Damselfish:
My first time in the Caymans we did 5 nights Little Cayman (Beach Resort, which had just opened)...
That would have been in '93. I visited LCBR that year as well, in April while it was still under construction. We had dinner with Linton Tibbets, his wife and son Danny, most nights. Quite a nice gent, although I image he's got to be close to being in his 90's by now. I hope we'll be able to see him again when we go down to LC later this year.
...and 5 nts Grand Cayman. This is about the minimum time I'd spend splitting a trip between the 2 islands.
Agreed, and even this is tight when you start considering your transit days...depending on where in the USA you're coming from, I'd probably recommend spending the first half of your trip in Little Cayman...that way, you could catch an AM flight back to Grand Cayman and make an afternoon dive, or at least get properly checked in on the GCM diveshop in the afternoon before your first full day of diving.
Back to the original questions:
1) Is it easy and/or affordable to get to LC from GC?
Around $150/pp-RT. Do watch your flight schedules, as LYB's airport is a grass strip with no lights, which means the last flight of the day is before sunset.
2) What kind of lodging is available on LC for a couple of days?
The LCBR is the only official hotel. The dive "camps" are really clusters of cottages & rooms, are generally less expensive and have all been around a lot longer than the LCBR. From lowest to highest general prices, its Sam McCoy's, then Southern Cross Club, then Pirate's Point.
There's also a couple of Condo type places, but they're generally expensive...Paradise Villas used to be downright cheap, but the last time I looked it was IMO pricey. Houses tend to be good priced for a group; be careful of transportation costs as vehicles and fuel are both expensive, and these are often a prerequisite for the home rentals (FWIW, I think a few include a vehicle).
3) Is the diving on LC that much better to warrant the extra effort?
Diving "goodness" is always subject to some degree to personal taste. However, less diver pressure and less land development are not bad things. I've dived the Bloody Bay area dozens of times and have found most visitors are awed by its topology. One of my favorite techniques when guiding a first-timer is at Mixing Bowl, and I'll tell them to closely follow me, doing what I do for the first 5 minutes. I then get down close to the bottom and swim the compass heading that will take me nice and perpendicular, straight off the wall. The trick is that as I see the hint of the edge approaching, I accelerate
BTW, do make sure beforehand that the first timer doesn't have a fear of heights.
4) Anything else you can think of to help with making decisions and planning?
First, decide if you really want to go to a place that has minimal topside (land) entertainment or distractions. If you're the type who can keep youself entertained on a camping trip to the woods, you'll do fine. But if you need the big city for the dance & bar scene, Little Cayman will drive you up a wall.
Second, be aware that there are some seasonal variations. When were you thinking about going?
Third, the best food on the island is generally considered to be Gladys Howard's, down at Pirates Point.
-hh