Cobalt Coast/Reef Divers and Shore Diving

[scubadada]

Not planning to rent a car.

You would be effectively stuck at Cobalt Coast for all your diving and meals, not necessarily a bad thing. I always recommend renting a car on Grand Cayman, there are other operators to dive with, other places to eat, other things to do. The shore diving at Turtle Reef and Lighthouse point is not expensive. I don't think it is clear yet what dives Reef Divers will offer. They have only a single tank afternoon dive at LCBR and a couple of night dives if enough divers sign up.

If LCBR, not much to do on Little Cayman. Taking out the bikes a couple of times about does it. I would go tour the Central Caribbean Marine Institute. Do the iguana tour, if offered, was not on out last visit in 2014.

 

[gkrane]

I really don't need a whole lot to do topside. Are you able to snorkel from shore on Little Cayman and see anything at all? This would entertain me and the family along with the bike rides and iguana tour. I'm always up for taking shots or vids of critters in the shallows.

 

[scubadada]

There's not much snorkeling as much of the grass area is very shallow. There is some with juvenile fish, I saw a seahorse on one visit. The bikes, as well as kayaks and paddleboards are for rent, all are fun, they really should include them in the price. See the activities section of the LCBR website Things to Do in Little Cayman | Little Cayman Beach Resort There is also tennis and a very small exercise facility.

If you really don't need much regarding surface activities, you could consider Compass Point/Ocean Frontiers on the East End of Grand Cayman. Car rental is included in the package. OF is the best operator I have used, 4 dives per day and a couple of night dives. I don't know about snorkeling or other watersports.

 

[gkrane]

There's not much snorkeling as much of the grass area is very shallow. There is some with juvenile fish, I saw a seahorse on one visit. The bikes, as well as kayaks and paddleboards are for rent, all are fun, they really should include them in the price. See the activities section of the LCBR website Things to Do in Little Cayman | Little Cayman Beach Resort There is also tennis and a very small exercise facility.

If you really don't need much regarding surface activities, you could consider Compass Point/Ocean Frontiers on the East End of Grand Cayman. Car rental is included in the package. OF is the best operator I have used, 4 dives per day and a couple of night dives. I don't know about snorkeling or other watersports.

I looked at the compass point website and didnt see anything in the package about 4 dives per day.

 

[scubadada]

Package has 2 morning dives, 2 afternoon dives are extra

 

[AggieDiver]

There is excellent snorkeling available from shore on LC, just not in front of LCBR. Better snorkeling would be found a short bike ride away on the north side of the island, down at Point of Sand, or out by Owen Island. I did see a family snorkeling under and around the dock at LCBR last time we were there in the early evening after all the boats had been taken out to their moorings. Sounded like they were happy with what they were seeing, but it is a fairly small area to explore.

 

[Doctorfish]

I have gone shore diving and snorkeling on the north side of LC at Jackson's Reef and wall. There is easy beach access and it's a relatively short bike ride from LCBR.
Under the dock at LCBR, I have seen tarpon and at one time there was a resident small nurse shark there. I would not venture too far out from shore at LCBR as the currents can be pretty wicked.

If you bike west from LCBR, past the airport to Mahogany something ? housing area, the iguanas will chase you down the road if you have a banana for them.

 

[gkrane]

I just received an email back from an inquiry with Compass Point. I can actually go to LCBR with 3 dives per day and AI cheaper than I can go to compass point with 2 dives per day with breakfast only due to child discount. For 4 dives per day for 7 people at CP it is almost 2,000 pp not including meals or airfare. I hear LC has much better diving as well.

---------- Post added October 27th, 2015 at 04:44 PM ----------

I have gone shore diving and snorkeling on the north side of LC at Jackson's Reef and wall. There is easy beach access and it's a relatively short bike ride from LCBR.
Under the dock at LCBR, I have seen tarpon and at one time there was a resident small nurse shark there. I would not venture too far out from shore at LCBR as the currents can be pretty wicked.

If you bike west from LCBR, past the airport to Mahogany something ? housing area, the iguanas will chase you down the road if you have a banana for them.

My son will like the Iguanas. He had them all at our breakfast table at Habitat on Bonaire every morning.

 

[Doctorfish]

Personally, I would opt for LCBR over Compass Point and Cobalt Coast if prices similar.

Better diving, good food, good boats.
Between kayaking, Point of Sand, bicycling, iguanas and the little museum. There should be more than enough topside activity. If you are diving 3 tanks per day, you won't get back to the dive lodge till 3.30-4 anyway.

 

[LiquidDivingAdventure]

The iguanas are pretty funny at LCBR. We had one that walked around the bar last trip there. My wife had painted her toenails bright red and the iguana kept nipping at her toes...thought they were strawberries I guess. Too funny. We rented at car on our first trip there and saw all there was to see in 2-3 hours. I wouldn't recommend the rental car as there wasn't much to see if our opinion, others might differ. As many times as we have been to LCBR we have not used the tennis court or exercise room although after the meals, the treadmill would not hurt me a bit. We did take the bicycles on time and rode down the road past the airport, and encountered a couple of big, fearless iguanas. Great photo op.

Compass Point works out well for those who want or like to cook while on vacation. I cook and clean at home and that is not my idea of a vacation, but just my opinion. Ocean Frontiers is a solid dive operation. I did like DiveTech at Compass Point as they seemed to specialize in some tech dives and rebreathers. I did a test dive on one and the instructor was great. I'm not sure how Reef Divers will compare to DiveTech.