Trip Report Caymans Trip Report

[staggsSevin]

86 degrees seems very warm for the 1st week of June, I hope that does not portend a heavy bleaching year

Last year mid-may I remember it showing 82-84 (there was a thermocline around 70ft) - i feel like it's a bit warmer for this time of the year for sure. Hopefully it stays steady at 86 and doesn't rise to much more. That being said, I have no plans on taking anything but board shorts and rashguard....which is what I try to dive in most of the time.

 

[mbs]

We just returned from a week at LCBR. Diving was splendid. Absolutely minimal bleaching. Brain and moon corals in excellent condition. Overall stonies were in excellent shape. Swim throughs were superb. Complete opposite to both Bonaire and Cozumel.

I was surprised to see the reefs in such good condition. My biased opinion of the “absence” of SCTLD is the lack of cruise ships visiting the island. The Nassau Grouper has made a commendable come back since we were last there. There were dozens on each dive. We saw reef sharks, turtles, squid, eagle rays and the usual cast of characters. No shortage of fish at all.

I highly recommend diving there now. They limit you to 60mins per dive but that’s more than enough for me. Together with great rooms and food, this is a fantastic place to dive right now.

How did you make out with flights this time?

 

[tridacna]

How did you make out with flights this time?

Getting there was a breeze but getting back was problematic because of rain storms on the entire Cayman group of islands. No biggie and no one to blame but the weather gods. CA seems to have their act together.

 

[staggsSevin]

I've started flying in a day early into Grand so I can get on the early flight on Saturdays....that seemed to work good last May (2023)

 

[cfberry]

Cayman Trip Report

Our trip this year consisted of two trips in one - 5 nights on Little Cayman and 5 nights on Grand Cayman.

JetBlue nonstop from JFK arrived on a Wed morning. GC airport quiet and empty at 10:30 AM. Took the Georgetown Yacht Club shuttle over for lunch. Thanks to all on SB for this great tip. Greeter at the airport called the shuttle, we were picked up around 11:15 AM, had a nice lunch and we were back at the airport in plenty of time for our 2:30 PM flight to LC

On LC, we were met at the small airport by staff from the Southern Cross Club. First time staying at the SCC and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay, the diving, the meals and the serenity. Staff amazing all around. Food was excellent. Loved our unit with an outdoor private shower – never used the one inside. Beautiful full moon and saw the southern cross and milky way.

4 days of two tank am boat diving. The diving was very good, weather was great and seas calm. Vis was good out on the walls at depth, maybe 80’ to 100’ but less and varied in the shallows, maybe 60’-80’. Water temp consistently 86 except on the deepest part of our deep dives. Boat never crowded with 8 on our boat the first two days, 6 on our third, 12 on our 4th. I enjoyed our deep dives on the walls and swim throughs the most. Highlight dive was on the site Eagle Ray Round up where we saw turtles, a seahorse, eagle rays and a hammerhead. The eagle rays put on a ballet and the hammerhead made two passes while we were in the sand finishing our viewing of the eagle rays. An abundance of grouper and some of the biggest lobster I have ever seen. Saw a bridled burrfish (one on GC too).

I did not notice what others have said about the lack of fish, bleaching and disease. I did notice storm damage and it was pointed out that in some places and sites, the storms provided some benefit – some swim throughs that were just about closed in due to the tightness of space were cleaned out by the winter storms. In at least one, a swim through that they could barely squeeze through before the storm- had a 10’ opening in the shallows expanding to about 17’ on the wall at depth. You could see along the reef in some places where the sand was washed away exposing coral reef that had been covered up with sand.

Monday AM flight to GC and again the airport was empty and a breeze to get through. Quick car pickup at Avis and off to West Bay and Coconut Bay Condos. Dove Hepps Pipeline from CBCs and Turtle Reef for 5 days. Weather was fine, diving was good but vis was also down and varied. Saw the usual suspects and observed storm damage in the shallows and on the tops of the mini walls. Silversides in the ladder area at Turtle Reef were nice to see. Nat and crew were working on their shop and dive set up area at TR. Everything looked good but I did not see the gear drying racks I remember using but maybe they were on the list. Macabucu was great as usual.

