I would also recommend Divetech, but like others such as
@caydiver , would tell you (based on the many SB reports), you probably can't go wrong with any ops in the area.
Sorry, but I have to react to the TA report. OMG!!!!
"First, I spent almost $10,000 for a week at the beach including airfare, meals and over $5,000 for the hotel stay. One of the primary reasons for this vacation was to sit on the beach"
$15,000 for a week!!!!!!! There's more I'd like to type about this (I'm fighting the urge) but to save on space - OMG!!!!
My first trip ever to GC (actually to anywhere outside the mainland U.S.) was in 1998 - spring break week trip and we were doing our checkout dives after taking the OW course at home, specifically because we were going to GC after all! Stayed at the Westin - it was great in '98 - and Divetech had a boat at the time that picked us up right on the beach. As I recall it was much less than the TA traveller paid for 1 week and much less than the 2 week trips we take to GC now. Oops, sorry I digressed. Will be in GC on the East End at the end of April - can't wait!
The prices for the locations on central 7MB during winter and spring can be crazy, but I am reading the TA Reviewer's statement to mean that she spent $10,000 total for a week with hotel, airfare, and meals included. That's still quite pricey but she choose to stay in a high-end hotel, in a prime location, eat restaurant meals, and all during the peak travel season and that was her rightful decision to make. However, the TA OP wasn't diving and she was in central 7MB for a beach vacation so she probably didn't have car rental expenses, and we don't know if that price was for one or two people; she said "I paid" so she may have been traveling solo.
I will never claim that Cayman is a cheap dive/vacation destination but as
@jonhall and others already know, you can have some wonderful dive vacations there for a lot less money than that. Whenever someone talks about how expensive Cayman is - they are often referring to prime locations on 7MB during the peak season and eating out often in expensisve restaurants - and that's their choice and it's fine - but it shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone that it is expensive.
We like to spend 2 weeks in Cayman during the quiet season, visiting 2 islands, renting a car and diving and relaxing.
@jonhall since you are going at the end of April, after Easter and Spring Break, the prices should be better than early April and less crowded - as I am sure you are already aware.
If travelers are okay with staying at more distant and modest locations, renting a car and driving on the left, and are willing to prepare some simple meals and go out to eat for the main meal each day, then there are a lot of great choices on Grand Cayman for a wonderful dive vacation in a wide range of prices. And also on the Sister Islands of Little Cayman and Brac where there are some very nice options, including all-inclusive dive resorts, and great diving.
We stayed on 7MB during our early trips to GC but we weren't crazy about it - and not just because of the price. We liked the diving but 7MB and the west side were more developed and had more traffic than we prefer for a relaxing vacation. It wasn't until we discovered the Sister Islands and some of the more remote locations on Grand Cayman (yet still on the water) that it truly became our favorite Caribbean destination.
We are usually able to find easy and reasonably priced airfare to Cayman and the rental car prices aren't bad. We also appreciate the good roads and the fact that we feel safe traveling around the Cayman islands; and we can eat the food and drink the water without worry. We also like that there are good healthcare facilities readily available; and that the dive ops practice a high standard of safety, have well-trained staff, and they use modern, well-maintained boats and equipment. So sometimes you really do get what you pay for!
Just be aware that it doesn't have to totally bust your budget to enjoy a great dive vacation in Cayman.
