Cayman and Cozumel

[trekkindave]

Wifey and I are leaving for cruise in a week and we are diving in Grand Caymen and Cozumel.

Besides your BC, Regs, masks, 3mm Suits, and computers, etc (all the standard basic kit).... is there special equipment I should bring with us?

Can you wear gloves at these locations? Do i need a SMB and reel? Anything else I know know to bring, or not bring?


This will be our first time diving while on a cruise ship, first time diving from a charter boat, and first time diving the caribbean. We have only been in the local quarry and some cold water shore diving and are very excited but also trepidatious about this new adventure

 

[diversteve]

Can you wear gloves at these locations?

Not on Cayman:

"24. Whoever, while diving in Cayman waters, whether using underwater breathing apparatus or otherwise, wears gloves of any type is guilty of an offence."

Gazette 15, Supplement 11 | gazettes.gov.ky

If you're on one of these cruise lines - here's your dive operator unless you booked privately: http://www.donfosters.com/html/cruiseships.html

 

[Qnape]

You are in for a treat. I can't speak for Grand Cayman, but the diving in Little Cayman is extraordinarily good - we've stayed there twice and are returning in February where my wife will finally do her check-out dives so she can dive with my daughter and I. Warm waters, incredible visibility, and abundant, healthy life mark both the Cayman islands and Cozumel.

I also dive Cozumel and was there in August of this year; we will return to Cozumel in April of next year for our fourth trip there. Bring your SMB and reel, but keep it stowed for emergencies unless you talk with your DM in advance and tell them you want to deploy. Diving in Cozumel is strictly in DM guided groups - no gloves allowed, no knives allowed. Shears are fine. Cozumel is all drift diving unlike the Cayman islands where currents tend to be milder or absent. As such, many dive ops in Cozumel require that for your first drift dives you hire a private divemaster, and I will recomend this practice highly for newer divers. I don't mean to put you off, but the currents can be strong in places and at times, and this can be disconcerting to newer divers. When we go there again in April I fully intend to hire a drivate divemaster for my wife, required or not. You may want to browse the Cozumel forum here for more detailed information, or I will be happy to answer any other questions you may have.

Safe Diving!

 

[Altamira]

Grand Cayman has tender opertations to get you to shore. Unless you are one of the very frequent cruisers on that cruise line, you have no way to know or guarantee when you will be able to get on one of the tenders to shore. That is one cruise dive destination that you might seriously consider using the ship's excursion for your dive. Nothing worse than not being able to get to shore in time to meet your dive boat if you have scheduled a dive with a non-ship excursion and see your deposit/payment go down the drain. If you are a highly experienced diver that likes to go your own way then you might not like the cruise ship's excursions (you will hear a lot of that on this forum), but we have always enjoyed the dives, crew and boat.

 

[DivemasterDennis]

I would be sure to bring a safety sausage with you, but you won't need a reel. All your dives will be escorted dives. In Grand Cayman you will be in easy conditions and great vis, not real challenging. That's the good and bad of cruise ship excursion dives. The same is true in Cozumel. In each venue, share you experience and certification level, together with any questions or concerns, with the dive leaders on the boats when you board. Don't wait until everyone else is in the water on a dive you don't feel good about. All will be well. But next time, treat your self to a dedicated dive destination trip, and either Cozumel or Grand Cayman would a great place to start.
DivemasterDennis

 

[Rhodesaz]

I agree with DD. I've dove at both locations and enjoyed both. While gloves are a no no, You will want them if you do a wreck. I keep my gloves in the pocket of my BCD and put them on when I enter the wreck or just before I grab the anchor line. Grand Caymen diving (for us) was all from an anchored boat.
Cozumel is drift diving. While you do not have to have it, a muck stick will help.

Have fun!!