Feedback on Grand Cayman dive sites for new guidebook

[jgttrey]

That's a good description of the Hepps area. I'll just add that I find the area between Hepps PL and Hepps wall, though a healthy swim, more interesting than average. In many other areas, that in-between area is just a sand plain with little of interest unless you just really, really like garden eels.

At Hepps, there are some nice coral heads at 80' on your way to the main wall, at least one with a swimthrough and chimney, and it actually is a more gentle slope down to the main wall with stuff to see along the way. The wall is also not a sheer drop, IIRC. You're still on flatish sloping bottom at 160'-170' with some gigantic sponges that are very cool. I like that area a great deal but as @ian.b points out, in the winter you take your chances. I was there 3 weeks ago and wasn't able to do a single shore dive.

 

[ian.b]

That's a good description of the Hepps area. I'll just add that I find the area between Hepps PL and Hepps wall, though a healthy swim, more interesting than average. In many other areas, that in-between area is just a sand plain with little of interest unless you just really, really like garden eels.

At Hepps, there are some nice coral heads at 80' on your way to the main wall, at least one with a swimthrough and chimney, and it actually is a more gentle slope down to the main wall with stuff to see along the way. The wall is also not a sheer drop, IIRC. You're still on flatish sloping bottom at 160'-170' with some gigantic sponges that are very cool. I like that area a great deal but as @ian.b points out, in the winter you take your chances. I was there 3 weeks ago and wasn't able to do a single shore dive.

I have seen these on a gin clear day form the inner wall and could just makeout the outer coral struct at the wall. The current was ripping so we ended up hanging out in the coves of the inner wall to avoid burning through air. Maybe on my next trip in September I will finally make it out there.

 

[cgills]

FWIW. Hepps Wall/Pipeline was named after the American DM working for Spanish Bay Reef who found it, Chuck Hepps. according to a reliable source.

 

[scubadada]

FWIW. Hepps Wall/Pipeline was named after the American DM working for Spanish Bay Reef who found it, Chuck Hepps. according to a reliable source.

Thanks, and why Pipeline?

 

[Doctorfish]

Sounds just as plausible as any other explanation.
Spanish Bay. That's a long long time ago.
I stayed there once in the 80s and continued to shore and night dive there for years afterwards. They used to take a small flat top catamaran dive boat out onto the north wall, which made for a lot of soaked seasick divers.

 

[WinfieldNC]

Hi everyone. I'm reaching out for a little advice. I work for Reef Smart Guides and we're in the middle of completing a detailed dive and snorkel guide, including 3D site maps, for the Cayman Islands. We've got Little Cayman and Cayman Brac covered, but at present we only have about 10 sites mapped on Grand Cayman and they are all West Coast dives along the Seven Mile Beach area. We're looking to return to Cayman next month to map an additional 5 or 6 sites on the north, east and south coasts. We want some advice on which sites would make the best (and most useful) maps to complete and represent a decent cross-section of the diving there. We can't map every site of course, but we want to get make sure we hit the highlights. Several people had suggested: Babylon, Grouper Grotto, The Maze, Julie's Wall, Fish Tank, Bat Caves, Pedro's, Lighthouse Reef, Tunnel of Love. We're looking for some feedback on what might be considered the best of Grand Cayman's north, south and east coasts. Thanks!

When do you anticipate releasing the new guide?

 

[cgills]

Thanks, and why Pipeline?

Not sure, there wasn't a "pipeline" there, so perhaps the shape of the mini wall resembling a surf pipeline?

 

[Ian Popple]

Regarding Hepp's questions/discussion.

There is no arch At Hepp's. Although, as mentioned previously there is one at Bonnie's Arch (and the respective condo site with shore access) I have only done the dive ones by boat and it was enjoyable.


Back on topic.

Access to either Hepp's site for shore diving is best from the ladder located on the iron shore in front of Coconut Bay condos or by boat. Parking is limited if you are not staying at the condos. There are tank/weight rentals and setup benchs/showers also.

Hepp's Pipeline is the mooring nearest shore. Top of the wall is about 30 feet. Bottom of the wall is 65-70. I've done this site approaching 50 times over 7 trips and never get sick of it. On go good day with minimal current bottom time and air consumption is your only limiting factors. I've made it from the mooring well past the turtle reef entry and back at a relaxed pace maximizing my bottom time and air usage and ending up over 70 minutes on a dive ( surface swam out then started descent @ mooring ball). If you want to ensure getting down into the turtle reef starting point or further, departing from the ladder and swimming more toward the wall/turtle reef side than straight out to the mooring is beneficial but current should be assed especially if its running south. Current is typically the judge of the dive we end up doing at Hepp's It can change in a matter of hours. or even drastically change its intensity over the course of a dive. The entry is also affected pretty heavily by the winter swell. I've been there for a week long visits and only had 1 day of diving at Hepp's but easy access just down the road at Divetech.

Hepp's Wall is the outer mooring and a decent but doable swim. I've personally have only been shore diving hepp's as we own a unit in Coconut bay. I have not made the trek out to the outer wall typically due to current or conditions that aren't favorable and once for just not wanting to swim that far long for a deep dive (I do regret that decision because it was like glass and gin clear, but it was 7 AM on a trip with my 8 month old daughter who didn't sleep well the night before). Divetech's swim is a bit shorter to the outer wall site and the pool entry and exit is enjoyable.

Current is typically the judge of the dive we end up doing at Hepp's It can change in a matter of hours. Its also affected pretty heavily by the winter swell. I've been there for a week and only had 1 day of diving at Hepp's but easy access just down the road at divetech.

I've probably forgotten more helpful information. Any questions about the sites or condos ask here or message me. I'm happy to answer to the best of my knowledge or defer to someone else who may have more experience.

Excellent description - thanks!

 

[Alucard]

Thanks, and why Pipeline?

Because, when you drop down through the cut to the left of the buoy and look right and up, the overhang of the wall looks like a wave that is about to crash - hence the use of the surfer term "pipeline".

There is an open question right now whether the use of the dive station at Coconut Bay condos (which is how you get to the dive ladder leading to the two "Hepps" sites) is only for residents and guests of the condo complex. I am hoping to get some clarity on it from the owners in a few months when I am there.

As others have said, there is no arch there - the only arch that I know of in the area is at the dive site Bonnie's Arch, which is off shore from the Bonnie's Arch condos. Access there from the shore is very tricky if you aren't staying in the condo complex, as the dive ladder is not in place, and is padlocked up. So you would need to navigate across ironshore, which is not easy. Best to do that as a boat dive. If you're staying in the condos, though, it's a really nice shore dive.

Yes, it's possible to go in at Coconut Bay and come out at Macabuca (or the other way, depending on current). The surface walk between the two is a 3 minute walk, so if you park your car at Macabuca, and have to get out at Coconut Bay, one diver can walk down the road to fetch the car, while the others wait with the gear. Very easy to do. I have gone from Hepps Pipeline buoy to the Macabuca cut using less than half a tank, and I wasn't going fast.

 

[Doctorfish]

I went shore diving from Coconut Bay twice last December without being a guest there. One of the owners of Stingray Watersports lives there and if you call him in advance, he will leave out tanks and weights for you, air or nitrox. He also manages rentals for the condos at Coconut which are spacious and well priced for GC.

We dropped off our gear, parked up by the road, got set up, went diving and there did not seem to be any raised eyebrows. Fairly long swim out to the buoy at Hepps.

The ladder at Macabuca is marginally better and sheltered, but the reef itself seems to be in better shape at Hepps than further south at Turtle. Both are excellent dives.

I think the OP is still looking for suggestions re popular dives east and south end of island.