Crusie ship diving in Grand Cayman

[mike_s]

I don't know which dive operators that the cruise lines use, but this info may be helpfull.

In Cozumel, you'll dock and can simply walk off the ship. If you carry your gear you might want a roller bag as it can be a long walk up to where any shuttle bus or tax might take you to a dive operators. If you book it through the cruise line, some of the operators might actually bring their dive boat up and dock near the cruise ship making the transisiton easier.

In Grand Cayman, they have no dock. They anchor maybe a mile off shore in slightly deeper water and you take a "tender" (shuttle boat which holds maybe 150 people) into port. It dumps you right in town. However, don't expect the tender operation to run fast. Speed of getting people off the cruise boat depends on how many tenders they have operating that day. Imagine 2500 people who all want to get off the cruise boat at the same time. It was pretty hetic.

We went down early and still had to wait maybe about an hour to get off the boat. They do take people who have "early" shore excursion tours off the boat first over normal passengers. So if you have a dive scheduled at 10am meeting at the dock, I'd try to leave the ship an hour or more beforehand.

Getting back on the ship is about as much fun, but wasn't quite as bad as not everyone was trying to get back on at once. But you will have a large crowd who will "wait until the last minute" to try.

hope all that helps.

-mike

 

[cowjazz]

Cozumel is also using tenders. The cruise ship pier was destroyed during the hurricane. The Grand Cayman tenders ran smoothly, had about a 30 minute wait to return to the cruise ship. The Cozumel tenders had large boats (200+ passenagers), and took 45 minutes to fill before it left the cruiseship.

 

[mike_s]

wow... didn't know that much damage was done to cozumel.

I'm afraid that cruiseboats will ruin that island regardless.

 

[carlislere]

Another option for Grand Cayman is to beach dive Eden Rocks/Devil's Grotto. When you get off the tender at the GC harbor, hang a right and walk down the street to Eden Rocks Dive Center. It's a couple hundred yards down from the harbor. You can easily get in two beach dives and still have time for lunch at Paradise cafe, or Hard Rock Cafe and a little shopping before getting back on the tender. Have a great trip!

 

[dman]

Thanks for all of the input. I think I'm going to try to find out from Royal Carribbean who they book with in each stop and contact those operators directly. This will be a fun trip, but I still am bummed that Katrina put a screaching halt to our plans for a 25th anniversary trip to Tahiti and Bora Bora. Gotta rebuild though, so ya take what ya can get.

 

[detroit diver]

This is exactly what I did, and it was a really nice dive site. I recommend it highly.

Another option for Grand Cayman is to beach dive Eden Rocks/Devil's Grotto. When you get off the tender at the GC harbor, hang a right and walk down the street to Eden Rocks Dive Center. It's a couple hundred yards down from the harbor. You can easily get in two beach dives and still have time for lunch at Paradise cafe, or Hard Rock Cafe and a little shopping before getting back on the tender. Have a great trip!

 

[BurBunny]

In Grand Cayman I believe RCCL uses either Don Foster's or Red Sail. For Cozumel, I'm pretty sure they're using Sand Dollar.

 

[dman]

Thanks for the info. I'll email them.

 

[Tuckster]

My wife & I were just on RCCL's Jewel of the Seas (1/22/06) & we dove Coz & GC. We used Scuba with Allison in Cozumel & she was terrific. You can grab a cab at the pier to the Catera marina for $6.00. If you let her know your schedule, she will work with you. They are & will be tendering in Coz for a while so don't plan anything too early because it takes awhile !!
We used the excursion in GC mainly because of the time restraints & got in 2 pm dives with Red Sail. They were good & safe but somewhat restictive.
Have fun.

Tuckster

 

[dman]

Thanks Tuckster. I'll email Scuba with Allison to get some info. I guess the schedules are pretty much the same as far as port times. I think we'll probably go with an excursion on at least one of the stops. Would you mind telling me if you took your own equipment or used the rental. I'm thinking of leaving the BC's and fins, but bringing everything else.

Also, did ya'll use skins or suits? Seems like our trip in mid December will be about the same water temps. Everyone please chime in on equipment and suits.