Is Little Cayman worth it?

[dwilli10]

We are thinking about a trip to Little Cayman and it is generally more expensive than other places we've been (Bonaire, Grand Cayman, etc). BUT, we also hear the diving is great and it is worth paying a bit extra to go there. Opinions?

 

[scubafanatic]

I've never dove the Caymans, although it's not too far from me in Texas, because I've heard/read too many horror stories about how WAY overpriced the Caymans are (not just a bit extra $).....the reefs are only a shadow of their former glory (due to over-development/too many recent hurricanes damaging reefs) and I think they actually have 'scuba police' where it's illegal to dive bwlow 110', which is an absurdity I won't tolerate anywhere at any price.

 

[HenrikBP]

I thought so

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/cayman-islands/290066-little-cayman-beach-resort-trip-report.html

Henrik

 

[PatW]

I have been to Little Cayman twice both times at Little Cayman Beach resort.

I have also been diving in South Caicos, Salt Cay (both in the Turks and Caicos), Virgin Gorda in the BVI, the lower Florida keys, the upper Florida Keys and off the coast of SE FL (Pompano and West Palm). So not a whole bunch of diving experience but not too bad. My wife has been to all of the above and Bonaire and a number of other locations.

When I was at Little Cayman the diving was great.

It had very good visibility generally over 80'.
It had nice diving profiles - the drop off at Bloody Bay Wall is sheer and goes to 7000' or so but starts in 20' - 50'. Often the boat is moored in water shallow enough to do a safety stop near the botto.
It was generally pretty calm - good for people with a potential for sea sickness like me.
The boat drives were short.
The coral was very good.
There were quite a few nice small critters.
There was very good large life - numerous turtles, grouper, sharks and rays.
Unlike many preserves, the one at Little Cayman is well protected. So you have the grouper and other large fish. Also the turtles are very tame so you can approach closely without bothering the turtle (they tend to ignore divers) or they often approach you.

I know of other places that have elements of the diving package that Little Cayman has. The Florida Keys have decent fish populations but they do not have the water visibility and the corals are not as healthy. The BVIs have virtually no grouper. And so on. I find that Little Cayman has the best diving that I have ever seen.

There is another bonus at Little Cayman. Most of the people who dive there are experienced and knowledgeable divers. Diving with divers who range from average to excellent does improve the experience.

The report above on Little Cayman Beach resort is pretty much coincides with my experience. It is pretty much a dive place. There is nothing much else to do on the island except fish perhaps or look at Boobies. I think there is one small general store on the island and a restaurant that may or may not be open.

Is it worth the price? Well, I can not tell you that. "Worth" is subjective. It is more expensive than other places. You can see pretty much everything you can see at Little Cayman at other places. Personally, I am glad I went to Little Cayman. I paid a bit of a premium but I was glad to.

 

[divesergeant]

I've never dove the Caymans, although it's not too far from me in Texas, because I've heard/read too many horror stories about how WAY overpriced the Caymans are (not just a bit extra $).....the reefs are only a shadow of their former glory (due to over-development/too many recent hurricanes damaging reefs) and I think they actually have 'scuba police' where it's illegal to dive bwlow 110', which is an absurdity I won't tolerate anywhere at any price.

As a regular visitor the to the Cayman Islands, I have to respectfully disagree with ScubaFanatic.

The Cayman Islands are surely not a 'bargain' destination, but they aren't all that more than other places we have been such as Grenada, Grand Turk, Anthony's Key. As bonus, they are much easier to get to than many other Caribbean destinations.

Yes, nature has taken her toll on reefs everywhere. But like everywhere, the diving recovers and is still very good, as evidenced by various Cayman dive operations receiving constant awards by dive magazines and organizations. The Sister Islands' dive sites are often even better than lots of the Grand Cayman sites due to remoteness and fewer divers in general.

As for 'Scuba Police', we've never found anything like this. They forbid gloves and the taking of critters, which is good, but I have never found any regulation on dive depths or anything like that.

DS

 

[scubacat1]

Little Cayman is definitely worth it!! We stay with Gladys Howard at Pirates Point. We have a timeshare at Morritts on GC, but spend 3 days on LC each trip. We're out of DC, and GC is one of the most inexpensive destinations to fly to.

