Is this possible

[EastEndDiver]

Well here is what I found out directly from the GC dive shops directly. I emailed each and every one on GC. They unanimously confirmed that you can only rent & use tanks at the site in places where there is a shop. Most every site has a shop. You can't remove tanks from the site. There are one or two places that will rent a tank for use on sites that don't have a shop on site. And solo diving is absolutely forbidden no matter if you have certification and tons of solo dives. Some told me by law, one threatened me that if I tried it, I would be seen and the word would be spread between all dive shops and I would be blackballed - unable to rent equipment or dive, even from boat - forever. What a great way to encourage tourism. I've crossed Grand Cayman off my list of possible venues. Eff em. I'll spend my money where I can dive as I wish without hastle.

Could you possibly forward(copy) me the emails that said you would be blacklisted etc.etc. or mention the name of the dive op which said that?

Maybe Alex could voice his expertise about the above Post.

Thank You.

 

[Alex777]

Could you possibly forward(copy) me the emails that said you would be blacklisted etc.etc. or mention the name of the dive op which said that?

Maybe Alex could voice his expertise about the above Post.

Thank You.

I would also be interested in seeing the emails ...

 

[ianr33]

Well here is what I found out directly from the GC dive shops directly. I emailed each and every one on GC. They unanimously confirmed that you can only rent & use tanks at the site in places where there is a shop. Most every site has a shop. You can't remove tanks from the site. There are one or two places that will rent a tank for use on sites that don't have a shop on site. And solo diving is absolutely forbidden no matter if you have certification and tons of solo dives. Some told me by law, one threatened me that if I tried it, I would be seen and the word would be spread between all dive shops and I would be blackballed - unable to rent equipment or dive, even from boat - forever. What a great way to encourage tourism. I've crossed Grand Cayman off my list of possible venues. Eff em. I'll spend my money where I can dive as I wish without hastle.

No mention of solo diving in these (rather lengthy! ) regulations. Safe Diving Standards | Diving Vacation, Dive Caribbean | Dive Cayman

You would probably come under Category 15 (Rogue Diver) !

Cayman has plenty of Cruise Ships and Offshore banks to bring the money in. Suspect they won't worry too much about one solo diver going elsewhere.

 

[Kharon]

Wow. Good way to keep GCY a dive destination. I prefer laid back Brac, never never ever had a problem solo diving. Sign in , grab a tank or tanks and go anywhere on island and have fun. I am sure Grand Cayman shops can do whatever they want with their own tanks and probably control the filling of tanks in their shops, but they can't do a darn thing about who dives where. Their policy sounds like Animal House; double, secret probation if you dive solo. Solo diving is not forbidden, but a buddy is recommended. That is the most asinine thing i've heard this week, and the fact the dive shops are telling everyone this, is just a way to get you on a boat for price gouging dives to areas that are swarming with tourists. Better business by intimidation.

I am sure on the forum there is a diver who works in a Grand Cayman shop that would explain the scare tactic described. Please reference any Cayman law that will state the illegality of solo diving in Cayman waters. Also reference any law, rule or regulation that prevents me from entering any spot along the shore except for boat harbor. The only Law I know states solo diving is aliowed anywhere from shore. Regards

Actually, it obviously has nothing to do with the law. The dive shop owners have tank rental sewn up and will not rent equipment to you without a buddy present. And they certainly can blacklist someone.

Here is a quote from Indepth Watersports "And it is a small island where you don’t want to try and get away with it... you would soon find yourself on a do not take/let go diving email to all the operators. At which point you would not be doing any shore or boat diving in Cayman."

As far as a list of dive shops that responded that solo diving was out of the question - all of them (12 shops and I'm not going to list them all). I used Google & Bing to find every dive shop that rents tanks. One or two said that solo diving was strongly discouraged and that they would not rent tanks to someone who had no buddy (buddy had to be there with you when renting tanks). All the rest (10 out of 12) said it was forbidden, against the law, no solo diving allowed anywhere on GC, etc.

Yep, I'm sure that my meager dollars won't be missed, particularly since I wouldn't be spending a ton of bucks to dive from boats. On the other hand I won't miss their anal retentive attitude either. And I agree, it's just a way to force people to spend on boat diving.

 

[vincent54]

You can say i am your buddy and will forget to show up when you dive. Then I can be put in time out, Cheers

 

[nipi]

Actually, it obviously has nothing to do with the law. The dive shop owners have tank rental sewn up and will not rent equipment to you without a buddy present. And they certainly can blacklist someone.

Here is a quote from Indepth Watersports "And it is a small island where you don’t want to try and get away with it... you would soon find yourself on a do not take/let go diving email to all the operators. At which point you would not be doing any shore or boat diving in Cayman."

As far as a list of dive shops that responded that solo diving was out of the question - all of them (12 shops and I'm not going to list them all). I used Google & Bing to find every dive shop that rents tanks. One or two said that solo diving was strongly discouraged and that they would not rent tanks to someone who had no buddy (buddy had to be there with you when renting tanks). All the rest (10 out of 12) said it was forbidden, against the law, no solo diving allowed anywhere on GC, etc.

Yep, I'm sure that my meager dollars won't be missed, particularly since I wouldn't be spending a ton of bucks to dive from boats. On the other hand I won't miss their anal retentive attitude either. And I agree, it's just a way to force people to spend on boat diving.

Kahron - you can easily achieve what you want. I will send you a PM.