Handicap accessible shore diving west end Grand cayman

[hickey]

I'll admit it's a stretch, but I'm looking for comments or positive suggestions concerning shore diving in Grand Cayman.

We dove with Absolute Divers and Neptunes last year and they were fantastic. Unfortunately I may not have he numbers to charter with Mark this year - I'm still working on it - and we are staying longer and want to consider shore diving a day or two to keep costs down.

I've got a scooter, but need a location that will enable me to get from water to wheelchair with a little help from my wife. Last year I wore a full body climbing harness under my dive gear. I'd gear up on the dive platform ands roll in. On return to the boat I'd doff gear and the crew would lift it into the boat, then my son would grab the shoulder harness straps and lift me to a sitting position on the dive platform. Two guys would grab the harness and lift me upright and I'd sit on the transom, then enter the boat. It worked. Great diving. Won't have as much help this time around, I'm afraid.

A climb up a ladder isn't an option and a long lift wouldn't work. I weigh about 250 pounds. My powered chair weighs about the same. I'm looking for diving in depths over 40 feet - seems that is where I get the most benefit from the diving - although I enjoy any diving I can manage. Anyone familiar with the shore diving facilities on GC have any suggestions?

- John hickeyjf at gmail.com

 

[Drew Sailbum]

Shore diving in Grand Cayman is most commonly accessed by paths over the ironshore. Ironshore exits are then up a ladder. It's not very handicapped accessible.

 

[Roombaguy]

I just did a "mental pass" of all the shore dives I have been to (Sunset House, Eden, etc) and cant think of a single one that would meet your needs. Sorry! :-(

Hope you are able to find something. Maybe calling some of them up and check if they ever had a guest in a similar situation?

M.

 

[hickey]

I plan on making a few inquiries, but wanted to get some feedback from divers. I'm not looking for just possible, I'd need reasonable and reasonably safe for the folks helping me. Not hopeful of finding it, but think I should at least look. We dove 15 years with Blackbeards - 18 trips - while I could still walk, and then 3 trips in 3 years on the Aqua Cat. In the early 80's we dove the Florida Keys and Ohio Quarries.

It's an amazing sport. My 82 year old mother-in-law dives with us.

- John

 

[billinwilliamston]

You guys think the entry at Smith's Cove would work? I haven't been there in quite a while, but I seem to remember it as a sloping sand entry rather than a stride off a dock or the ironshore.

 

[hickey]

I looked at video and pics of Smith's Cove and it looks like maybe a 50' walk from the parking area. Might be able to make that with my wife supporting me if I am careful. And if the sand is fairly hard. Could stand back up using the rocks on one side and the wife on the other after diving. Probably a lot better with two people helping.

I was hoping for a place with a surface level dock, but this is probably a better way to go. And a beautiful location.

That walk is gonna be a killer, but it looks like we could have a picnic and a rest before diving...

The old lady is excited.

 

[Alex777]

Honestly, I think you might find the beach at Smith Cove a bit steep at the water line, but do check it and see what you think.

I don't know of any surface-level docks. They would not be able to survive a hurricane, I imagine.

Would a boat launching ramp work? Here are a few examples of ramps in 'diveable' areas:

- ramp half way between Lighthouse Point & Turtle Reef
- ramp at West Bay Public Beach (the 3-way intersection)
- ramp beside the Lobster Pot Restaurant

These are not as steep as the Smith Cove beach entry and provide a firmer foundation for the wheelchair.

 

[diversteve]

There are HSA certified instructors on staff at Divetech so they may be able to suggest somewhere.

One option might be their other location at Lighthouse point. From the pictures it appears there's an angled ladder to the water - possibly you could lift yourself up onto it step by step? About 1/2 of the ladder is shown to the far left in this photo: divedock And it appears there's a concrete walkway from the condos to the water. More photos here of the dock construction, ramp etc. are here: http://www.lighthouse-point-cayman.com/photos.htm I've never been there to confirm any of this.

Add Turtle Reef to the no-go list. The only way down to the water is a tall ladder. IIRC there were also stairs/platforms to navigate to get to it from street level.

 

[Alex777]

What about the divedock at Cobalt Coast? Getting out might be the issue there though as it's steps up a ladder.
The advantage for the entry would be that you can wheel through the resort and onto the dock.

Some photos showing the dock/ladder: CobaltRidge

view from the ocean: http://www.caradonna.com/Assets/Sha...oastResortAndSuiteswithdivingbyDivetech/1.jpg

There are HSA certified instructors on staff there at Divetech so they may be able to suggest something.

But the whole point is to avoid ladders (and ironshore), is it not? If the OP could negotiate a ladder there are any number of good entry points.

The ladder at Lighthouse Point is a typical vertical ladder. No reason to think it would work.

 

[hickey]

I'll take a look at those sites and see how it looks. Steep is probably a bad idea. I'm getting cautious as I age. Used to just do it and figure I could handle problems as they came up. As my condition deteriorates I've gotten more careful.

Did walk up and down a ramp to the Neptune's Divers boat last year with support on both sides. That was after a 5 year absence from diving. Found out I could still manage the diving so this year I'm just pushing the envelope a little more.

I'll look at the boat ramps, too. Taking the chair close might be safer than walking across the sand. This gives me some things to look into. I think Lighthouse Point was one of the locations I recall considering last year. I suspect I'd have trouble getting up that ladder.

When I started diving I selected destination, shop and lodging by writing (lots of) letters and mailing them through the USPS. Things have changed... Now message boards, e-mail, web pages and youtube replace paper and stamps. Amazing.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll try to post the results.

- John