Enjoyed being back in GC but lots of development since our last trip in 2018. We stayed up in West Bay the entire time. Heard a number of folks complaining about the development and the unusually hot May. The number of new large buildings going up everywhere including West Bay was disconcerting and disappointing. One large building up under construction right next to Turtle Reef and CBC. I didn’t even recognize Lighthouse point with the new buildings nearby.

Overall we had a great dive trip.View attachment 844088View attachment 844090View attachment 844091View attachment 844093https://youtu.be/YDaFULhiSq0?si=hH_4b4rdrpf2oUbN

great shots!

 

[scubaman1965]

I love staying at Coconut Bay Condos. These days I only go for one of the few renovated units with ocean views. There is one building by the ocean front pool that has great pool and ocean views. I think this building has only 2 BRs. The first floor units allow a 30' walk to the gear up benches/rinse tanks/outdoor showers. I believe the rest of the complex are two/three floor town homes. Most of the town homes for rent aren't updated, but that is reflected in the price. There are two onsite dive operators that will rent you tanks, weights, and gear as needed.

 

[Alucard]

I love staying at Coconut Bay Condos. These days I only go for one of the few renovated units with ocean views. There is one building by the ocean front pool that has great pool and ocean views. I think this building has only 2 BRs. The first floor units allow a 30' walk to the gear up benches/rinse tanks/outdoor showers. I believe the rest of the complex are two/three floor town homes. Most of the town homes for rent aren't updated, but that is reflected in the price. There are two onsite dive operators that will rent you tanks, weights, and gear as needed.

There are 2 renovated 3BR units in the block closest to the road that has a pool right off the patio (103, and 104). Units 101 and 102 need some renovation but are also 3BR units. These are all available for short-term rentals.

There are 4 2BR units in the middle of the complex, a short walk from the other pool, They are closest to the dive prep stations. Those have recently been renovated. I wouldn't call their view "ocean view" as it is most definitely blocked by the waterfront building. They often rent for more than a renovated 3BR (which is a mystery to me, honestly). one of the units is always short-term, the others seem to change based on the wishes of the owner.

There is a 3BR condo in the middle of the complex where you can rent a single room or the whole condo, and there is one 3BR oceanfront unit that is highly upgraded and available for short-term rentals that is also close to the dive station. The rest of the 16 units are all 3BR and are not rented out short-term.

Both Shaggy's Diving and Stingray Watersports can rent you gear and tanks, but if you are staying in the condo and want to shore dive, then you can get your gear and tanks from anywhere. The shore dive site is not open to anybody who does not own or is renting from there.

Hope this helps.

 

[tkaelin]

There are 2 renovated 3BR units in the block closest to the road that has a pool right off the patio (103, and 104). Units 101 and 102 need some renovation but are also 3BR units. These are all available for short-term rentals.

There are 4 2BR units in the middle of the complex, a short walk from the other pool, They are closest to the dive prep stations. Those have recently been renovated. I wouldn't call their view "ocean view" as it is most definitely blocked by the waterfront building. They often rent for more than a renovated 3BR (which is a mystery to me, honestly). one of the units is always short-term, the others seem to change based on the wishes of the owner.

There is a 3BR condo in the middle of the complex where you can rent a single room or the whole condo, and there is one 3BR oceanfront unit that is highly upgraded and available for short-term rentals that is also close to the dive station. The rest of the 16 units are all 3BR and are not rented out short-term.

Both Shaggy's Diving and Stingray Watersports can rent you gear and tanks, but if you are staying in the condo and want to shore dive, then you can get your gear and tanks from anywhere. The shore dive site is not open to anybody who does not own or is renting from there.

Hope this helps.

Don't tell everyone . CBCs are a great option for shore diving and reasonably affordable, especially if you can get others to split the price with you. We dove Hepps and Turtle reef for 5 days and enjoyed the diving. You can walk to Turtle Reef/Macabuca.
We stayed in 103 and it was in good shape and very comfortable. 103 has a drying rack with dive hangers on its porch for dive gear.