Grand Cayman Wrecks

[landesjm]

Researching into taking a PADI wreck specialty while in Cayman. Will the wrecks offer good practical experience? I will need to complete 4 dives for the specialty.

Thoughts?

 

[carlislere]

Assuming the PADI specialty is exterior diving only, there is the Nicholson which is off of Sunset House in 55ft and a shore dive. It is a small tug type boat and is easy entry and exit. The Balboa is in the harbor, so can only be dived at night and is a boat dive. The Balboa is torn up and scattered. The Oro Verde is torn up and scattered and is a boat dive. The Doc Polson is another small tug type boat and is easy entry and exit.
If you are looking for big ships to dive, there is a Russian destroyer off of Cayman Brac.

 

[landesjm]

my understanding is that PADI wreck specialty includes wreck penetration procedures so that would eliminate the Balboa and Oro Verde. Thanks for the recommendations; we'll suggest them to the boat when planning our day!

 

[diversteve]

I believe the Nicholson is owned by Sunset House so ask your diveop if they can even take you there. It's just off their property and they maintain a ball on it so you can find it. Although technically I guess they can take you in there, from what I understand the resort only owns property up to the waterline. I've just never seen a boat in there. It's an easy shore dive.

Does it have to be Cayman? St. Thomas or the BVI's (The Rhone) offer better wreck diving. You can even dive the Rhone from St. Thomas on Friday. Or consider Bermuda, more wrecks there than anywhere else I've heard about.

Grand Cayman isn't the first place I'd consider for wreck diving...

The Poulson allows penetration - it was prepped for diving before it was sunk.

 

[Damselfish]

Yeah, Cayman really isn't a big place for wrecks. (And just to be clear, the Russian ship at the Brac that was mentioned is not someplace a dayboat from Grand Cayman will go.)

 

[landesjm]

Thanks for all the great feed back. The diveop was a little cautious about teaching the specialty because the lack of practical experience. I appreciate their upfront honesty and just wanted to double check.

Again, thanks to everyone!

 

[Damselfish]

yes, I think I recall someone here pointing that out in some other thread awhile back - instructors who are really into wreck diving and have the experience to teach a good class probably aren't likely to choose to live in Cayman.