Cayman Brac or Little Cayman?

[DMdoogie]

I haven't been to either, and am considering the Brac Beach Resort or Little Cayman Beach Resort. Prices are really not a consideration, and airfares frim MIA are the same. I'm looking for the best wall diving, I understand the BBR used to take boats to Little Cayman, do they still do this since they were re-built? At either resort, can you get a cab out to a snack shop or liquor store? Lots of questions, which do you recommend.
Thanks,
DMdoogie

 

[Damselfish]

Between the 2 I would chose Little Cayman (and have many times.) I have talked to a number of people staying on the Brac trying to get on a trip over to little Cayman to do a few dives. I've rarely if ever heard the opposite except to dive the Tibbetts, and they don't even seem to bother with that much anymore. While I enjoyed the few dives I've done on the Brac, they tend to start much deeper, one of the reasons the wall on LC is so popular.

I don't think there is a cab on Little Cayman, let alone a snack shop or liquor store to go to. There's one convenience/grocery/hardware/everything store which may have liquor, I don't recall. You can walk there from LCBR.

The Brac has more stuff, though I don't know how much is still out of commission after the last big hurricane clobbered them. One advantage of Brac, is you may be able to get there on a real jet and not have to deal with the luggage restrictions on the small planes to LC. You flight to the Brac could be either, so you have to check what's scheduled.

 

[DMdoogie]

I just found out that Brac Beach Resort will still be closed then. Their re-opening date is still up in the air. We booked Little Cayman. I can't wait.
DMdoogie

 

[PhilC]

Since this might be asked again by people who have the option of Brac after BracReef opens back up I'll throw in an answer even though your decision is made. We've done both now. Diving is better on Little, not that it is bad in any way at Brac just that once you get spoiled by being able to do wall dives that start at 20 feet you'll want to go back again and again. We felt more at "home" with the staff at Brac Reef, on our first visit we felt almost as if we were part of the family while everyone outside of the bar staff at LCBR was a bit more professional instead of family. Reef Divers on both islands are top notch. The convenience store on Little did have some liquour but not much, many of the discount plans LCBR offers include two drinks a night at the bar though for essentially nothing so I saw no need to go buy my own. If you wanted there is the Hungry Iguana bar in town next to the airport. There really isn't much on Little, you can easily walk to "town" from LCBR in less than ten minutes. Brac, at least before the hurricane had a liquour store at the corner about a mile down from the resort no idea on selection since we never went. We'll probably go back to both places again because we like the people at Brac so well but we'll definitely be back to LCBR again.

I don't know what other people's experience is with Cayman Airways and getting to Little but I've heard from other divers that the weight restrictions can be pretty odd. On the way over they never asked to weigh our carry-ons at all so the 50 pounds total per person could easily have been bypassed. Other people told us that they usually weigh and just charge an extra $10 if you are over but that on occasion they'll weigh and if you are over they won't send over your bag until the next flight\day.

 

[DMdoogie]

Cayman Air told me that you can check a total of 55 lbs. per person from GC to LC. This does not include your carry on bag. I've slimmed down my travelling gear so much that I can easily meet that weight.
DMdoogie

 

[Tim Ingersoll]

I've been on that flight three times. Here are some thoughts: 1. Attitude is everything. If you are rude to the Cayman Airways staff you can bet everything will be weighed twice; 2. It depends on who is working and how full the plane is. If they have a full flight they strictly enforce the weight requirements. If the flight is a partial they could care less; 3. Make sure you have a change of clothes and toiletries in your carry-on and that you don't "next flight tomorrow" your carry-on. We had a bag delayed on one flight and it was at out door with a smile the next morning but I was glad for the essentials in the carry on advice.

 

[fisheater]

I found that the weight restriction wasn't a problem for me. I brought all of my dive gear (less tanks and weights) and camera gear and clothes/toiletries in one checked duffle and one carry-on. Heck, all you need in the way of clothes there are a few t-shirts and a pair of shorts.

I wonder what the people who were bringing two huge bags were carrying? You won't need a tuxedo, dinner jacket or business suit. No James Bond casino parties. Just lots of GREAT diving.

 

[fppf]

Little Cayman is the way to go, Little Cayman Beach Resort is a great place.

As for weight, just bring the dive gear, some bathing suits, and a few tee shirts. If you have a ton of dive gear like my wife and I do, just buy an extra ticket on the puddle jumper. Its cheaper than paying over weight fees.

 

[carriemak]

LCBR is the only way to dive. Having been there many times, I can only echo what has been said by the above posters. The only things to do on the island if you are diving 3 dives a days are eat, dive and sleep. There isn't a lot of time for anything else.
The only non-resort shopping on the island is the convenience store and the liquor store. You don't need a car, there aren't any taxis that I am aware of, and you can get a bike from the resort. You don't need a lot of clothing, you aren't going anywhere.
The most important thing is to enjoy the diving and the island life.
We are booked for June 12-19, 2010!

 

[nipi]

There are 2 off licences on LCM - one at Perry's next to the Village Store by the airport & the other at Joseph's on the north coast on the road almost opposite the splash house.