess that the West Bay site will be quite close to the four way stop. There is a new commercial building going up there already, and I'd be shocked if the developer wasn't a "valued business member and contributor to West Bay".

I've heard rumor that the Georgetown expansion may result in the bulldozing of the site of Casanova's restaurant. That would be a short distance to the north of current terminals.

[ScubaTexas]

C.D.Fish once bubbled...
Thanks a ton for the help!

Since I have already bothered you about one stop, do you have advice for me at my other stops?

Belize City arrival 8:00 AM departure 6:00 PM
Costa Maya arrival 7:00 AM departure 6:00 PM
Cozumel arrival 7:00 AM departure 5:00 PM

I probably won't be able to dive at each port unfortunately, but I would love to know which ones you would suggest, and who I might want to contact about chartering in these other locations.

Thanks again,

--C.D.Fish


Cozumel should be a definite dive for you and with the 7 am arrival it should be no problem. Contact Christi at www.bluextseadiving.com She runs a top notch, very professional dive operation with a 6 person boat. With 4 divers in your party, you'll probably have the boat to yourself that day and can choose where you want to dive.

[C.D.Fish]

Thanks to everyone for the advice:) I haven't had a chance to call GC or Coz yet, but I will give you a report on how it goes.

The last time I dove in Coz the area of Santa Rosa Wall we dove was pretty badly beat up. If I am able to get a 6 person boat chartered, where would you suggest I dive? 2 of the divers with me will be newly certified, so technical dives will probably be out.

I have the same question about Cayman dives. If I am able to choose, which dive/dives would you suggest that aren't far from the port. Last time I dove Orange Canyon, Dolphin Dropoff, Fish Reef and the Doc Polson and they were great! I'm wondering if there are any less-trafficed dives maybe south of Georgetown.

Thanks again for the input

C.D.Fish

[Natasha]

Well, If I could only pick two dives to do in Cozumel, I would pick the wreck of the C-53 and Palancar. Maybe Columbian shallows instead of the wreck, since you have new divers with you.
Some people may even say dive the plane wreck for an easy dive with newbies.
As far as Cayman, I would leave that up to Casey, and what she thinks she can get you to, and back, in time that day.
The ship will offer String Ray City.