Grand Cayman / Shore Dive Question

[tmp]

Hello All,

Headed to GC in a few weeks and will be diving the west end. This time around we were looking to do a couple shore dives in the afternoon....

For sure Edens Rock (I hear its a great dive) and another I was wondering about is the House Reef at Sunset House? Is there public access to the Sunset house reef (ie- can I pull up with my gear and dive the site?? Maybe thats a dumb question but for all the times we have been there it never crossed my mind....??

Any help with the above would be great and if you have and/or know of any other west end shore dives that would be great as well....thanks in advance....

 

[Roombaguy]

Sunset House is a great shore dive. There is the Mermaid @ 60ft and also an old barge of some sort also at 60ft-ish. The wall (at this location its more a steep slope though ...) is also not too far off. There is a good amount of life here ; I have often seen rays, turtles and morays shore diving at sunset.

Yes, just drive up with your gear, rent a tank and jump in the water. Great place for drinks/lunch also for after your dive.

Cheers

M.

 

[berk]

I would look up Cemetery reef. You can also snorkel with gear out from the Governor's house and there is a nice reef there, I think Pillar coral reef is just beyond it which is an underrated site.

Georgetown used to be great, but I imagine there is too much boat traffic. There was stuff all over the harbor in very shallow water, including the wreck of the Balboa and Cheeseburger Reef off the Burger King. I have not been there in 12-15+ years.

Grand Cayman Snorkeling guide for Cruise Ship Passengers travelling to our Island for just one day (harbor sites)

-matt

 

[Cave Diver]

Sunset house is a good dive. Also, I wouldn't miss turtle reef, weather permitting. It's located in West Bay below the Cracked Conch Restaurant. It's just past the new turtle farm, next to the dolphin adventure place where the old turtle farm used to be. The mini wall there, especially heading towards the north is a great dive.

 

[berk]

I'd like to be in Cayman.............:depressed:

Enjoy!

 

[scubadada]

The two Divetech sites, Cobalt Coast Resort and Lighthouse Point are very good shore dives http://www.divetech.com/shore.htm

Enjoy, Craig

 

[ianr33]

Of the sites mentioned above my favorites are,best first:

Turtle Farm
Lighthouse Point
Cobalt Coast
Sunset House
............
............
............
............
............
............
Eden Rock.

Above order assumes you will be diving the close in "mini" walls. If you go out to the "big" wall then Lighthouse Point is awesome.

 

[diversteve]

Agree with Ian, Eden Rock was the worst dive we did all week. Too much cruise traffic for too many decades IMO. Shallow, lots of coral damage, junk in the water. Plus it's walking distance to one of the cruise docks so not where I'd want to be with ships in port.

At Turtle Reef to the south there is an overhang where the Tarpon would congregate.

 

[Marek K]

Agree with Ian, Eden Rock was the worst dive we did all week. Too much cruise traffic for too many decades IMO. Shallow, lots of coral damage, junk in the water. Plus it's walking distance to one of the cruise docks so not where I'd want to be with ships in port.

Funny... When we were staying and diving with Sunset House at the end of July, one of the second (shallower) boat dives we did was Eden Rock. It was one of the better second dives. My logbook shows a max depth of 48 ft. Very interesting coral finger-and-groove formations in good shape, with lots and lots of non-overhead "swim-throughs." We saw a large grouper, and a school of tarpon.

It looked like we were swimming distance from the shore, but maybe we were a bit farther out than the shore divers typically dive...

 

[EastEndDiver]

Eden Rock is somewhat beat up but it is a dive I do on every trip to Cayman.

Try to get there early (8 A.M.) and also pick a day the cruise ships are NOT in.

I have seen some very interesting marine life there.The Sennets are amazing to watch as they school also large Groupers and Tarpon are common.If you happen be diving when the silversides are in you may witness some amazing feeding patterns by the larger predators.I seem to always run into a school of squid which by themselves can keep my attention for an entire dive.Usually found under the moored dive boat out front.

The other shore dives mentioned are a must do especially Sundivers at the Turtle Farm (Cracked Conch).Last time i was there the Tarpon still congregate in the cavern ,I have counted as many of 60+ in that vicinity.

Have fun,you will enjoy it !!

It is an easy dive and can be very enjoyable.