Grand Cayman and Cozumel March '03

[mars2u]

I just got back from diving Grand Cayman and Cozumel the first week of March. I put pictures of my trip on my web site. I saw some amazing sting rays as well as other animals.
I hope you enjoy the site.

http://home.kc.rr.com/damir

 

[Tim Ingersoll]

Cool website! Thanks for the look.

 

[HookedonSCUBA]

Nice website.

I dove Grand Cayman in January, all on the southeast side due to weather. It was incredible! Lots of fantastic walls, canyons, coral formations, and a lot of fish/critters. We swam thru schools of tarpon and cuda, silversides, and on one dive (Grouper Grotto) had 12 eagle rays zoom right over our heads as we were checking out the canyons.

We hired a boat from Red Sail one day for snorkeling, but like you weren't all that impressed with the north side although the weather prevented us from going outside the barrier reef.

On one snorkeling trip inside the barrier reef just west of the Lighthouse restaurant I had the pleasure of swimming 30 feet away from an eagle ray. The coral inside the reef is often thick clusters with sand chutes between them. The eagle ray and I swam up a chute right next to each other and then he realized it was a deadend. So we both turned around and swam back out.

I dove Cozumel about 3 years ago, and your pictures were great. They reminded me about how clear the water was there. Too bad you didn't have more time there because there's no shortage of fantastic dives sites there.

 

[caymaniac]

Sounds like you had a good time, but sounds like you wern't all that impressed with Grand Cayman. I will assure you that the best of the Caymans is not found on Grand Cayman, although we've been impressed with certain areas it didn't sound like you were at the right spots. Nice pics.

Dive Safe,
Caymaniac

 

[mars2u]

First let me say that I did not intend to make Cayman sound like it was a "bad" dive. The dive was actually a fun dive. One of the problems is that we had to use 72's instead of 80's for tanks and therefore our bottom time was not as much as I would have liked it to be. Also, after reading about the Oro Verde, the wreck has truly been beaten up through no fault of anyone. Mother nature has had plans of her own.
I'll definitely dive Cayman and Cozumel again if the opportunity arises. I'm certain both places have much more than I had the opportunity to dive. Both places are close to the U.S. and I'm hopeful I'll be back.

The problem in the near future is that I'm probably going to get spoiled since I'm diving Palau in May on the Big Blue Explorer. Subsequently on the way back I'll be diving Maui (although I haven't heard many comments about it).

Thanks again for the comments, I'll report back when I come back from Palau!!!

 

[Barracuda2]

Several years ago, I went up on the sun deck of Cayman Aggressor about 8:30 am to enjoy my first cup of coffee. We were moored off Grand Cayman. Our plans were to do 2-3 dives then head for Little Cayman. I was amazed at what I saw. It looked as if a reverse invasion was taking place as all kinds of dive boats, pontoon boats, etc. raced out of Grand Cayman trying to be the first to snag a mooring spot. Those that got there first belched out numerous divers and snorklers onto the reefs. From a distance, they resembled a linked anchor chain being dropped into the blue. Those that didn't make it raced for other spots around the island. The reefs around Grand Cayman are not in good shape, especially the ones that can be reached from shore. (Eden Rock - Devils Grotto) Just think, every day, 365 days a year the reefs around GC take this kind of traffic---Most of the divers are probably "infrequent" vacation divers trying to relearn bouyancy control---well, you know the inevitable results. Then dive Bloody Bay Wall off Little Cayman---Gee- see any difference? I can understand the disappoint from mars2u.

Barracuda2