- Messages
- 26,281
- Reaction score
- 5,875
- # of dives
- I'm a Fish!
Grand Cayman.
As docharry,mentioned,.Cozumel is mostly drift diving which is not a basic skill. It's not hard since you just float along but you generally have to stay with the group so can miss a lot. Also at popular dive sites there can be multiple divers in the water - we all look alike u/w - and multiple boats overhead following their divers. While they are exceedingly careful, it can be a little disorienting.
Costa Maya would be a solid 3rd on my list for diving. Do some land-based tour instead.
Cayman really is set up for cruise diving with one small exception. It's a tender port so you may want to line up a little early to get off the ship.
Don Foster's is about 500' south of the port. They have most of the cruise contracts so are very used to dealing with new/discover divers. Don Foster's Dive Grand Cayman
Red Sail Watersports has the other cruise contracts. (Disney)They're a few minutes north of the port by cab, nice thing is they're at the Westin and the Marriott Grand so you have a place for lunch/beach. Also both have pools for the basic skills training you'll do first. Best Diving Activities in the Cayman Islands - Red Sail Sports
They have several large flat-bottom boats, if they have enough demand they will beach one right there.
A third option might be one of the shops 200 yds. north of the cruise port at Lobster Pot dive center.
Wall to Wall and Deep Blue are affiliated, Off the Wall is a third option. I've read OTW will go with small groups so maybe you could get the whole boat - can't hurt to ask.
Cruise Ship Diving Trips | Diving Trips Cruise Ships - Grand Cayman
Off The Wall Divers
Cayman diving is also fantastic. Lots of gorgeous reef, the turtle is their national symbol so you see a lot of them.Often some eagle rays also. Not a lot of sharks but for new divers that can be a good thing. It is fascinating to see one though esp. since you're not prey to them (you're too big and make scary noises)
The other option might be to see if one of the "six divers or less operators can work within your cruise schedule. You would "own" the boat so could ask for a shallow, easy dive. The Aquarium is one on the west side nearby made for new divers, it doesn't break 60',there's turtles and if you see fish hovering around a coral head, that's a cleaning station. If you push in there, you'll see banded coral shrimp doing their work, hold out your hand and get a manicure.
Should you get really hooked and want to do an afternoon dive, Stingray City is a world famous dive in 15' of water.
Not the cruise snorkel excursion since those go to Sandbar nearby - can also be called Stingray City by some cruise lines - it's a snorkel in 5' with the rays.
Also there's nice restaurants in all price ranges within a block or two of the cruise dock.
If your arrival/departure times don't match with the shops I mentioned (they should) there's only about 30-40 other options. www.cita.ky lists them all.
It's also very safe diving, CITA requires a Dive Master in the water for each experience level - often there's 2 - one leading and one trailing. Useful as women/kids get longer dives on the same size tank so the 2nd DM takes the air hogs back to the boat as needed.
have a good dive...
As docharry,mentioned,.Cozumel is mostly drift diving which is not a basic skill. It's not hard since you just float along but you generally have to stay with the group so can miss a lot. Also at popular dive sites there can be multiple divers in the water - we all look alike u/w - and multiple boats overhead following their divers. While they are exceedingly careful, it can be a little disorienting.
Costa Maya would be a solid 3rd on my list for diving. Do some land-based tour instead.
Cayman really is set up for cruise diving with one small exception. It's a tender port so you may want to line up a little early to get off the ship.
Don Foster's is about 500' south of the port. They have most of the cruise contracts so are very used to dealing with new/discover divers. Don Foster's Dive Grand Cayman
Red Sail Watersports has the other cruise contracts. (Disney)They're a few minutes north of the port by cab, nice thing is they're at the Westin and the Marriott Grand so you have a place for lunch/beach. Also both have pools for the basic skills training you'll do first. Best Diving Activities in the Cayman Islands - Red Sail Sports
They have several large flat-bottom boats, if they have enough demand they will beach one right there.
A third option might be one of the shops 200 yds. north of the cruise port at Lobster Pot dive center.
Wall to Wall and Deep Blue are affiliated, Off the Wall is a third option. I've read OTW will go with small groups so maybe you could get the whole boat - can't hurt to ask.
Cruise Ship Diving Trips | Diving Trips Cruise Ships - Grand Cayman
Off The Wall Divers
Cayman diving is also fantastic. Lots of gorgeous reef, the turtle is their national symbol so you see a lot of them.Often some eagle rays also. Not a lot of sharks but for new divers that can be a good thing. It is fascinating to see one though esp. since you're not prey to them (you're too big and make scary noises)
The other option might be to see if one of the "six divers or less operators can work within your cruise schedule. You would "own" the boat so could ask for a shallow, easy dive. The Aquarium is one on the west side nearby made for new divers, it doesn't break 60',there's turtles and if you see fish hovering around a coral head, that's a cleaning station. If you push in there, you'll see banded coral shrimp doing their work, hold out your hand and get a manicure.
Should you get really hooked and want to do an afternoon dive, Stingray City is a world famous dive in 15' of water.
Not the cruise snorkel excursion since those go to Sandbar nearby - can also be called Stingray City by some cruise lines - it's a snorkel in 5' with the rays.
Also there's nice restaurants in all price ranges within a block or two of the cruise dock.
If your arrival/departure times don't match with the shops I mentioned (they should) there's only about 30-40 other options. www.cita.ky lists them all.
It's also very safe diving, CITA requires a Dive Master in the water for each experience level - often there's 2 - one leading and one trailing. Useful as women/kids get longer dives on the same size tank so the 2nd DM takes the air hogs back to the boat as needed.
have a good dive...