Trip Report Trip Report: Cayman Aggressor IV, April 28-May 5, 2018

[Dogbowl]

Just got a reply from reservations. CAV has already replaced CAIV. The maiden voyage was this past week, as indicated on their FB site. They did not say what they are doing with CAIV.

Since CAV has one more cabin, they will be releasing that cabin to sell shortly.

Does not look like there will be inaugural sales as those cabins have already been sold as CAIV cabins.

 

[KathyV]

Just got a reply from reservations. CAV has already replaced CAIV. The maiden voyage was this past week, as indicated on their FB site. They did not say what they are doing with CAIV.

Since CAV has one more cabin, they will be releasing that cabin to sell shortly.

Does not look like there will be inaugural sales as those cabins have already been sold as CAIV cabins.

Interesting! But this may just be a "Soft Launch" until they can make a "Bigger Splash" (with special pricing?) at the time they announce plans for the CAIV - sorry for the puns, I can't help myself!

 

[Damselfish]

Interesting! But this may just be a "Soft Launch" until they can make a "Bigger Splash" (with special pricing?) at the time they announce plans for the CAIV - sorry for the puns, I can't help myself!

Maybe wishful thinking? The Cayman Aggressor already looks pretty full for the rest of the year, and has always seemed popular - I doubt filling the extra cabin will be too much of a problem.

That is not what the captain of the CAIV told us during our trip. He said that they would be sending the CAIV to the Bahamas, where it will become the Bahamas Aggressor. The new Cayman Aggressor V, which will be much larger and more comfortable, will be a replacement and not an addition.

Any word what happens to the current Bahamas Aggressor?

 

[FindingMenno]

Menno, since you're on Grand Cayman, and have a high dive count and work in the dive industry IIRC, it's interesting to me that you mention not yet having that personal experience. Are you talking about at a specific time of year or something, or have you just not done much east end diving?

If the latter, why not? Seems like even if your employer didn't operate out there, that curiosity to explore diving highly praised by some would eventually lure you out.

Richard.

So last Sunday I finally (after 1,5 yr on island!) I took on the challenge of an early rise and the 'long' drive out to East End for a dive . Did a 2-tank morning AM dive with Ocean Frontiers, two sites on the north side of the island. Very friendly staff all around, and with Mike and Sarah we had a great crew. As all on the boat were residents and more experienced divers they were very accommodating and relaxed in the dive planning.

I surely did enjoy the dives. I'll probably also do it again in the coming time, even just for a bit of variety in dive sites and top side. And also the opportunity to stop on the way back for lunch at the Czech Inn. Now that is good solid food for after a dive!

Although I enjoyed the dives, TBH I didn't think it was that much different then you'd find on the west side of the island. It did have the more sheer walls and topography you'll find on the northern sites, but in terms of reef quality and marine life I didn't find it any significantly different. Actually I still feel that in terms of variety and quantity of marine life, the west side offers more than the northern and eastern sites. The 'aquarium' sensation I encounter most on the west side. One of the main draws to East End diving did deliver, on both dives we had brief sightings of Caribbean reef sharks

For those on a vacation, I can see the attraction of the more laid-back and less busy East End over the Seven Mile Beach area if that is what you are looking for in your break from 'daily' life. For that laid-back 'vibe', I especially like the more compact and 'greener' setting of Compass Point over the more bigger resorts like Wyndham and Morritts.

 

[caydiver]

I totally agree with you. I do think there are some great sites out east but also think there are on the west side. I think the perception thing is quite bizarre. There certainly regular reef shark sightings on the EE for the last several months, but the concept that one area or op for for more experienced (or less experienced) is bubbles. If you are diving with a group the most experienced diver is always constrained by the least experienced diver in that group. Interestingly truly experienced divers don't seem to care. We were talking about it after a meeting the other day and chuckling amongst ourselves about how the perceptions seem to take hold. We came up with the conclusion that most of the time it is by people who have no actual experience but seem to enjoy repeating and/or rebranding what they have "heard" from someone who may have no real experience either. Haven't tried the Czech Inn yet, but planning to head out east within the next couple of weeks to dive. Thanks on the heads up on where to stop for lunch

 

[FindingMenno]

If you are diving with a group the most experienced diver is always constrained by the least experienced diver in that group. Interestingly truly experienced divers don't seem to care.

