Grand Cayman Shore Dives for Cruise Group: Need Input

[nipi]

When you surface swim out at Turtle Reef you will go over the mini wall which has a sort of bay in it here. Then, out to the main wall, the sand flats can be quite featureless except that there is a large coral head in the middle of the sand flats - pretty with lots of fish life. I try to use this to orientate myself on the way out & back. If the vis is really good you can pretty much see both the mini wall & the main wall from that coral head. We usually descend on that coral head & then continue out to the main wall.

Remember to watch for boats when surface swimming & be ready to descend quickly. The main thing for an emergency descent is that you need to know how to find is your dump valve - if you have to descend quickly don't faff around spitting in your mask or stuff - you don't even need air really as by the time the boat's passed overhead you can pop back up to the surface.

 

[Alex777]

Remember to watch for boats when surface swimming & be ready to descend quickly. The main thing for an emergency descent is that you need to know how to find is your dump valve - if you have to descend quickly don't faff around spitting in your mask or stuff - you don't even need air really as by the time the boat's passed overhead you can pop back up to the surface.

Good advice, but this is 1 reason I prefer to swim out at 15'. Even towing a dive flag will not protect you from some of the inebriated Jet Skiers, for example.

 

[scubadada]

Hi Suzi,

I would vote for Turtle Reef also. Tank and weight (or probably equiipment if you need it) rental at Sun Divers is quick and easy. Benchs, tables, and rinse tank are very nice. Enty is simple and safe. Mini-wall is really quite nice. I like it North (right) best but there are reliably many Tarpon in a small cave a short swim South that I usually check out at the end of the dive. The modest depths make hour dives the rule. I've not been out to the deep wall from there, can't help you. I've been out to the deep wall from Lighthouse Point and from Cobalt Coast. Personally, I do much of the transit as a surface swim so as to preserve my gas for the wall. This would obviously be a shorter dive due to depth.

The Cracked Conch restaurant has an informal outdoor eating/drinking/bar area called the Makabuca Tiki Bar that is great for lunch, and drinks if you're done diving. I bet your large group could contract with a large van/taki to get to Turtle Reef and then reliably get you back to the ship on time.

Enjoy your stop at Grand Cayman, what are your other diving stops?

Good diving, Craig

 

[scubadada]

Suzi,

I thought of one other thing some in your party might be interested in if you happen to have adequate time. Divetech (Grand Cayman scuba diving cayman island scuba diving cayman island scuba resort cayman scuba training cayman cayman island scuba grand cayman scuba dive cayman islands scuba diving scuba diving in grand cayman scuba diving cayman scuba diving on gran) does a really fun DPV dive from Cobalt Coast, south to Lighthouse Point. It's an afternoon dive, I think they need just 2 divers to run it. The dive takes about 75 minutes with an average depth of about 45 feet and covers a lot of beautiful terrain, much of it rarely dived.

You might be able to contract a ride to drop you off at Cobalt Coast and then pick you up at Lighthouse Point to return to your ship. The folks at Divetech are very helpful and I'd bet would help you set this up. Just a thought.

Good diving, Craig