Diving in Grand Cayman or Little Cayman?

[Altitude2010]

Hi,

I am interested in visiting the Cayman Islands at the end of December and at the beginning of January.

I love scuba diving and that's the main raison why I want to travel to the Cayman Islands.

Is it true that the diving in Little Cayman is far superior to the diving in Grand Cayman? A guidebook says: "arguably better, more pristine sites are available on Little Cayman".

Many thanks for your replies.

Altitude 2010

 

[jdcpa]

Personally, I like Little Cayman better.

I like the slower pace and the diving at Little better.

If you will search the previous threads here you will find a substantial number of posts on the very question you have raised.

Don't forget the Brac.

Enjoy your trip!!

 

[Altitude2010]

Thanks for the reply.

So, I shouldn't dive in Grand Cayman and should enjoy diving only in Little Cayman?

Altitude 2010

 

[Damselfish]

I posted on one of your other threads. Basically, you can't lump all of Grand Cayman in one bucket. I like both places, they both have their pros and cons like anything. LC is remote and just a really relaxing place (partly because there are very few choices to make about anythng once you're there.) It requires an extra flight on a small plane with maybe a few baggage hassles. GC, it's just as good diving if you go to the right area, crowded and not as good diving if you go to the wrong area. No extra flight, lots of options for shopping and restaurants if that's important to you. Some areas of GC are also remote but still not quite the same feel as LC.

If you don't think you will get back to Cayman anytime soon and can do it, I would suggest spending more than a week and do both the islands. If you really have only a week you waste too much time drying/repacking/traveling and don't do justice to either.

One thing about Dec-Jan, you may be affected by the weather. One of the better dive areas of GC is the North wall, but it will often be rough in the winter and ops may not go there. The East End may also be kicked up, but they dive the eastern end of the North and South sides too and pretty much always will have someplace good they can dive, though you may not be able to get to certain famous sites out there. Even on Little Cayman, there may be days they consider it too rough to get around to the Bloody Bay side of the island, which is where most of the famous dives are. (This is not always a bad thing, as this can force them to do some other good dive sites that are less dove and they don't get to often.) Also, it seems some years there is a lot of algae on the shallower parts of the reef on LC accumulated over the warmer months and it may or may not still be there by Dec-Jan, in which case you might find you'd have preferred some time on GC.

 

[Altitude2010]

Hi,

We finally chose to dive in Little Cayman 4 days (maybe 5 days if we can dive on the afternoon of our first day on the island) and in Grand Cayman 2 days.

Thanks for your replies.

 

[under water]

Hi,

We finally chose to dive in Little Cayman 4 days (maybe 5 days if we can dive on the afternoon of our first day on the island) and in Grand Cayman 2 days.

Thanks for your replies.

Did you allow for a minumum of 18-24 hours after diving and before flying in this schedule?

 

[Altitude2010]

Hi,

Regarding this issue, we are wondering if we could do one afternoon dive in Stingray City (the dive trip would start at 2:00 PM) and take an international flight at 8:00 AM the day after. This afternoon dive would be the final dive of the week.

We understand that the dive in Stingray City is a shallow dive. But, if the dive trip starts at 2:00 PM and if we start flying at 8:00 AM the day after, we will allow a little less than 18 hours (it should not be less than 16 hours) after diving and before flying. We are not sure whether it is safe and asked the question to the diving operation. The diving operation has not answered our question yet.

Otherwise, during our stay, we will respect strictly the rule stated above.

 

[under water]

Stingray City is a very shallow dive, but I would not venture to speak authoratively on the issue. Give DAN a call, tell them your plans.. how many dives in Little Cayman, when you are leaving there, when you plan to dive Stingray City, etc.

I am assuming that you have factored in 18 hours before flying from LC to GCM. I have read that multiple flights may be worse than a single flight, but you have 2 days in between, so that should not be a factor.

It sounds like you know the guidelines. Ask DAN, they will be glad to assist.

 

[under water]

Someone else suggested snorkeling instead of diving at Stingray City.
That seems like a great idea, given your timetable and desire to interact with the stingrays.

 

[Altitude2010]

Stingray City is a very shallow dive, but I would not venture to speak authoratively on the issue. Give DAN a call, tell them your plans.. how many dives in Little Cayman, when you are leaving there, when you plan to dive Stingray City, etc.

I am assuming that you have factored in 18 hours before flying from LC to GCM. I have read that multiple flights may be worse than a single flight, but you have 2 days in between, so that should not be a factor.

It sounds like you know the guidelines. Ask DAN, they will be glad to assist.

Dan said it was fine. We can dive in Stingray City the day before our international flight because it's a shallow dive.