Some of the "rules" are more historical but were close to universal for a long time, and only gradually loosened up over the years. (Cayman was rather conservative and behind the curve on things such as Nitrox and dive computers too.) I think one of the issues all along has been the use of words like "not allowed", "rules", "requirements", and especially "laws" when the truth has often been closer to "we don't want you to, but if we use those words you will question it less." Also it's easier to say it's the rule or law than actually explain why all the time, especially when some people weren't going to like the explanation. But it would become clear to some people once they'd been there a couple times and saw the way things worked, that the whole "rule/law" thing wasn't strictly true, and didn't always make sense, and the internet accelerated that. Overuse of the "rule" crutch can backfire sometimes, as seen in this thread. Maybe the rules have evolved, but it's still the same crutch. (Not like other places don't do the same thing, but more people go to Cayman.)
Cayman is sort of a special case since it was an early major dive destination that has evolved through pretty much the whole time of rec diving. Same with Bonaire. My understanding is both were pretty much the wild west early on. I think Cayman is different in that it became more of a general tourist destination given the beaches and other factors, and attracted a fair number of more "casual" divers. Bonaire was never as mainstream and divers going there were probably more serious or experienced on average. Also, Cayman has the walls and goes deep fast, not so much on Bonaire. Cayman became more heavily developed. And perhaps there is more innate conservatism in Cayman culture. So, they are different.
This makes a lot of sense to me
@Damselfish as it also explains how/why things have changed over the years. And it explains why diving sometimes seems more relaxed at places like Ocean Frontiers on the East End or when diving with technical ops that tend that attract more dedicated divers.
I have heard the 110 ft depth rule that
@drrich2 referenced occasionally being cited in Cayman for both air and nitrox, and that one annoys my husband more than me. But again, no one seems to be monitoring it or calling anyone out for violations. We are usually free to go off on our own during dives and so that's what we do, and nobody checks our depth when we get back on board - unless your computer is alarming. When we decide to follow the guide then we stay with the group, and when we are shore diving there is definitely nobody checking up on us.
Another suggested rule with some Cayman dive ops is 50 mins first dive and 60 mins second dive, but again, it is not hard and fast. If you get off the boat quickly and come back late, no one is checking your computer to make sure that you didn't exceed the stated time. And I do understand that the crew needs to allow adequate time between dives, and get the boat back and outfitted for the afternoon dives, and grab some lunch.
We love diving the Caymans and I am usually quite happy to go along with the policies of the dive op and pleased to give them my patronage along with a nice tip. It is when someone starts throwing out terms like "laws, rules, regulations, allowed, and required" that makes me want to say "Oh yeah? Prove it! Show me the Wizard standing behind the curtain twirling the knobs and controlling all of our fates!" And if you can't prove it then just say "this is our policy" and I can either decide to go along with it or go elsewhere.
In some ways Cayman is a more conservative country than other Caribbean destinations and I'm okay with that. There is no nude or topless sunbathing (that is the law) and they only recently loosened up the laws about buying bulk liquor on Sundays. It's their culture and it's fine with me. But hiding behind some mysterious, undefined "scuba laws" has back-fired somewhat, because it has given the islands a reputation among more serious divers as having a more restrictive, baby-sitting diving culture as
@kelemvor has indicated.
I am glad that we have had this discussion and cleared some things up because these issues have been hanging around out there for a long time and they keep coming up. And some of us that remember when Cayman was a "bit of a wild west diving destination" just weren't buying it.
Off topic comment,
@drrich2 I would add Roatan to your short list of Caribbean destinations with good shore diving readily available. It is mostly house reefs and drop-off dives but the shores dives are good - at least there were in the past but we haven't been there recently.
Roatan is not the kind of place where you can rent a car and go off searching for dive sites along the road. The roads are in bad shape, rental cars are expensive, and some areas may not be safe, but the shore dives on house reefs are a nice way to increase the number of available dives at low cost. And I don't think that that they would have a problem with certified solo divers, they don't even require gloves (just recommended) but don't forget to bring plenty of Deet, the sand fleas and mosquitos can be bad!
I like Cayman much better!
