Little Cayman or Cayman Brac

[KathyV]

Just looking for opinions on one or the other. Looking to dive the end of April, how's the viz and weather? Dive operation suggestions? Again any insight would be appreciated. Thanks!

You should start by searching this forum, there are loads of information about both islands posted here; then come back with more specific questions that we can help to answer.

Thanks all!! Wow great information. I did do a search so not sure if it was my search criteria or what but I didn't get near the results as above. I really appreciate the information. I have been to Grand Cayman and LOVED it... shout out to Compass Point Dive resort awesome place. I had seen in my search a few shout outs to GC's sister islands so thought I would look at those. Just trying to find a place to go for a dive vacation.... been a lot of places in the Caribbean and liked GC and Barbados and am contemplating just going back to them but thought some place different might be better. Again thank you so much for your time!

I didn't mean sound abrupt but your query was kind of vague so it was difficult to advise you, but since you have already been to GC and stayed at Compass Point then you will do fine with either Brac or LC. I love all 3 Cayman Islands for similar and differing reasons. I think that you should pick one for this trip and then plan to visit the last one on the next trip!

GC has the best beach and lots of topside activities, great restaurants, and good diving - and it is the best choice if you are traveling with non-divers. If the weather turns bad you can usually find a side of the island where you get some good dives, and there are some nice shore diving options on GC also. And if diving is not going to happen, then you will find many other things to do to enjoy your vacation. GC also has the easiest access, with many direct flights available so it is great if you are looking for a shorter trip or traveling a long distance.

Cayman Brac has the most interesting topography of the Caymans with lots of nature-based topside activities like climbing, caving, hiking, biking, and nature watching. The diving is very good and they have the best wreck dive in the Caymans. Brac is a small, quiet island but the Cayman Brac Beach Resort is the nicest of the 3 Clearly Cayman resorts IMO. It has a huge, gorgeous pool, beautiful bar and grounds, and a small spa, so a non-diver that just wants to relax and enjoy might find it pleasant. Even though you will have to take an extra flight to Brac, they have a good-sized airport and can take larger planes and even jets, so there is a strong chance that your luggage will arrive with you. You also have a good chance of finding nice dive sites around the island even when the weather is dicey. Brac is supposed to have good shore diving but I haven't tried it yet. I think that the food is better at CBBR than LCBR, or at least that has been my experience but they are both good.

Little Cayman has the best diving of the 3 Cayman Islands and Bloody Bay Wall is very special, but if the weather is against you and you can't get out to BBW then your choices are limited and the diving is good but not great. There's not much to do on LC besides dive and water sports, except maybe ride a bike. Little Cayman Beach Resort is a lovely place and they also have a small spa. They are just completing some major renovations so it should be nice by late April. It's only a short flight from GC but the planes are small and they book up quickly and there is a higher chance that a bag may be delayed by a day. I have heard a little bit about shore diving on LC but I don't know much about it. LCBR books up the fastest and is the most expensive of the 3 Clearly Cayman resorts so if you want to go there then you shouldn't delay!

I hope that you have a great trip, whatever you decide.

 

[diverlis]

@ KathyV Sorry I was vague, I didn't think you sounded abrupt you sounded correct! lol Just wasn't sure what else to put... Thank you so much for your insight!!

I'm getting sooo excited!!

 

[KathyV]

@ KathyV Sorry I was vague, I didn't think you sounded abrupt you sounded correct! lol Just wasn't sure what else to put... Thank you so much for your insight!! I'm getting sooo excited!!

It's helpful to know how many days you are planning for the trip, if you traveling solo or with another diver (or with a non-diver). The other things you like to do on vacation beside dive, if any. Other places you have dived, and possibly a ballpark budget.

But as I said, since you have already stayed at 1 Clearly Cayman resort and liked it - then you will do fine at either/both of their other 2 resorts in the Sister Islands.

 

[scubadada]

Ok, I'm curious "pygmy angelfish"?

@vincent54

Me too , the juveniles are gorgeous

 

[scubadada]

@vincent54

Cherubfish, also known as Pygmy Angelfish? We see them in Florida

 

[Doctorfish]

KathyV, as always has summed up the pros and cons. I personally prefer the diving on LC but CB Brac diving is almost as good, and there is a little more civilization if you are into that. I would flip a coin and do the losing island next time around. You can't go wrong either way. End of April should provide excellent weather with access to Bloody Bay Wall if you are on LC.

 

[PatW]

Little Cayman and the Brac are similar but different.

The resort property on the Brac has a larger foot print. We travel with another couple and she is not a diver. The Little Cayman property is so small that a non diver can go a bit stir crazy. Also, there are some things to do on the Brac top side.

Both properties are run by reef divers so the boats, dive shops and procedures are very similar.

As far as the diving goes, I prefer the Brac. The south side of the Brac has an outer wall that is fairly deep ... about 69’ at the ridge tops but often at 80+. The corals are really good on these walls and one often sees patrolling reef sharks. The shallow dives on the south side can have great elk horn coral or massive pillar coral.

The north side walls tend to be at 60’ and the shallow dives quite variable with muck, rubble, sand boulevards, coral patches and so on. There are some spots with some really nice staghorn, coral.

Unlike the Brac, very few dives at Little Cayman require a mid water safety stop. You tend to dive a shallower profile than The Brac. The coral is not as good as the Brac and I don’t know why. Fish populations tend to be very similar on both islands. I have been seeing more Goliath grouper at the Brac but seeing one is still a rare thing.

If you so desire, you can rent a condo or a house, rent car on the Brac, rent tanks and shore dive. If you have a group and don’t mind cooking, you can probably save money. But getting to the outer wall, would take some doing.

 

[flyboy08]

Pretty dang windy here on Brac today...sailed around to the north side to get our morning dives in...water temps at 81 surface to -60.

 

[flyboy08]

-60 feet that is...lol...can't edit on phone.

 

[Damselfish]

If it hasn’t been said already, check soon on availability for when you want to go. Things can get booked and that might make a decision for you.