diverrex
Contributor
We been to both Curacao (Lion's Dive/Ocean Encounters) and Grand Cayman (Compass Pointe/Ocean Frontiers). Both were good trips, just different. Avfew comments on each below.
Curacao - probably more to do topside and the Dutch and Caribbean influences make it seem more of a foreign country visit than Grand Cayman, which could just as easily be Florida. The diving was very easy, much less current than Cozumel. Not nearly as many fish as Cozumel and mostly all small fish though we did see a manta ray. Several small wrecks that are interesting. Very easy beach diving available. Ocean Frontiers was a good op but not great. Boat dives were always led by a couple DM's and in large groups of 16 - 20 divers, too many for when an interesting fish subject was found. You carried your gear back and forth to the boat and rinsed it. Dives were generally 45 - 55 minutes. Most dives were done between 40-60 fsw. Viz was 60-80 ft. Lots of good restuarants. Willemstad was very interesting with a few sights, Synagogue from 1732, Queen Emma Bridge, another museum i forget teh name, etc.
Cayman - great viz at 80 - 100 ft. Deeper diving than Curacao. The first dive we always hit 100 fsw. Swim throughs to get out to the wall were interesting. The wall was fantastic. We did see one caribbean reef shark but were generally disappointed with the number (too few) of large fish we saw. Ocean Frontiers may have the hardest working, most customer service staff we've ever experienced. They take your gear the first day and that's the last you need to deal with it. It was always on the boat in the morning then they take it off, clean it and store it for you after diving. Boats had 12 divers and were split into two group of 6. The DM led the dive during the first 25-30 minutes of deep diving, took the group back to where the boat was (usually 30 - 50 FSW) then the DM went up and you were allowed to continue diving the reef below the boat. All dives were 60+ minutes. Seven mile beach is great as a beach but didn't interest us much otherwise and town is mostly a cruise port kind of town. We did enjoy going to over to Rum Point which was an easy drive from East End.
Both are worth going to, both very relaxing palces to visit, diving is very good at both and I'm sure you'd enjoy either. Save the other one for another trip.
Curacao - probably more to do topside and the Dutch and Caribbean influences make it seem more of a foreign country visit than Grand Cayman, which could just as easily be Florida. The diving was very easy, much less current than Cozumel. Not nearly as many fish as Cozumel and mostly all small fish though we did see a manta ray. Several small wrecks that are interesting. Very easy beach diving available. Ocean Frontiers was a good op but not great. Boat dives were always led by a couple DM's and in large groups of 16 - 20 divers, too many for when an interesting fish subject was found. You carried your gear back and forth to the boat and rinsed it. Dives were generally 45 - 55 minutes. Most dives were done between 40-60 fsw. Viz was 60-80 ft. Lots of good restuarants. Willemstad was very interesting with a few sights, Synagogue from 1732, Queen Emma Bridge, another museum i forget teh name, etc.
Cayman - great viz at 80 - 100 ft. Deeper diving than Curacao. The first dive we always hit 100 fsw. Swim throughs to get out to the wall were interesting. The wall was fantastic. We did see one caribbean reef shark but were generally disappointed with the number (too few) of large fish we saw. Ocean Frontiers may have the hardest working, most customer service staff we've ever experienced. They take your gear the first day and that's the last you need to deal with it. It was always on the boat in the morning then they take it off, clean it and store it for you after diving. Boats had 12 divers and were split into two group of 6. The DM led the dive during the first 25-30 minutes of deep diving, took the group back to where the boat was (usually 30 - 50 FSW) then the DM went up and you were allowed to continue diving the reef below the boat. All dives were 60+ minutes. Seven mile beach is great as a beach but didn't interest us much otherwise and town is mostly a cruise port kind of town. We did enjoy going to over to Rum Point which was an easy drive from East End.
Both are worth going to, both very relaxing palces to visit, diving is very good at both and I'm sure you'd enjoy either. Save the other one for another trip.