In my early years as a diver, I visited as many different locations as possible. Traveled all over the Caribbean. If I can't get on a plane and off by afternoon, I'm not going!! Terry and I have finally settled on GC, LC, Bonaire, Belize and Roatan.

LC has the best diving, bar none. Saba is a close 2nd. We have decided that we want to return year after year to places that everyone knows our name. Is LC cheap. No way!! Is it worth it? Absolutely!! You don't have to go for a full week. Customize your trip.

Finally, after many years of diving, we have found, no matter where we go, that we can save money with advance planning. Frequency and contacts mean EVERYTHING!! We don't travel in the high season. Saves money. We save monthly for vacations. Saves money on your CC.
And we don't do last minute deals. We plan vacations months in advance.

Go to Little Cayman!!

 

[jdcpa]

We are thinking about a trip to Little Cayman and it is generally more expensive than other places we've been (Bonaire, Grand Cayman, etc). BUT, we also hear the diving is great and it is worth paying a bit extra to go there. Opinions?

I can't speak to "value" for you.

But I can tell you that you are really entering a different situation on LC than GC or Bonaire.

In diving circles, most consider Bonaire a cheap place to go diving as is Cozumel.

None of the Cayman Islands will ever be considered cheap.

LC is a definite step up, on island economically, from Bonaire. Definite. Poverty does not exist on that island.

The vis is better on LC than GC and Bonaire.

I think you will be hard pressed to find better food than you get on LC. Pirates Point, Southern Cross, LCBR and Iggy all serve very good food. All of the accomodations on LC are top notch, in real good shape. Certainly no Ritz though. LC is a small island.

My assumption of the visitors to the island is that there are in large percentage higher end people and the island caters to that by taking care to provide the little touches, the customer care and service. Everything on the island is in good shappe and taken care of.

All in all, you will be hard pressed to find a nicer, friendlier, more accomodating and more knowledgable group of divemasters anywhere in the world.

The diving is easier on LC than most places you visit. Little currents and nice shallow safety stops where you can still see things for the most part. No real mid water safety stops.

I can't speak to Pirates, but the rest of the island operators are "valet diving". Which is defintely a step up from shore diving on Bonaire. And they will leave your gear alone if that freaks you out.

No, you can't go below 110 feet and other than Pirates, they limit you to 50 minutes on the first dive and an hour on the second and third. Pirates does it differently, only two dives and longer dives, but I don't believe more depth. You can play follow the leader underwater there, or you can go on your own.

Generally speaking, the boats on LC are about the best boats you will dive on, large, uncrowded even with 18 on board, well set up and stable. Short boat rides to the dives sites as well.

LC is the safest place I have ever been. I leave my car door unlocked and the keys in my car. I speak to everyone, everywhere there. You can ride a bicycle anywhere on the island, anytime of day or night with no issues. If you wanted to get in trouble on that island, I am not sure how you could do it. you do see the Police Officer and he does speak to you in a friendly manner. My two sons asked him for a ride home from a New Years party two years ago at 3:00 AM and he was kind enough to do so. No questions asked.

It is a unique experience.

Is it worth it? I can't speak for your value.

Best of luck in making the decision.

 

[terrylowe]

I've been several times to Little Cayman. It is a great get-away. It is NOT designed for daily shopping. Sometimes a spouse may be concerned about that.

I take my own food and stay at a rental house when I go. Really cuts the cost down.

Here is my last trip report for Little Cayman

 

[merxlin]

I live and dive in So Cal and have been diving in Little Cayman, Roatan, Hawaii, and the Galapagos. LC is the one place I would go back to a second time (well except Hawaii but I have a timeshare there, so its cheap).

 

[Drew Sailbum]

....the reefs are only a shadow of their former glory (due to over-development/too many recent hurricanes damaging reefs)

One severe hurricane in last twenty years. If that is too many and too recent then you'll be hard pressed to dive in most of the Caribbean.

and I think they actually have 'scuba police' where it's illegal to dive bwlow 110', which is an absurdity I won't tolerate anywhere at any price.

No scuba police. Absolutely not. No.

In fact on GC DiveTech offers full trimix training deep on the wall. How many places can you do a 300ft deep dive from shore?

What we do have is an active watersports association which has a recommended depth limits. Various operators may have their own policies based upon their operations and experiences.