Grand Cayman in July??

[basketcase]

A friend and I are taking a week long trip down. I plan to do some diving (will be my first dives post certification). Can anyone reccomend a good SMALL diving company for a total newbie? Also any dive companies that might allow my friend to tag along, hang out on the boat or snorkel (willing to pay if necessary).
I contacted Tom Byrnes, but he takes that month off and won't be on the island. He did give me a referral for a man named Ollen Miller and a phone number for him, I found his website here Home page Cayman Islands,Grand Cayman,Cayman,Cayman,Cayman Islands,Cayman,Grand Cayman Also any dive companies that take day trips to little cayman from Grand Cayman? We're staying on 7 mile beach if that helps any

 

[Drew Sailbum]

No one offers day trips by boat to Little Cayman or Cayman Brac from Grand Cayman. It's nearly 90 miles of open ocean.

 

[diversteve]

Being a fairly new diver you may want to consider a couple of things.

First of all have you done any ocean diving yet? Smaller dive operators typically also have small boats. Which means they're going to be a rougher ride and typically you've got to be able to backroll off and climb a smallish ladder to reboard - sometimes even removing your gear in the water first. That can be a little daunting in the swells the first time you have to do it.

If it isn't a concern, then try either OfftheWall divers or Jason at Ambassador Divers.
Both use fast v-hull boats with not a lot of amenities.
Caribbean: Cayman Islands: Grand Cayman: Diving
Ambassador Divers Ltd., Grand Cayman Exceptional scuba diving in the Cayman Islands

My best recommendation is probably Neptune's Divers. They have a larger boat and take 8 divers max. Simple to do a giant stride entry off their swimstep also. I'm guessing your friend could also ride along, it's a pretty big boat. He/She could even do a resort course and then do a Instructor-escorted dive with you. Cayman Islands Scuba Diving
They also get great reviews here on SB.

Another diveop to consider is WalltoWall Diving. Smaller boat, 8 divers max yet big enough for easier diving/reboarding. Wall to Wall Diving - Personally Guided Diving at its Best in Grand Cayman

Two I wouldn't recommend are Red Sail or Don Foster's. Both have larger boats and deal more with cruise ship and resort divers. Although they're going to do shallower dives, you could get lost in the crowd. Red Sail also limits dive time by using AL72's - I hate that..

Last but not least do Stingray City. Do it with a diveop instead of the snorkel trips (which go to Sandbar nearby) and your friend can snorkel above. Since it's only 15' they can also swim down for a minute or two.

Just about everybody will pick you up streetside of your resort also. They all typically pick up for the SRC dive also since most boats leave out of the marina opposite SMB.

Definitely tell whomever you contact about your experience level. A lot of Cayman 2-tank dives go deep first (90+) and then do a shallow 2nd dive. But there are some really great sites around 40+' they do as alternates - or multi-level sites where you can stay on top of the wall if need be - Aquarium is one.

 

[basketcase]

That's good to know, so I'd need to hop a plane and book a dive with a local company then.

 

[kimdave0]

I just returned and I agree. Neptunes is one of the very best companies on Grand Cayman and we've been diving with about 5 of them now. Ask them to take you to the north wall after you finish your certification, that's some really spectacular diving.

Whatever you do, avoid places like Red Sail, Divetech and Ocean Frontiers. They are all extremely overpriced, or take huge crowds or long drives or some combination of all of that. After you're certified, try to get to Little Cayman! That's some of the best diving in the WORLD! Southern Cross Club is our favorite over there but they are all pretty good, although we found Little Cayman Beach Resort to be somewhat pricy and not very good food.

 

[Alex777]

<< Whatever you do, avoid places like Red Sail, Divetech and Ocean Frontiers. They are all extremely overpriced, or take huge crowds or long drives or some combination of all of that. >>

In the interest of fairness, a few facts about Ocean Frontiers:

A 2-tank dive costs $110 USD.
They limit the number of divers on a boat to a maximum of 12.
From the center of George Town, the drive takes 45 minutes.

kimdave0, why not fill out your profile and tell us who you are?

 

[Damselfish]

Long drives? I suppose if you were to stay anyplace on the West End, yes Ocean Frontiers on the East End will be a long drive. If you stay on the East End or close to Georgetown, Divetech will be a drive. On the other hand, if you stay on site, you can stumble out of bed. If you stay anyplace in the areas they pick up, you don't have to drive at all. Grand Cayman is a large enough island that it's worth paying a little attention to where things are.

It's also expensive in general.

 

[Alex777]

<< Grand Cayman is a large enough island that it's worth paying a little attention to where things are. >>

Yep.

<< It's also expensive in general. >>

Yep again.

 

[DiveNerd]

Hello, Basketcase...

There are tons of ops with small vessels that do small groups. Where on seven mile beach are you staying? Have you looked into resort sports? New boat very professional and very attentive to newbie divers. I found them very conservative with dive depths and times.

I've been to Grand Cayman a few times and always stay and dive with Sunset House. They are very attentive and a blast!

I found that most dive ops do deep dives but its the norm. I did my Advanced cert before going there because of it and was surpised to find out that no-one asked for it. If your not comfortable going to 90 or 100FT they don't do it. But honestly, even divers just finishing check out dives the day before were on the boat doing deep dives. Cayman waters are calm and clear, you will many times see the boat from 80ft down! Besides, usually they will tell you that if you do not want to go that deep a DM will stay with you at shallower depth and follow the group from at about 60ft (top of the walls in many cases). Everytime that I have gone out with Sunset Divers they ask if anyone does not want to go deep.

Hope this helps!!

 

[ianr33]

Whatever you do, avoid places like Red Sail, Divetech and Ocean Frontiers.

Seems to be an agenda here. While I would not choose to dive with Redsail I have done many wonderful dives with Ocean Frontiers.They are an excellent outfit.
In the last few years I have dived with Divetech and can not say enough good things about them. A quick search will show I am not alone with these opinions.

Ollen Miller at Sundivers is a very helpful guy. Did some shore dives from his place over Thanksgiving when the seas were pretty rough. Cant speak for his boat dives.