Grand Cayman recommendations

[deaf diver]

Hi I am going to GC for 6 days in September. Looking for recommendations for lodging and dive operators. I prefer smaller boats and groups. Lodging can be very basic as I am a male traveling alone. Planning on having a car so I can be mobile. Thanks in Advance!!

 

[PfcAJ]

Shore dive. I don’t think you get much advantage diving off a boat there.

 

[KathyV]

Shore dive. I don’t think you get much advantage diving off a boat there.

Most of the Cayman dive ops won't permit solo diving, so boat diving would be a better option for the OP. He should take a look at some of the package options at places like Cobalt Coast, Compass Point, Sunset House, Lighthouse Point, or the Holiday Inn.

Or he might want to consider traveling over to Little Cayman or Cayman Brac to dive the sister islands.

Sunset House is currently offering a special for single travelers, and the Clearly Cayman resorts have offered single specials in the past - so they may be doing it again for Cayman Brac Beach Resort, Little Cayman Beach Resort, and/or Cobalt Coast Grand Cayman Resort.

 

[Saboteur]

If you want a beach then Comfort Suites is economical if not then the Holiday Inn has reasonable prices. Cayman University divers is a small boat with 6 maximum divers. Last September (slow season) the most on board were 4 and on one day only two of us. The owner has been diving the Caymans for decades and knows every site very well. Ambassador divers has a huge boat with maximum 12 divers I believe....lots of space, great staff and owner who does a lot to promote Cayman diving and marine life preservation. They are right there at Comfort Suites. Last year the maximum on board when I was there was 8. Living the Dream divers has three big boats with maximum of 9 divers, valet service (awesome), and the lowest prices in my experience and also wonderful staff. They are right next door to Sunshine suites which is resasonable (and has an awesome grill). These are my experiences but it is hard to find a bad dive op in Grand Cayman.

 

[tkaelin]

Are you planning a dive trip where you want to get in a lot of diving everyday or a trip where you want to do some diving?

 

[Doctorfish]

Absolutely go boat diving. Otherwise you miss out on the walls. There are many good operators on island. Hard to go wrong.

 

[Tienuts]

Cayman's CITA guidelines which cover water-sports operators specifically prohibit solo diving, and any reputable operator will enforce this. Anyone who doesn't will also be making other shortcuts with the guidelines and safety. All of the shore diving sites I am aware of will most certainly enforce this, so shore diving is out unless you find a buddy or hire a guide. On weekends when the weather is nice the former is possible if you hang around some of the shore sites, but not guaranteed.

As a solo traveler, you best bet is boat diving, and go with the guide. Many people on SB trip over themselves to recommend their favorite boat, but I'd advice you to look at the operator's website to see what sort of boats they are using first. Some of the boats here in GC offer small groups, but the boats themselves are small, offering little in the way of space, shade, or amenities. Check the operator's website to see photos of the boat first.

I'll second Saboteu's recommendation for Comfort Suites or Holiday Inn. That's about as economical as it gets here, unless you find a good AirBNB.

 

[tkaelin]

Cayman's CITA guidelines which cover water-sports operators specifically prohibit solo diving,

Unless it has changed recently this is not an accurate statement. The rule required buddies on boat wall diving if I recall correctly. There was nothing specifically prohibiting solo diving and nothing as it pertained to shore diving. Having said this most ops adopt a policy of no solo diving. Having said this you can still solo dive.

 

[Snoweman]

Check out Indepth Watersports. They have lodging and a couple of boats. I think you can shore dive from their lodging.

 

[togatown]

Completely second the vote for Living the Dream Divers and Sunshine Suites on GC. My wife and I have gone back to both of them twice in the past two years, because we enjoyed it so much.

And make sure you eat at Decker's just down the road from them both, on "All you can eat Lobster" night!