Cayman Night Dives

[occrider]

I'm actually in Grand Cayman right now (been here since Friday). The diving has been great so far, I'm diving with Ocean Frontiers which has been an excellent dive op. My question to those who have done night dives is whether it's worth it to do a boat night dive or whether to simply do the shore night dives that divetech offers? It seems like it's only a 20-30ft dive that not many do so I'm wondering whether it's worth doing at all. Thanks!

 

[sasscuba]

I'm actually in Grand Cayman right now (been here since Friday). The diving has been great so far, I'm diving with Ocean Frontiers which has been an excellent dive op. My question to those who have done night dives is whether it's worth it to do a boat night dive or whether to simply do the shore night dives that divetech offers? It seems like it's only a 20-30ft dive that not many do so I'm wondering whether it's worth doing at all. Thanks!

A good dive OP can usually find critters better at night, they know the reefs and where to look. What do you have to lose by doing a shore dive first...if it sucks try the boat and a different reef?

 

[carlislere]

You can dive either, boat or shore. We made a boat night dive on the Balboa wreck while we were there in July. We also made a great night dive at Turtle Reef at Dive Tech. Call ahead to reserve tanks and they will leave them out with your name taped to them. Better yet, do both, as we did! Eat some conch fritters for me, will ya!?

 

[sdwho]

Do the shore dive at Turtle Reef. We dove it virtually every night when we were in GC last month. When we went out rather late (9:30 pm) we say 9 octopi on one dive. We saw a viper eel on one of the dives as well as the silversides, tarpon, sting ray, and all sorts of good stuff.

 

[ianr33]

Turtle Reef makes a great night shore dive. We did it most nights when we were there a few weeks ago. Easy access and easy navigation. The large barracuda in the Tarpon cave looks much more menacing at night and even got to see a Goliath Grouper on one dive.

 

[Skinsfan1311]

OF does a night dive, at Sunset Reef. It's a short boat ride, from the dock, inside the reef. We saw a good variety of "stuff" including a turtle. It was a fun dive. The hot chocolate and homemade muffins were good too!

 

[THX1138]

I agree with the prior two (2) posts. John

 

[Damselfish]

I'm actually in Grand Cayman right now (been here since Friday). The diving has been great so far, I'm diving with Ocean Frontiers which has been an excellent dive op. My question to those who have done night dives is whether it's worth it to do a boat night dive or whether to simply do the shore night dives that divetech offers? It seems like it's only a 20-30ft dive that not many do so I'm wondering whether it's worth doing at all. Thanks!

I think I did one night boat dive with OF, some very shallow site which was just ok. Scattered coral patches and a little sub on a field of sand. Turtle Reef (Divetech shop) is a great shore dive and would have been much better. Now, I don't know that I would drive all the way to the other end of the island just for a single night dive. Instead I'd head there early afternoon on a day I had no afternoon boat scheduled with OF, and make a day of it. Do a couple dives, one each direction, go get some dinner, then do a night dive. You have to let them know you want to dive at night as they don't just leave tanks out, another reason to go early and check in with them.

 

[ianr33]

It seems like it's only a 20-30ft dive that not many do so I'm wondering whether it's worth doing at all. Thanks!

The bottom of the "mini wall" is at about 55 feet. That is as far as most people will go on a night dive. One day I would like to dive the big wall at night but that would come into the "adventure" category.

 

[Damselfish]

I think he meant the OF dive for the 20-30 foot dive? Post was a little confusing.