Another Dive Operator question in Grand Cayman

[huse0054]

My wife and her family (9 of us total, 6 divers) will be heading to Grand Cayman over the new year for a week staying at the Marriott on SMB.

I have been searching here for awhile and have not found what I am looking for in terms of a dive operator, if anyone has some advice or is able to provide us with a thread that already contains this info it would be greately appreciated.

What we are looking for is a custom dive experince that focuses on Service:
-Small groups, less than 10 people
-Pick up and drop off at hotel (Marriott) via car or boat
-No limit on bottom time and flexibility to dive somewhat alone with buddy, My wife and I are both experienced and safe and have dove this way numerous places (Fiji, Turks, Curacao, Cabo, Jamaica)
-An operator who will keep our gear safe, dry it, and set it up for the next day so we don't have to lug it back to the hotel.
-Looking to dive 5-7 days (My wife and I will be staying 2 extra days)


We dove with Fifi in Turks (Provo) and with Jewel Bubble divers off Taveuni in Fiji where there were only 4 of us the whole week. Both places couldn't have been better in accomidating the things above. We may just be spoiled but are looking for a similiar experince in GC.

Thanks

 

[diversteve]

Two that might meet most of your list (afaik no one stores gear overnight):

Scuba Diving Grand Cayman with Seasports
Cayman Islands diving, Cayman divers, Indigo Divers

afaik Indigo has the nicer boat...

 

[huse0054]

Thanks for the info diversteve, I will look into them further. I also did notice Living The Dream via the web. Any thoughts from anyone on them? Have they been around awhile? When doing a search here I only noticed mention of them twice.

 

[Alex777]

Living the Dream are brand new, AFAIK. In the Cayman forum, they introduced themselves and promptly asserted some false information about another, well-respected Cayman dive op. Not a good start. see http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/5414781-post13.html

I think Ambassador Divers would fit your description, although I am not sure if they will store your gear.

 

[EastEndDiver]

Ambassador is a very good op,others to contact would be Peter Milburn and Dusty at Dive N Stuff.

 

[randykiw]

I dove with living the dream divers 2 weeks ago. They where a excellent dive op. They did allow somewhat independent diving. They first like to do a short tour out to the wall and back then allow you to dive independently for as long as you have air. They also use alum 80s where i read somewhere on this board that some operators there use 72, so just check that with whom ever you decide to use (don't know if that is true or not). They had a big room boat and max 8 divers, and picked me up and dropped me off back at the hotel every day. Also if you are diving with them for more than one day, they will store you gear for you and have it setup the next day. I know they took care of my gear the whole week. I would definitely use them again.

 

[huse0054]

Thanks for the info Randykiw, I will look into them, maybe we could rent out the whole boat. Gear storage overnight is a big thing for us, we hate lugging the wet gear back to the hotel and trying to find a place to store it.

 

[Alex777]

Phone Ambassador, Peter Milburn, & Dive 'n' Stuff too. They may well store gear; I just don't happen to know. They meet your other criteria.

 

[diversteve]

It sort of seems like Seasports does that also. (I don't know anything about them):

* Free equipment valet service
If you wish, we will wash and sanitize your gear at the end of the dive day. When you step on board, it will be set up on a tank ready for you - after all, you are on holiday. After your diving is done, we drop it by your hotel once it is dry. No packing wet gear!

 

[huse0054]

Thanks for the research, I will look into all ops that were mentioned. We obviously have some time as we will not be there till early Jan. Any idea on how soon I should make a reservation with a dive op? I have always been one to plan and the earlier the better but seeing as it will be a group of us this time, instead of just my wife, it will make for a more complicated planning process.