Cayman Island Shoredives

[Alucard]

I didn't think you could get out to the Hepp's sites unless staying at Coconut Bay - or Hepp's Condos. I suppose if you rent tanks from Stingray Watersports you can also.

For one of them - likely Hepp's Condo's - I read they remove the ladder when it's not being used and store it nearby.

I own at Coconut Bay and have never heard of "Hepp's Condos".

I agree the condo complex at Bonnie's Arch has a removable ladder and only residents and guests get the key for it. They have no tanks on-site, so you need to get them from Divers Supply. But it provides a shore dive to (surprise!) Bonnie's Arch which is a nice dive.

Coconut Bay has a public right of way down to the water and thus is open to the public to dive or snorkel. It is ironshore there and the dive ladder, as others stated, is permanent and maintained by the Coconut Bay Condo Association) who also owns and maintains the dive station (rinse tanks, showers, etc.). Stingray Watersports provides tanks and weights and details for paying Duncan are posted in the shower. There is no requirement to use these in order to dive, but they are very convenient. Nitrox is also available on request. The pool there is for owners, residents and overnight guests only, though. I have said in other threads on here that I think that the mini wall there is one of the best shore dives on the island.

Turtle Reef (aka Macabuca), which is a short walk down the road from Coconut Bay, has an easier entry ladder (wider and at an angle rather than vertical), and has its own dive shop there (Sundivers). If you want to dive from there you are required to use their tanks. The place is quite active after sunset with the night divers, too.

 

[EastEndDiver]

I agree that it is one of the best shore dives on Island along with Lighthouse and Cobalt and the nice thing is they are all close I also enjoy Macabuca another overlooked shore dive is the Launch Ramp those familiar with that side of the island know where it is

 

[Alucard]

I think I know where the launch ramp is - I drive by it regularly. Could you tell us more about that shore dive, please? Entry and exit situation, how the dive is, etc. If it's the place I am thinking about it's just north of Lighthouse Point. On the map it looks like a very short distance to the mini wall at least.

I am always looking for new places to try in that area.

 

[EastEndDiver]

Yes you have the location correct...…...entry can be simple we wade into the water and then swim against the wall to the inlet once there drop to the bottom and swim out I say drop to bottom because there may be boats entering or exiting ….once out we continue to the mini wall....there is a "marker" when you hit the wall it looks like a piece of rebar bent up from the wall strange I know but it gives us a focus point to start and end the dive....the dive is similar to Lighthouse and macabuca but with a lot less stress on the site I don't thin k many people dive it.

 

[Alucard]

Thank you for that. I may just have to give that a try next time I am there.

 

[EastEndDiver]

Try it you'll like it......just think of Lighthouse and Macabuca with very little wear and tear.

 

[Lateralus]

What is the best area to be to access the North Wall from a Boat Dive?

 

[EastEndDiver]

Several dive Ops keep a boat at the yacht club which is closest....where are you staying?

 

[tkaelin]

Several dive Ops keep a boat at the yacht club which is closest....where are you staying?

Closer to what? Doesn't the answer depend on where on the North Wall you are trying to get too. Some on the far west side of the North wall sites may be closer to other points just as some of the North Wall sites on the far east end my be closer to others. Maybe I need to look at a map again. I thought the yacht club may be close to the main channel out to the north site but there can be a ways to go either right or left to hit the furthest sites.

 

[Alucard]

What is the best area to be to access the North Wall from a Boat Dive?

You mean to stay? In my opinion pretty much anywhere in West Bay. The dive ops there have a pretty good bead on what is going on with the North Wall and don't have that far to go to reach it. Most of them have the option of going out of West Bay dock or Morgan's Harbour, which provides a straight run out through the barrier onto the North Wall sites like Martin's Wall, Cliff Hanger, Main Street, Tarpon Alley, Black Forest, Eagle Ray Pass and Ghost Mountain.

I don't know who goes out of Rum Point right now, but they would have easier access to the more eastern North Wall sites. The folks out east get the real eastern locations.

For my money, West Bay is a good option - you have access to the North Wall where conditions permit, and the more sheltered West Side if things are a bit nasty, plus you have quite a few shore diving options.