Aldora Divers trip report

[KMD]

Yeah ... all of that ... except in my case I'd substitute Bonaire for Cayman (mostly because I haven't been to Cayman yet) ...

And I havn't been to Bonaire which is why I put Cayman at the top. But I think in the best traditions of some people on the boards we need to have a big 30 post fight about it, so here goes...

"Bob, how dare you put Bonaire above Cayman islands! Yo mama!"

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

My mama don't dive ... but I spoke to her yesterday and she told me she has been to Cozumel ... so THERE! ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[TSandM]

Grand Cayman in 2009, anybody?

 

[dsteding]

Grand Cayman in 2009, anybody?

Count me in, as long as it is in January through March. I swear, no more winters in Seattle without a trip to someplace warm and sunny.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Grand Cayman in 2009, anybody?

Of course!

... do they have caves there ???

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[pilot fish]

I agree, some people go out of their way to find offense in something. TSandM's trip report was not a negative in any way, nor did it dispaly any ego. It simply said, it was good, OK, but not great. That is totally acceptable by any reasonable person's standards. You like other places better? Fine. Where is the problem? I agree that Coz is not what it was pre Wilma but I still rate it above Bonaire, both AW & UW.

It is all subjective so there will always be a wide range of evaluations of any give dive site. As an example, I will not go to Grand Cayman because of what I've read on this Board, and what I've heard from other divers,: it is expensive-for what you get, crowded, over-dove, restricitve- as to doing your own profile, reef damage due to storms, not a lot of marine life. The whole picture does not sound inviting to me.

I think it's great that we all don't think alike like a bunch of dive ants. Vive de la differe'nce

I'm not ... some people live to be offended. I don't think anything either of us said warranted being called pretentious and egotistical. Some folks just like to stir up crap. Frankly, Don ... :mooner:

If other folks want to consider Coz the "Everest" of the Caribbean, that's their right. It's mine to feel differently ... WITHOUT being called names because of it. But I guess ya shouldn't expect reasonable responses from unreasonable people.


Yeah ... I was wondering about that. Do you consider it a contest or something?


That's pretty much what it boils down to ... I'm lucky enough to have a job that allows me a fair amount of discretionary spending. Unfortunately, the other edge of that sword is that I only get about 3 weeks a year to enjoy it. There's an awful lot of the world I haven't seen yet. Coz was nice. I wouldn't rate it as high as Bonaire, and it doesn't offer either the freedom or the inverterbrate life of Roatan. Haven't been to Cayman yet ... that may be my next Caribbean trip.


Yeah ... all of that ... except in my case I'd substitute Bonaire for Cayman (mostly because I haven't been to Cayman yet) ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[TSandM]

I think it's great that we all don't think alike like a bunch of dive ants.

Well said, PF!

 

[scubawife]

Grand Cayman in 2009, anybody?

Me, Me! But I can't wait until '09. I want to get back there spring '08. Haven't been since March 2004 and it's killing me! We're going to try Ocean Frontiers and stay at their condos. I really miss the diving there and want to enjoy it for a trip or two before things start to change.

The East End if Grand Cayman is still #1 on my list for Caribbean diving. I was really glad that I dived the north wall and the west side first. If I'd gone to the east end first then I would not have bothered with the rest of the island. I have yet to find wall dives to match those on the east end of GC anywhere in the Caribbean. And beautiful reefs too.

We were 1-2 x a year regulars at Cayman Diving Lodge... until Ivan took it into the sea. After 3 yrs they are finally rebuiling, however, it's now being dubbed "luxury ecotourism" :shakehead There's other very upscale development slated for that end of the island too. East End was about 180 degrees from what you find in Seven Mile Beach and Georgetown. No real tourism, just small town atmosphere with a couple resorts and only 3 dive ops there.

For an all-around experience (diving & topside), something easy to get to, affordable, etc., Cozumel wins hands down. But based solely on the diving, in the Caribbean my top pick is East End Grand Cayman. (And if you like more then 3 dives/day, there is shore diving from the other areas of the island.)

 

[scubawife]

Of course!

... do they have caves there ???

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

No. No caves. But they do have shore diving.

 

[scubawife]

It is all subjective so there will always be a wide range of evaluations of any give dive site. As an example, I will not go to Grand Cayman because of what I've read on this Board, and what I've heard from other divers,: it is expensive-for what you get, crowded, over-dove, restricitve- as to doing your own profile, reef damage due to storms, not a lot of marine life. The whole picture does not sound inviting to me.

I think it's great that we all don't think alike like a bunch of dive ants. Vive de la differe'nce

Those people most likely spent their time at a resort hotel on Seven Mile Beach and dived with one of the shops included on the resort/hotel packages. If you dive with 18+ people on the boat and you're going to the north or west dive sites, then you will be jockeying for a mooring ball and if you aren't quick out of the gate you get what's left by the time you arrive. Even then, I have never been on a Grand Cayman dive site where I've experienced anything close to the underwater traffic jams you can get some days at Santa Rosa, any Palancar site or Columbia Shallows.

There's more to GC then Seven Mile Beach and Georgetown, and you don't have to dive the more crowded north wall or west side sites. If you go the East End it's not at all crowded or over dived (at least it wasn't IMO as of 2004). In 7 trips staying and diving on the east side I did not once share a dive with another group. There are small inns, condos, beach houses to rent and if you need it, there is a bigger resort.

We used to stay at a small dive resort (12 rooms) were everything was included. For a room, meals (gourmet chef, not a buffet line) and 3 dives a day, I spent about what I spend for a week in Cozumel. In Cozumel I like to stay at smaller, low key places but I dive with a shop that's $85/2 tank trip, so it balances out. To say GC is expensive for what you get and crowded just really depends on where you stay, who you dive with and what you're comparing it to.