Going on a solo trip to Grand Cayman

[sunshinecat]

I am planning a trip to Grand Cayman this summer but will not have a dive buddy. Do most dive shops require you to bring a dive buddy or can they pair me up with someone? I'd hate to not be able to dive because I'm traveling alone.

 

[ianr33]

Assuming you are boat diving will not be a problem. Shore diving would be more difficult as Cayman supposedly does not allow solo diving.
Where are you thinking of staying?

 

[Alex777]

IMHO, there is no chance that you would be "unable to dive".

On boat dives, the DM will either provide you with an Insta-Buddy or simply let you dive solo. If you are an experienced diver, bring along a bailout bottle and they might take the hint & let you do your own thing.

For shore diving, you will not be allowed to dive solo. However, at the popular shore dive locations (Turtle Farm, Eden Rock, Sunset House, etc.), you can almost always pick up a buddy on the spot. I suggest:

- get to the shore dive shop not later than 2 PM (it gets a lot harder after about 3 PM),
- tell the shop guy you are looking for a buddy,
- set up your gear in advance and hang around looking eager to get wet,
- when someone is just about ready to go, ask if you can join them.

Works for me. And - if you get truly desperate for a buddy, PM me.

 

[sunshinecat]

Thanks for the info. I just got my PADI OW cert and have only done 1 dive, so I'm not ready to go solo yet. It is good to know that dive operators will provide you with buddies. I'm just now starting to plan my trip, so I haven't decided where to stay yet or where I want to dive.

 

[diversteve]

A lot of the first boat dives off Cayman go deep to the start of the wall. So mention your experience level when booking to see if they can accommodate you. Otoh, there are some great shallow dives, the Aquarium was one that didn't exceed much past 45'.

Sunset House seemed like a good place to find a buddy, it's all divers and fairly shallow diving, the Mermaid and the Nicholson wreck are about 50+' as I recall. And there are some pretty interesting reef formations shallower. Very easy entry there also.

The other thing you may want to try is diving with Foster's in Georgetown, it will be more cruise ship divers as they hold the contracts but they'll typically go to shallower sites because of the experience level of the average cruise diver. Although some of the other diveops should be able to accommodate you as well. Try Neptune's Divers, Wall to Wall, Off the Wall or Ambassador Divers, all cater to smaller groups. Most Cayman diveops put a DM in the water also for safety reasons. I think Red Sail also accommodates newer divers but may have larger groups as they have big boats to fill.

 

[Alex777]

The other thing you may want to try is diving with Foster's in Georgetown, it will be more cruise ship divers as they hold the contracts but they'll typically go to shallower sites because of the experience level of the average cruise diver.

They do cater to cruise-ship divers, but I have never seen that make a difference in dive site selection. The first dive of the day is always deep, without exception. I think the options are:

- ask at the shop for a buddy who doesn't mind staying shallow on the 1st dive; the reef on top of the wall is usually < 60'

- hire your own DM as a buddy

- sit out the 1st dive of the day

- try Red Sail Sports; they may (?) have AM dive boats doing 2 shallow dives.

 

[caymancase]

For boat diving, some of the smaller dive ops on GC have an instructor/guide in the water with you for every dive so you can buddy up with the instructor. That might be best for you as a new diver at least for your 1st day.

 

[Alex777]

For boat diving, some of the smaller dive ops on GC have an instructor/guide in the water with you for every dive so you can buddy up with the instructor. That might be best for you as a new diver at least for your 1st day.

So do the larger dive ops including Don Foster's.

But a DM/Instructor should not be regarded as your buddy (assuming you are a certified diver) unless he/she has expressly agreed to that. As you will understand, their obligation is to guide the dive for the benefit of everyone who chooses to follow them, not just focus upon 1 diver.

 

[NCDiver]

If the timing fits your schedule, we have a group June 13 - 20 staying at Cobalt Coast. Get in touch and I'll fill you in on the details.

 

[sunshinecat]

Thanks for the invite, but the only time I have off is the end of August.