Grand, Little, or Brac?

[Diver Rick]

I'm afraid that this has probably been asked many times, so forgive me!

I've been diving just about everywhere, and the Caymans have always been off my radar. Recently, it looks like prices are becoming more competative, so we are plannign on a trip there in November.

The big question is, Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, or Brac??

Is there an easy way to compare? Which one to visit, or all three? Maybe a live aboard instead???

We are not into a wild "night life" per se. We want to do two or three dives per day, boat or shore. A few cocktails in the afternoon, nice supper in the evening. Stir, multiply by 7 days, and its our kind of vacation.

Any tips, advice would be most appreciated.

My attention was drawn to some specials at Paradise Villas on Little Cayman who claim to be offering "2005 Prices".

Thanks in advance!

 

[AggieDiver]

Rick,

We have been to Brac 3 times and LC once (going back in August). We have not been diving on GC. My preference if price were no object would be to go to LC. I love diving the shallow tops on the northern walls there. The walls start in water as shallow as 20-30 feet and drop forever. I just love the large sand channels and flat with reef structure and walls coming up off of it. it is my favorite type of diving geography to hang out and look around.

Since price usually is an object, we have gone to the Brac more than LC because it is usually slightly cheaper for a 7 day package. However, with the rebuilding they had to do on the Brac after Paloma, at least as of now, LC is actually cheaper than Brac for a comparable package. Unless you really want some nightlife or variety to the topside activities, I wouldn't consider GC unless you just get a killer deal at a north or east side resort and operator. The areas of GC that are closest to comparable in diving quality to Brac and LC (North and East sides of GC) are rarely visited by most SMB operators and to stay at a resort on the north or east side and dive there is pretty much the same price as going to LC or Brac.

 

[Pelagicsal]

Little Cayman

 

[carriemak]

Little Cayman, hands down. Going back again next week.

 

[BDSC]

Little Cayman hands down!

I have dove all three and I'd say Little Cayman was the best, Cayman Brac is #2, and GC comes in at #3. We were in LC last month and stayed at the Little Cayman Beach Resort. They have different packages at different price points but we did the 17 dive package with all three meals included. The food was simply outstanding! I use to think their sister resort, The Brac Reef Beach Resort, had the best food I've ever had anywhere. But after this last trip I'm not so sure. It's almost worth going just for the food.

Diving Bloody Bay wall is in my opinion, the best diving anywhere in the Caribbean. You see just about everything there is to see and the fish and coral life are in GREAT condition. It's probably the best vis I have encountered. The dive operation there is top notch and take great care of you.

The rooms were completely redone a couple of years ago and some of the finest rooms I have ever stayed at whether it be a dive resort or any resort.

Actually, the price would be a little cheaper going to Cayman Brac and staying at the Brac Reef Beach Resort. They still have not returned to the occupancy levels like they had before the big storm and are offering some great deals right now. But I am hearing they may offer their true 2 for 1 specials this fall again and if they do, then there is no better deal in the Caribbean than that.

You probably wouldn't be disappointed with any of them but if it were me and I were going to the Caymans, it would have to be Little Cayman. It's simply the best diving of the three.

 

[knotical]

All three can be great, with good diving all around. Grand has the most night life and other distractions, Little the least.
But Little also has by far the least people, which can be either a plus or minus. On balance we like Cayman Brac because of the people you get to meet away from diving, enough restaurant choices for variety, and it's still essentially crime-free.

 

[jcroy66]

Little has the best diving IMO. But I actually like Brac better overall. I felt very welcomed by everyone I met. Even though I'd never been there before, everyone treated us as though we belonged there, rather than as tourists. And I like the topside visuals better (i.e. plants, trees, caves to explore, etc).

But I love them both. GC is okay, but it actually has a rush hour. I don't go on vacation to get stuck in traffic in my way to dinner! If you do go to GC though, the botanical gardens are a must visit.

 

[Tim Ingersoll]

Been to all three. Little Cayman hands down.

 

[BurtonJackson22]

Only been there once but talked to a lot of people about this, as we are thinking the very same thing about our next trip.

The short version:

Grand Cayman - Good diving, lots of excellent restaurants and other things to do.

Little Cayman - MUCH better diving. NO other things to do, just all-inclusives. Okay, maybe 1 or 2 restaurants, but you know what I mean.

Cayman Brac - Somewhere in the middle.

Hope it helps!

 

[BurtonJackson22]

It's not letting me do a link yet!!!

I forgot to say, the Grand Cayman has VERY DIFFERENT diving on the EAST, WEST, SOUTH sites.

Google the Cayman "wall dive comparison chart" you'll see.

Basically, if you choose Grand cayman, go West with a SMALL (NOT Red Sail!!! Cattle Boat) kind of operator. We did our mostly with Living the Dream. Still do a dive East if you have time and extra $$$ (They charge more there), but ONLY if you are okay with REALLY ROUGH WATER! Even the fish got seasick! LOL! Not that bad, but really very rough!