I agree, and somewhat remember that from starting in diving. In the beginning you want every dive to be better than the previous one, and don't want to be hindered by novice divers on your dive. After diving for a while, and having seen a lot, you start to enjoy every dive 'as is'. You just chill, and enjoy on what the dive has to offer.

For me that 'aha' moment came around dive 150ish and I remember it vividly. I was doing a dive on Elphinstone reef in Egypt, and came out disappointed because we didn't see much in pelagics which was one of the main attractions of the site. Then I suddenly realized I had completely missed out on the beautiful reef as I had my eyes in the blue the whole dive. At that point I decided to just chill, drop all expectations on any dive, and just enjoy the unique opportunity every dive offers to discover this amazing underwater world. I never had a disappointing dive since. I can recommend anyone to do this, it makes diving so much more enjoyable!

We came up with the conclusion that most of the time it is by people who have no actual experience but seem to enjoy repeating and/or rebranding what they have "heard" from someone who may have no real experience either.

Welcome to the internet and internet forums! This is a common experience on forums where there is a tendency to all jump on the latest and greatest, and what is shouted the loudest and most often becomes the 'truth'. Internet and internet forums have a very valuable role in providing information, but at the same time as any social environment information and behaviour is subjective. Anyone can claim to be an expert.

I think it is a good thing when people use internet to inform themselves, but it is just one of the many sources of information to use. It saddens me sometimes when I see visiting divers 'demanding' certain dives, or using certain equipment, which is not optimal for them or the conditions. Just because that is what they read online by some anonymous poster, and ignore information provided by someone (local) knowledgeable on the subject.

Haven't tried the Czech Inn yet, but planning to head out east within the next couple of weeks to dive. Thanks on the heads up on where to stop for lunch

The Jaeger Schnitzel is my favorite. It's BYOB for any alcoholic beverages so bring those along!

 

[drrich2]

Welcome to the internet and internet forums! This is a common experience on forums where there is a tendency to all jump on the latest and greatest, and what is shouted the loudest and most often becomes the 'truth'. Internet and internet forums have a very valuable role in providing information, but at the same time as any social environment information and behaviour is subjective. Anyone can claim to be an expert.

True. Conversely, one of the strengths of a publicly accessible forum with a strong membership is that statements are in the public view and subject to challenge. That may not fully counter act the distortions of conventional wisdom, but it offers the option to hear different views and justifications.

I imagine before such online sources, people mostly counted on a dive shop staffer, an instructor or more seasoned dive buddy (all of whom probably relied in part of what they'd heard from others), and got similar assessments privately.

We can be misled. I hope most of the time, the 'group think' of the forum will bring the truth out. This thread may be part of that; I, too, had read that on Grand Cayman the east and north coasts offered better diving than the west. Interesting to read your perspectives.

Richard.

 

[EastEndDiver]

The Czech Inn is my go to place when on Island I eat there about every third day...….I also stay in Bodden Town (TNI) so it's close.

I also never understood people swearing the East End is so much better than anywhere else on island to me the BEST diving is South Side where there are no mooring balls and you need to do a drift dive over the edge fantastic topography and virgin diving the drop off seems to start deeper more like 130-140 but that's my opinion

 

[Joneill]

The Czech Inn is my go to place when on Island I eat there about every third day...….I also stay in Bodden Town (TNI) so it's close.

I also never understood people swearing the East End is so much better than anywhere else on island to me the BEST diving is South Side where there are no mooring balls and you need to do a drift dive over the edge fantastic topography and virgin diving the drop off seems to start deeper more like 130-140 but that's my opinion

This is part of why folks love East End - but it’s great all over GC.

 

[Damselfish]

Different perspectives. I've dove all 4 sides and still prefer East, South and North, to West - at least the part of the West that is dove most heavily. Part of this is related to the number of divers and boats on the west rather than the diving itself. I've been in freaking UW traffic jams there where some DMs didn't even know which divers were from which boat. And a lot of those divers were a mess. I don't remember the dives well anymore, but I remember the fusterclucks. It's been a long time since we've dove that area, maybe it has changed?

I also never understood people swearing the East End is so much better than anywhere else on island to me the BEST diving is South Side where there are no mooring balls and you need to do a drift dive over the edge fantastic topography and virgin diving the drop off seems to start deeper more like 130-140 but that's my opinion

South is good. But I'd guess most people mean East is best diving they can reasonably get to. I think few ops even dive the shallower sites on the south unless they have to, and fewer (like none?) are hitting that deep wall.