Grand Cayman for the new diver

[buckyblue920]

Hi everyone,

I am recently OW certified and have a 10 day trip to Grand Cayman planned over Jan.-Feb. 2012. My wife and I are staying near Rum Point away from SMB, but will have a rental car for the duration. I don't plan on being AOW before the trip, but possibly nitrox. I spoke with the owner of a LDS (here in WI) who said the East End of GCM was not diver friendly and to avoid LDS such as Ocean Frontiers. I'm more confused by recent articles that had high marks for Ocean Frontiers and dives on the East End being less crowded.

Can someone advise if this is true, or what I should consider as an OW, maybe nitrox diver? To his credit the owner stated he hasn't been to GCM since the last major hurricane, but he's leading a group back to Little Cayman next year as well. Out of the group of four (on my vaca) that is staying on GCM, I will be the only diver and want to get in at least 2 dives. We are doing the jet ski / snorkel tour of stingray city, should that also be given consideration as a dive?

Thank you for the suggestions and tips ahead of time!

Dan

 

[ianr33]

IMHO the East End of Grand Cayman has the best recreational diving on the island. Ocean Frontiers are great.

However, their standard profiles are pretty deep (100 feet) and these are wall dives. The bottom can be a several hundred feet below you.Water tends to be rougher than the West side . Truly awesome diving but probably not the best for a new diver.

What's the point of having nitrox if you are not diving below 60 feet??

 

[fire_diver]

I think you mis-understood the LDS, or else they just out-right lied to you. The "east end" as it is called is very secluded. It is a dive resort, that means it specializes in DIVERS. I have read MANY great reviews of people who loved thier trips there. If you have a non-diving partner it may not be the best choice though. That doesn't make it a bad place, you just have to match your needs to what is offered.

Grand Cayman is a great place. Plenty of shopping in Georgetown, beautiful sand beaches along 7-mile beach road, and over 300 dive sites circling the island.

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Also... I suggest getting in plenty of local dives before you make the trip. The experience will make you much more relaxed and comfortable on dives you have paid a lot of $$$ for airfare, hotel, dive op, etc. to get to.

 

[Damselfish]

I have no idea what your LDS is talking about - perhaps you should ask WHY they say that.

Many folks consider the East End to have the best diving on Grand Cayman, and also consider Ocean Frontiers to be a great dive op. The only thing I can think of is, it can be windy and rough on the East End in the winter in particular. But "East End diving" covers parts of North and South too so there's pretty much always a side to dive. It's true that the first morning dive at least may be on a site that you can't really appreciate fully if you are staying above 60ft, and it may be hard to do that if you don't have a buddy to go with who wants to do the same.

However, staying near Rum Point, you probably don't want to dive with Ocean Frontiers anyway as it's simply not that close. I believe the only dive op near Rum Point is Red Sail. Most experienced divers actually don't seem to think much of Red Sail because they are more restrictive, but as a new diver doing a couple dives you'd probably be fine with them.

I think a Stingray City dive is something you should do once if you're there. But I don't know that it's worth doing both a snorkel and a dive there, especially on the same trip.

BTW, the East End is not a "dive resort" and does not "specialize in divers." There is one real dive resort, Compass Point, where Ocean Frontiers is located, and it's true it might not be the best choice for a non-diver who isn't content with a book on the beach and no bar/restaurant/activities/etc. But there are also 2 large resorts, Morritt's and The Reef, where some divers also stay but they are mostly full of non-divers. For anyone who is more interested in a nice relaxing place away from the crowds and congestion of SMB, than they are in being close to lots of shopping and restaurant choices, it's a good place.

 

[diversteve]

If you snorkel at Stingray City you'll be doing it at a site called Sandbar in 4' of water. Along with about 10-20 other boats of cruise passengers typically. I don't think Ocean Frontiers does a SRC dive but Red Sail probably does. Personally I would do SRC as a dive. It's 15' and only you and the other divers on your boat - typically less than 10 or so. Here's a recent post of mine with the differences:

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/cruises/427335-cozumel-belize-roatan-grand-cayman.html#post6422334

Ocean Frontiers does a 1-tank shallower dive every afternoon except Saturday. You might also like diving the Kittiwake - it sits on the bottom at about 60'. Snorkelers can also go on the same trip and snorkel the top - it's about 55' tall so almost breaks the surface. But you'll have to drive around to West Bay (an hour) to do it with Ocean Frontiers. Dive Schedule - Grand Cayman Every dive operator puts a DM in the water for every 8 divers on Cayman.

