On Roatan the cruise operator is Anthony's Key Resort. In December there could be rougher weather on the north side where they're located. I was there once and noticed that all the cruise divers went on the same boat - they segregated cruise divers from the resort guests - so the site chosen was probably for the least experienced. (that might be you...lol) It's a 1/2 hr. shuttle to the resort. Someone posted recently that AKR moved a boat around to the south side for their cruise dive, IDK if that's normal now or just weather related.
Instead I would book with Barefoot Divers or Subway Watersports - both do cruise programs. Barefoot works out of Barefoot Cay resort nearby. It's a small resort and not everyone that stays there is a diver so your group may be their business that morning - our group of 7 was - thus they can cater dive sites to your needs. One of our dives was the Prince Albert off Cocoview, maybe the best shallow wreck on Roatan. Your
instructor may want to dive Mary's Place just off their property, it's the signature Roatan (advanced) dive. It really is valet diving. And they have hot showers/lockers for you to use. Also newer ScubaPro rental gear if you don't get yours in time.
barefoot divers|day dive packages|cruise shippers|full valet service
The other advantage is they're a 5min. cab ride (costs extra) from the cruise port (Mahogany Bay) on the south side so shouldn't be affected by weather. It's divable even when the north isn't. Also, order lunch, the food is excellent on an open-air patio with views to the water just off the dive shop. If you have non-divers with you, the reef out front of the resort has a breakwater with a shallow, natural lagoon just off the resort beach. There's kayaks also - and a pool.
Subway will pick you up free at the cruise port so they may be the best deal, I've no experience with them.
Roatan Shore Excursions - scuba diving - snorkeling - kayaking
On Cayman, the cruise operator is Don Fosters. They're downtown with larger boats so you're more likely to be in a larger group.
Welcome to Don Foster's Dive Cayman They'll still break you down into groups of 8/DM but you might contact one of the other local operators instead as many are 6-8 diver max operations - most with larger boats - so 4-5 of you being the majority can request shallower sites.
Lobster Pot Dive Center downtown books 2 good operators, Wall to Wall or Deep Blue Divers. From Deep Blue's dock you can see your ship so there's not much chance of "missing the boat". Deep Blue is only going to take 6 divers max so you may have their boat to yourselves. Also you'll have time in Georgetown before tendering back.
The Lobster Pot Dive Center Grand Cayman - Located in Sunny Cayman Islands - one of the few dive centers with our own dock on the west side, with Cheeseburger Reef, just a short swim from our shore
As new visitors to Cayman, I'd skip the Kittiwake dive. It was recently put down so there's not a lot of growth on it yet. It is an easily penetrable wreck - there's big holes in the sides, but you'd be limited to the upper 3 decks. Several years from now it may really be something. The better diving off Cayman is the wall diving. Stingray City is another option, depending on your time in port, you might be able to do that in the afternoon after 2 morning dives - we did both one day (shore based) and were done by about 3pm. Many of the operators keep a boat in the sound - some transport you there in a van.
Even though it's the Kittiwake website, here's a list of many of the other CITA dive operators if you want to contact some of them directly:
The Official Website for the Kittiwake Shipwreck - Home
