Little Cayman Beach Resort trip report

[Qnape]

I was at LCBR around the same time as Queen Triggerfish for my third trip to LCBR (on a different boat.) Excellent, detailed trip report that gives just a taste of how nice the place really is. My wife can vouch for the spa being wonderful and just lived her massage, facial and mani / pedi. I am totally satisfied when I am there (divewise, foodwise - every which way) and can't imagine a more perfect dive resort. To answer the one Dan G question not addressed so far, the wifi is much improved and available throughout the resort including in the rooms. They have added several servers or whatever to increase their coverage and we had good signal pretty much throughout. YMMV, bandwidth for Skype was limited during busier times (afternoons and evenings).

One piece of advice for first-timers; this is the most casual place you will ever go. Pack Light!!! Unless you really want to dress for some reason, a few t-shirts, shorts, bathing suits and a pair of flip-flops will do for a week. I brought 4 pairs of socks and used one one beyond the pair I had on upon arrival - only for the trip home. This is the only place I know where I could pack for a week in a backpack (aside from dive and camera gear taking up an entire suitcase).

 

[Cali_diver]

Thank you for the great trip report!!! I will add BUG SPRAY.....we got eaten alive at the bar in the evenings. Little no seeums!!! We tipped the bar staff at the end of the week! Probably more than if we were doing it nightly but we really enjoyed the bar staff. Wifi was great. Enjoy!!

Their tipping suggestion is $10 per day per staff member. Which fall in with $5-10/ tank norm. We usually had 2 DMs for three tanks.

 

[vladimir]

I think Queen Triigerfish has done a very accurate review. LCBR is a fantastic place to vacation and to dive. You will not be disappointed. Southern Cross is pricier and somewhat more upscale but LCBR is more than adequate. The rooms have been updated recently, the food and service are excellent and the dive op is by far the best I've had the privilege to use in more than 20 years of diving in the Carribean. I've never been convinced that Southern Cross is worth the differential in view of how good LCBR is. I'ts not by accident that LCBR has so many repeat guests.
I can answer a few of Dan G's questions.

The DMs are happy for you to head off and do your own thing once they they have had a dive or two with you to make sure you are competent. They are pretty flexible for divers to do their own dive and profile as long as they are back on the boat in reasonable time and they don't go into deco mode. I frequently go the opposite direction on the wall to the group if there is no current. Many of the sites on Jackson's Bight are so expansive that you feel that you and your budy have the whole ocean to yourselves. Some of the sites on Bloody Bay Wall are more constrained so you really can't get too far from the group. If the boat is full the DMs usually break it down into two groups and stagger the start so there is no crowding on the reef.

Reef Divers provide dive bags so you do not need to bring one. There is a "dry" area at the bow of the boat but if it gets rough or someone slops a wet towel on top of your stuff, it may not stay dry. We always bring a dry bag ( Sealine type with a flap that seals ) to keep our dry things in.

As far as tipping, I tend to use the $15 dollars per day per diver rule and add to this for extra special service. At the bar, I tip the same way I would in N America, 15%. The manager is always on site and he can provide advice re gratuity guidelines for wait, cleaning and cooking staff.

Don't know what the wifi is like. I never bring a computer as I really want to be away from it all and enjoy the sense of being on a small isolated tranquil place, away from the world.

When I was there—quite some time ago—the divemasters were happy to allow me the freedom to dive my own profiles, as you say, but their flexibility did not include a "reasonable time" limit. Instead, it was a hard and fast 50 minutes. That's not a complaint, just an observation. They have a pretty tight schedule, and it can feel a little bit regimented at times.

 

[Qnape]

When I was there—quite some time ago—the divemasters were happy to allow me the freedom to dive my own profiles, as you say, but their flexibility did not include a "reasonable time" limit. Instead, it was a hard and fast 50 minutes. That's not a complaint, just an observation. They have a pretty tight schedule, and it can feel a little bit regimented at times.

They seem a bit more flexible now, with the deeper morning dives slated for perhaps 110'/50 minutes max and second tanks / afternoon dives planned as 60/60 (although at several sites you would have to dig in the sand a while to hit 60'). I was usually one of the first in once the pool opened and often one of the last up the ladder, and nearly always exceeded 60 minutes. If you hang around waiting for the DM's tour (he has to help the others into the pool before he can get wet), your dive time may be shorter. I do recall one afternoon dive (on the day before the DMs' day off) we only had a few divers, and I was completing my safety stop at about 62 minutes just off the ladder as they started bringing in the hookah, the hang chain, and one ladder. My buddy had cleared her computer during the latter part of the dive around some shallow coral heads while I was towards the bottom of the same heads, so still had to clear my safety stop. They wanted to got, so I go the hint and climbed aboard. At no other time did I feel rushed. These guys work hard and 6 days a week, so I could certainly understand them looking forward to their day off!

 

[AggieDiver]

Yeah, the hard limit on dive times is one I have never personally experienced there. The only times I have seen them get on anybody about dive times was when one buddy pair was down well past the stated profile when everybody else was on the boat. Even then, it is usually only a problem if the boat is running behind...usually because people were late getting on in the am. My experience has been that if everybody gets to the boat on time in the morning or even a few minutes early, then the crew can be alot more relaxed about the schedule. My wife and I usually try to be one of the first few buddy teams into the water and then are one of the last couple teams out, and pretty much always have at least 60-65 minute dive times, and I have had a few where I was around 70 minutes.

 

[caymaniac]

Yeah, the hard limit on dive times is one I have never personally experienced there. The only times I have seen them get on anybody about dive times was when one buddy pair was down well past the stated profile when everybody else was on the boat. Even then, it is usually only a problem if the boat is running behind...usually because people were late getting on in the am. My experience has been that if everybody gets to the boat on time in the morning or even a few minutes early, then the crew can be alot more relaxed about the schedule. My wife and I usually try to be one of the first few buddy teams into the water and then are one of the last couple teams out, and pretty much always have at least 60-65 minute dive times, and I have had a few where I was around 70 minutes.

My wife and I have had this same experience. We tried to be the first in last out and could get 70min on a dive, 60+ is was no problem.

 

[kroorda]

LCBR is the best place to stay and dive on Little Cayman - hands down!:cool3:

 

[Doctorfish]

Pirates Point and Southern Cross are very good as well. Don't know how you can be so dogmatic. LCBR is a great dive lodge and is generally my preference, but if I wanted to go to LC on a specific week and it was full, I would have no hesitation about booking one of the others. Also, for a larger group, The Club and Conch Club offer good condo type accomodation and diving. You can dine at LCBR or down the road at the Hungry Iguana.

 

[BDSC]

I agree that Pirates Point is good as I have stayed there before. Never stayed at Southern Cross but I hear good things about them as well. The reason I most likely would not stay at either one over LCBR is because of the price. We have a group going to the LCBR this fall and that same week at Pirates Point would run an extra $400 or so for the week. I think that does include alcohol but no afternoon dives. That same time at Southern Cross would be even more. From what I can tell a lot more. But I can't imagine anyone not being satisfied at either of the three. I just think LCBR is by far the best value.

 

[wincendf]

I just got back from a week long trip with a group at LCBR. It was absolutely fantastic and I have no complaints at all. The staff was excellent and the DM and Captains were all great and very knowledgeable about the areas we were diving. I can't wait to have the opportunity to go back again.