Grand Cayman Info

[Markinct]

Going to Grand Cayman (first trip there) for anniversary- we both dive and usually go to cozumel or hawaii- need some help on best hotel for diving, best deal, I hear things can by pricey- Going 1st week of December- Thanks- Mark

 

[Sharkdive1]

Mark welcome to SB. This is more for meet and greet. You will have better luck to post this in the Travel section.

 

[sasscuba]

Welcome to the board. Lots of good people and information here. Enjoy.

 

[pir8]

Last time there I stayed and dove with Sunset House. Good operation. Not the cheapest but they have unlimited shore diving right there on their property. Also 2-3 boats that can go out for 2 tank morning dives.

 

[Jason Ooi]

Welcome to Scuba Board

 

[wombat201]

Was in Cayman in April..... was pretty pricey all over, but work was paying ("conference" trip"!!). We stayed in a condo on 7mile beach (check out caymanvacations.com), worked out as about the same price as a hotel, you dont have to pay to eat out the whole time (also very pricey in Grand Cayman), and much more space and freedom. Most of the dive operations there will pick you up from anywhere on the beach for no extra cost, and drop you off again after your dives, so in that sense it probably does't matter too much where you stay. We dove with Neptune's divers, and they were a very decent operation, no more than 8 divers at a time. A little "rough and ready" compared to some of the bigger ops (small boat, build you own gear, gasp!!) The lady who runs it was excellent, really knows her stuff and the area. We also drove out to the East End of the island for a day of diving (Ocean Frontiers were the only dive shop here, and were also excellent) - well worth the trip, slightly more challenging entries and exits due to bigger currents and swell, but you see totally different stuff than on the West end, was well worth the drive out there. Towards the end of our stay we also found a small dive shop offering shore dives only - I can't remember what its called, but its in the far corner of the parking lot across the road from the Turtle Farm (North end of 7 mile beach, they were still rebuilding after Ivan, so the place looked like a construction site). This is a great option for a couple of cheaper dives - they'll rent you tanks and weights, show you maps and advise where to go, and you can dive from a platform right beside the dive shop. We did a couple of daylight dives from here, then came back in the evening (the guys will leave tanks out for you) for some night dives.... really nice spot, the dives were awesome.

 

[sdwho]

The dive op referred to by wombat201 is Divetech. Their main location is at the Cobalt Coast resort which if about a five minute drive from the Turtle Reef location. There also is shoe diving available at Cobalt Coast. Cobalt Coast and Divetech offer package deals (room/diving) and can be done as an all inclusive for food, or breakfast only, or no food. We are big fans of CC and Divetech and while Cobalt Coast is away from the "action" of Seven Mile Beach, I consider that a plus. We usually rent a car, which not only makes it convenient for us to do shore dives and night dives at Turtle Reef when we want, it also allows us to go explore the rest of the island during our non-diving hours.

 

[ScubaCatgirl]

Ocean Frontiers! They rock!!! www.oceanfrontiers.com Note only are they an excellant dive shop but they have great deal w/Compass Point which they are based out of and Reef Resort. Price wise for Grand Cayman, their prices are fantastic & between the West End dive shop we dove with & Ocean Frontiers that we dove the 2nd half of the week with......we wished we had only booked Ocean Frontiers. When we go back, that's the only op we will dive with. Great Customer service & lots of extras!

 

[worlddiver]

We are also a fan of Divetech, especially in the winter months when is rough with big seas on the east end of the island. Divetech will dive the Northwall (the best) when ever weather permits. They also like to stay away from the crusie ship dive boats on the west end. The 1st week of December is actual the cheapest time to go diving in the Cayman's. Divetech's hotel and dive package can give you some of the best savings, especially with their free shore diving 24/7.

 

[Skinsfan1311]

Ocean Frontiers! They rock!!! www.oceanfrontiers.com Note only are they an excellant dive shop but they have great deal w/Compass Point which they are based out of and Reef Resort. Price wise for Grand Cayman, their prices are fantastic & between the West End dive shop we dove with & Ocean Frontiers that we dove the 2nd half of the week with......we wished we had only booked Ocean Frontiers. When we go back, that's the only op we will dive with. Great Customer service & lots of extras!

I second that! Ocean Frontiers is the best dive-op that I've ever used. We'll be returning in '08 and will be diving with them again....