Hello All,
I am new to diving and new to the board. I have gleaned quite a bit of info from the board regarding planning a trip to Cayman. However I few questions regarding timing and logistics. I will try to keep it brief and as concise as I can:
First, I am newly certified as are two of my kids. I am looking for "easy" low stress GUIDED dives. Since I will be with a Jr OW diver my depth will be limited and that is fine with me. Reading up on Grand Cayman the dives that look like they would suit us are: Sunset House, Eden Rock/Devil's Grotto (It appears that there will be no cruise ships in port for two days and I was planning on hitting these sites on those days) Turtle Farm and the Dive Tech/Cobalt Coast Mini walls look interesting. As far as from a boat I'd like to do the Stingray City Dive and The Kittiwake (or other shallow wrecks).
1- I will be in GC after Christmas. My first question is when a "cold front" drops down to Cayman is the wind from the NW or NE? Other caribbean locations it seems to be NW but I have read conflicting testimony as relating to Cayman. I ask because while trying to plan shore dives would it be wise to have an alternate plan in case one side of the Island is blown out? And it seems that a NW wind would likely blow out quite a bit of the easy shore diving spots. West Bay/GT area
2-My plan is to do 2 AM shore dives each of 5 days and on two of those days do one tank PM dives at the Kittiwake and Stingray City. The question is which shore dives would you match up with which afternoon boat dives? And with whom would you book it? I assume if I did an AM guided dive at Turtle Reef I would book the PM boat dive with Happy Fish?
3- We will require a lot of hand holding. And, since there will be other non diving family with us I need to make the most of my time, i.e. be an efficient planner. My hope was that I could hire a guide/instructor/dive valet who would plan our days diving and accompany us on the dives. Hotel pick up and drop off would be an added bonus. Is there an outfit who can do this, including arranging the boat dives? I was thinking if there is a sudden weather change the guide would know where to go and what to do. Or, do I have to hire guides from each location from where I initiate my dive?
Thanks for any tips and thanks for the tips I have already picked whilst combing the archives.
H
I am new to diving and new to the board. I have gleaned quite a bit of info from the board regarding planning a trip to Cayman. However I few questions regarding timing and logistics. I will try to keep it brief and as concise as I can:
First, I am newly certified as are two of my kids. I am looking for "easy" low stress GUIDED dives. Since I will be with a Jr OW diver my depth will be limited and that is fine with me. Reading up on Grand Cayman the dives that look like they would suit us are: Sunset House, Eden Rock/Devil's Grotto (It appears that there will be no cruise ships in port for two days and I was planning on hitting these sites on those days) Turtle Farm and the Dive Tech/Cobalt Coast Mini walls look interesting. As far as from a boat I'd like to do the Stingray City Dive and The Kittiwake (or other shallow wrecks).
1- I will be in GC after Christmas. My first question is when a "cold front" drops down to Cayman is the wind from the NW or NE? Other caribbean locations it seems to be NW but I have read conflicting testimony as relating to Cayman. I ask because while trying to plan shore dives would it be wise to have an alternate plan in case one side of the Island is blown out? And it seems that a NW wind would likely blow out quite a bit of the easy shore diving spots. West Bay/GT area
2-My plan is to do 2 AM shore dives each of 5 days and on two of those days do one tank PM dives at the Kittiwake and Stingray City. The question is which shore dives would you match up with which afternoon boat dives? And with whom would you book it? I assume if I did an AM guided dive at Turtle Reef I would book the PM boat dive with Happy Fish?
3- We will require a lot of hand holding. And, since there will be other non diving family with us I need to make the most of my time, i.e. be an efficient planner. My hope was that I could hire a guide/instructor/dive valet who would plan our days diving and accompany us on the dives. Hotel pick up and drop off would be an added bonus. Is there an outfit who can do this, including arranging the boat dives? I was thinking if there is a sudden weather change the guide would know where to go and what to do. Or, do I have to hire guides from each location from where I initiate my dive?
Thanks for any tips and thanks for the tips I have already picked whilst combing the archives.
H