Advice on plans

[munkispank]

I'm heading back to grand Cayman for Thanksgiving this year and would like advice on my current diving plans. We are looking for just shore diving and read the recent post about shore diving and the advice. I am planning on renting tanks with the operator at each location and probably doing two dives at each site. I have tried to arrange the plans around cruise ships as I understand the Georgetown sites can get rather busy.


Day 1: (4 cruise ships in)
AM- Turtle reef with sundivers -
PM - Divetech's new lighthouse point

Day 2: (2 cruise ships)
AM/PM wreck of Cali and Cheeseburger reef (who to rent with for here?)

Day 3: (1 cruise in)
AM and PM eden rock and devils grotto

Day 4 AM - sunset house mermaid

any advice on anything I have missed or how to organize this better will be greatly received. I am assuming I will have to closeout my 'tab' with each operator and move on to open a new tab to dive elsewhere?

thanks in advance

 

[Alex777]

First of all, be aware that the published cruise ship schedule often differs from what actually happens.

Day 1: Lighthouse Point is a good deep dive on the Main Wall, but there's not much to see at shallow depths. Turtle Reef is a great shallow dive. So, I would reverse thse 2.

Day 2: rent from Divers Down.

Day 3 & 4: no comments.

You won't have a "tab" - you pay as you go.

 

[ianr33]

The other Divetech location at Cobalt Coast also has good shore diving and is a nice place to hang out. Going to be there myself on Sunday

 

[diversteve]

I can't see doing 4 dives at Eden Rock/Devils Grotto. It's just not that interesting except for the DG swimthroughs...the reef is pretty tired looking from all the cruise traffic - lots of broken off coral - every dive hero wants a souvenir...

I'd do two there and go to Sunset House for two afternoon dives. End up at My Bar for drinks/watch the sunset. I might even reverse it, Eden Rock will be better in the afternoon when all the cruisers have to be back on board.

Your 4th day go to Cobalt Coast, Divetech will take you out to the wall and drop you to drift back in after your dive. Or rent tanks locally and dive Cemetary Beach on the north end of SMB.

my .02

 

[nipi]

Forget the Cali & Cheeseburger & go to Cobalt Coast instead.

Do 2 dives at Don Fosters (betw. Eden Rock & Sunset) insted of 4 at Eden Rock.

 

[kalekainxx]

where do u find info on the cruise ship schedule?

 

[munkispank]

thanks everyone for the comments- I got the cruise ship info from the Cayman Islands port authority

Cayman Island Port Authority - Cruise Ship Schedule

- I didn't know that this might be incorrect. Either way, I am expecting more traffic given it is Thanksgiving.

Thanks for all the comments about which sites to do/miss. We are looking for a casual trip and I'm expecting some spots to be less than perfect.

I will post a trip report when I get back as I know there are others looking for shore diving on GC.

 

[CJ's]

You can dive Cheesburger and Sotos Reef from The Lobster Pot Dive Centre.
They are newly opened in the premises previously occupied by Bob Soto's Diving right underneath the Lobster Pot restaurant.
Those of you who remember this dive will know that there are caverns to rival Eden Rock with Tarpon the size of school buses hanging out in them!
I here there have been silversides there this week also.
Enjoy,
CJ

 

[munkispank]

thanks for that one CJ's, I will give it a try.

6 days and counting.....