Ocean Frontiers is often recommended here as one of the better dive operators - is sounds like your LDS owner is incorrect. Maybe he hasn't been there in a while, if he's talking about the last big hurricane - that was probably Ivan in 2004. Damselfish is right, Red Sail (actually Tortuga Divers) is at Morritt's. I don't think they have another operation at Rum Point - maybe they pick up there though. Red Sail does some kind of dinner ferry from West Bay over to Rum Point in the evenings but afaik that's it.

You know there's not much around Rum Point right? Or the East End for that matter. All the activity on Grand Cayman is either in Georgetown or along Seven Mile Beach. Nice if you want quiet but a hassle to drive 45mins. across the island for most other things.

 

[buckyblue920]

Thank you all for the feedback. The LDS owner here said an early 2000 hurricane, so I could assume maybe pre-Ivan was the last time he was there. He mentioned East End is more popular for kitesurfers, not so much divers. The Kittiwake dive was one I was considering on SMB, and I understand anywhere on that end of the island will be a drive. My wife and our friends are thinking of making a day in George Town and SMB while I go out with a LDS there. Rum Point appealed to us because it's away from the high rises and main cruise port.

Ianr33, the LDS here mentioned nitrox as a course I could complete during the winter months. I come from SCBA and rebreathers as a hazmat tech in the military, and still gaining a foot as to how course work in SCUBA should flow. I am taking what my LDS gives for advice and bouncing it off boards and articles I come across. I was under a different impression from my LDS and wanted to do my research.

Thank you all for the advice, it gives me a few new things to consider. I want to get in at least ten dives in the next two months, but with my work schedule that may not be completly possible.

 

[Wolfie]

Btw board member testudo has a web site dedicated to shore dives and you have a car. Just sayin. Also it will be a hike for you but a day trip to the west end should not be missed. Say, a am shore dive at sunset house to see the mermaid. Lunch at my bar (sunset house) (or a little unknown place at the Britannia golf course). Trip to hell dive turtle reef in the after noon when the light is perfect. Dinner at cracked conch.As a side note the cracked conch IMO is one of the finest meal experiences I've had on the island but I always feel like I've been robbed when I get the bill. The bar downstairs is my choice.... Or another little drive to Morgan's harbor for a nice meal there. Have fun.

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As far as aow 60 foot stuff. Cayman operators Generally have a 100 foot limit on all dives and don't have a issue with that limit with ow divers. All operations put a guide in the water with you and they monitor all divers pretty well.

 

[Damselfish]

He mentioned East End is more popular for kitesurfers, not so much divers.

There is kitesurfing there, yes, but probably a lot more divers. Seems almost like he has a grudge against someone or something on the East End.

I am taking what my LDS gives for advice and bouncing it off boards and articles I come across. I was under a different impression from my LDS and wanted to do my research.

Good idea. I think I would stop taking what your LDS gives as advice - if this is any example I wouldn't trust much in the accuracy of anything coming from that source.

 

[Drew Sailbum]

Red Sail does indeed own Tortuga Divers. TD is based at Morritts.

Red Sail has the watersports operation at Rum Point. They typically do not run a boat out of Rum Point but can have a boat come over from the west side to pick up divers at Rum Point (or nearby at Kaibo Yacht club). Courses sometimes can be arranged out of Rum Point but you might be sent down the road to TD.

Ocean Frontiers earns its great reputation. East End does offer the best diving that Grand Cayman has to offer, with the notable exception of wreck diving. EE has no wrecks in the regular dive rotation.

 

[dmoore19]

The shore dive at Sunset house is usually a favorite. Lunch at My Bar is good. A dive on the Kittiwake IMO is a must. I can't speak to the east end as I haven't been there. We stayed at Sunset house. Shopping in Georgetown is abundant and also IMO is one the expensive side, you can only look at $20K watches and jewelry so many times. But that is just me. YMMV. When we were there there was a bit a a storm blowing through so the cruise ships didn't come to port. Half of the shops were closed. That might have been a blessing, I can't imagine 5000 people added to the streets and shops there. We didn't rent a car so we just walked into Georgetown from Sunset House for dinner in the evening.

IMO Don't miss diving the Kittiwake, it is a great dive, +/- 60' to the sandy bottom. Lot's of fish and a good start on other life. My avatar is a picture taken in the wheel house during our visit last November/December.