Jill -- I am going to Cayman for my 13th trip in 2 1/2 weeks. I've made a point of trying to dive with various operators over the past 9 years.
A solid dive operator is Divetech [
www.divetech.com]. While they really market to tech divers, I have dived with them at all levels, from beginner to my current moderately experienced status. Goos divemasters and boats, and the opportunity to dive on the North side, conditions permitting. If you dive with nitrox, it's easily available, for an extra charge. You would have to drive to meet the boat, but if you'r staying on 7 Mile Beach, then you're talking maybe a 10 minute drive. No big deal.
I have dived with Red Baron as well. Nick and Patrick are both good guys and good divers. Small boats, so you're not going to see more than 5-6 divers on any particular dive trip. If memory serves, you get on their boat at the public beach about 2/3 of the way up 7 mile beach. They have changed their name, but their web site is still up at
Red Baron Divers with Nick Buckley and Patrick Weir.
You might think about Danny with Off the Wall divers.
http://www.otwdivers.com/ He's got a small but fast boats, and will take you to out of the way dive sites, conditions permitting. He picked us up at the public dock in Georgetwon, which was convenient for us, as we were staying at Sunset House.
You could try Sunset Divers at Sunset House.
www.sunsethouse.com I expect they'll take you out, even though you aren't staying in the hotel. Somewhat larger crowds on the boats, and they seem to cater to the less experienced diver. It'll also be fairly inconvenient for you, if you're up on 7 Mile Beach.
If you want to drive over to East End, the diving is a little more challenging, with some current and chop, but the viz is very good, and the reputation is that the reef is in more pristine shape than on the west side [where you're staying]. Honestly, I can't tell much of a difference. It's a long drive -- probably 50-60 minutes, but Ocean Frontiers does a very good job. I've been pleased both times I've gone out with them.
www.oceanfrontiers.com
If he's available, you might give Peter Milburn a shot. he's the dean of Caymanian diving, with somewhere around 3000 dives over the past 30 years. He has scaled back quite a lot in recent years, but still takes small groups out. He's forgotten more than I'll ever know about Caymanian diving. I have heard that he was the inspiration for the Robert shaw character in the movie "The Deep." He did teach Peter Benchley, the author, how to dive.
Peter Milburn's Dive Cayman Ltd. - HOME PAGE
In terms of some of the larger, cattle boat operations, I've never been out with them. example: Red Sail, Soto's. I can't say anything good or bad about them, but I have been quite pleased with the operations I have dived with.
Hope this has helped! If you like diving, you're going to LOVE GC. Be sure and get out to the restaurants, too. Food's great, people are nice, diving is the best. What more could you ask for?
Doug Weinstein
