AM or PM diving in Grand Cayman

[emtee63]

It's been a few years since we have been to GC. We are going to dive with Indigo and have the choice of AM or PM 2 tank dives. Anyone have good first hand knowledge of AM vs PM diving in GC? (Water conditions, amount of sea life, etc) I am fine with the AM diving but my wife and daughter would prefer to sleep in a bit. Thanks in advance for any input.

 

[arew+4]

Personally I would do the morning boat dives, wall/deep reef, and have the afternoons for shallower shore dives.

When we were there for a week many moons ago, My wife and I logged 20 dives in a week.We booked a late flight out so we got to dive 6 days.

 

[shurite7]

In terms of life underwater it doesn't matter. The breeze may pick up a little bit in the afternoon. I used to live on Grand Cayman. The advantage of diving in the PM versus the AM is you can sleep in, be on the water during the hottest part of the day, and normally it isn't as crowded.

In my experience I've always found it funny that many people want to wake up early, while on vacation, so they can dive in the morning, go shopping in the hottest part of the day, go eat dinner, then head out for some drinking so that they can wake up early the next day to repeat the process. Why not sleep in and have a relaxing late breakfast, dive in the hottest part of the day, shop when it is a bit cooler, then go out drinking (if you are into that).

 

[KathyV]

I would prefer morning too, you are more likely to get to enjoy the deeper wall dives and best light. Depending on the time of year, the second afternoon dive may be more of a "dusk dive" than a daylight dive - fewer creatures around as the day fish retire before the night fish come out, and poorer lighting to see the colors and take photographs. But it probably wouldn't matter in the middle of summer.

And morning dives would give you more time to enjoy some topside activities on GC - or just relax in a hammock; but will they allow you to switch off? Maybe sign up for the morning dives but ask if you can switch to afternoon dives a couple of times - assuring them that you will let them know in advance.

I remember one time at Cayman Brac Beach Resort we were signed up for the 2-tank morning dives but had to miss a day for some reason (one of us not feeling well or something - I don't remember). The Reef Divers op was very willing to let us do a couple of 1-tank afternoon dives to make up for the dives we missed, we just had to let them know before lunch on the day so that they could finalize plans for the afternoon boats and dives.

I am not familiar with Indigo but they may also be willing to be flexible with the schedule.

 

[Doctorfish]

AM for me, which leaves the afternoon free to shore dive.
Conditions and light would not vary much on GC for AM vs PM wall diving. Further, the day fish will still be awake if you were to do your second afternoon dive at 3.30 to 4.30 I think KathyV is wrong about this. Has never been my experience.

 

[mi000ke]

In terms of life underwater it doesn't matter. The breeze may pick up a little bit in the afternoon. I used to live on Grand Cayman. The advantage of diving in the PM versus the AM is you can sleep in, be on the water during the hottest part of the day, and normally it isn't as crowded.

In my experience I've always found it funny that many people want to wake up early, while on vacation, so they can dive in the morning, go shopping in the hottest part of the day, go eat dinner, then head out for some drinking so that they can wake up early the next day to repeat the process. Why not sleep in and have a relaxing late breakfast, dive in the hottest part of the day, shop when it is a bit cooler, then go out drinking (if you are into that).

Yeah, this ^

I live part of the year on GCI and have done both AM and PM. Most of the dive ops have a very early call for morning dives, and while once I get in the water I usually wake up, I prefer to sleep in or at least not feel rushed to get to the boat. And my non-diving spouse likes to go out at night - so an extra hour of sleep helps. I have not noticed any difference in sea life between AM and PM, and even the weather stays pretty stable throughout the day (check weather underground website). The only caveat would be if you want more than two dives per day, or want to do shore diving in the afternoon.

 

[KathyV]

AM for me, which leaves the afternoon free to shore dive.
Conditions and light would not vary much on GC for AM vs PM wall diving. Further, the day fish will still be awake if you were to do your second afternoon dive at 3.30 to 4.30 I think KathyV is wrong about this. Has never been my experience.

We like to visit Cayman in the late fall for our anniversary and we have found that the dusk comes quickly and you may need a flashlight because things can start getting dim during the second dive. It is more pronounced when we are further south and closer to the equator - like Bonaire - where there is very little twilight there during the fall.

 

[Doctorfish]

I'm there every year first week December and always on a shore dive between 3 and 5. In my experience, still pretty bright til about 4.30.

 

[drrich2]

Perhaps a mix? The first day after you fly in can be a bit hectic to get up and running early; that might be a good day for a leisurely morning following by an afternoon 2-tank trip.

I like to get all the diving I can in on trips; that first morning can be a pain. Sleep deprivation, greasy breakfast because it was convenient, stressed from travel & getting to the dive shop on time the 1st time, oops forgot to take Bonine hope the sea's not rough, did I get all my gear, etc...

Richard.

 

[KathyV]

I'm there every year first week December and always on a shore dive between 3 and 5. In my experience, still pretty bright til about 4.30.

You would know more about it, I stand corrected. I must be confusing memories of other vacation destinations.