Looking for "Best" Dive Ops in Grand Cayman

[Wolfie]

Sunny
Just curious, you mentioned Divetech in passing, all I have ever heard about that operation is repeat business from anyone that has been there. Are you still considering them?
Eastend
correct on your shout outs. I think all your mentions are 8am boat departures and most are van (car) pick up which would be earlier than that.
On the other hand I am looking into possibilities of another op for my Next visit (april) as it would be nice to be on land by noon so I can get more family time. (they don't dive). If I switch I think it will be Indigo or InDepth. although I don't know for fact, but it sounds like they would be the most likely culprits to get to the north wall which has eluded my last several visits.

 

[Alex777]

I've dove with Bob Sotos, Don Fosters, Divetek Divers, 7MB Divers as well as Sunset House (shore dives). Just checking in to see what other more seasoned divers prefer when in in GCM. Have not dove Kittiwake yet and plan to this trip. Am looking for quality of the dive operation, boats, dive masters and value.

Bob Soto's no longer exists. Don Foster's is focused mostly on cruise divers. Sunset House boats are old and slow.

The suggestions above by EastEndDiver are good ones. I agree with DNS, Ambassador, Wall to Wall, Off the Wall, Indigo and Deep Blue for the 7MB area (or the North Wall if the weather is right). Personally, I would reserve a couple of vacation days for diving in the East End with Ocean Frontiers.

 

[releck97]

I concur with the suggestions for a couple of dives on the east end with Ocean Frontiers. It's a different world out there and down there. That's why we always stay on the east end. We still come west for a couple of dives, but we love it out there. It IS quiet, so if that's not to your liking, stay on 7MB and take the drive out to the "other side".

 

[EastEndDiver]

Sunny
Just curious, you mentioned Divetech in passing, all I have ever heard about that operation is repeat business from anyone that has been there. Are you still considering them?
Eastend
correct on your shout outs. I think all your mentions are 8am boat departures and most are van (car) pick up which would be earlier than that.
On the other hand I am looking into possibilities of another op for my Next visit (april) as it would be nice to be on land by noon so I can get more family time. (they don't dive). If I switch I think it will be Indigo or InDepth. although I don't know for fact, but it sounds like they would be the most likely culprits to get to the north wall which has eluded my last several visits.

North Wall is very weather dependant.All I listed do the North Wall when practical.Your best approach would be to contact the dive ops when on island and see who is planning it rather than just "signing" up with them and hoping.

 

[EastEndDiver]

As Alex stated Sunset House has slow and old boats which can be a problem unless they are keeping a boat at Red Bay and planning to dive the South Side.Years ago I dove with Sunset House and as we were starting off the captain said "we will be diving Edens Rock and Devils Grotto" I looked at him and basically said "I can dive those from shore for $10. a tank I don't want to do them" he then changed plans and we dove two other sites.

 

[Sunny2012]

As Alex stated Sunset House has slow and old boats which can be a problem unless they are keeping a boat at Red Bay and planning to dive the South Side.Years ago I dove with Sunset House and as we were starting off the captain said "we will be diving Edens Rock and Devils Grotto" I looked at him and basically said "I can dive those from shore for $10. a tank I don't want to do them" he then changed plans and we dove two other sites.

EastEndDiver and et al,

Thanks for all the great info and tips. Been going to GCM for 26 years a few times a year. Hit it 4 times last year and just now getting back to diving after a few years off. Did my OW with Bob Soto's back in 1998 (below the LobsterPot), so guess I'm dating myself... :blinking: AOW in 2005 in Cozumel.... Heading back there after Cayman.

As for Sunset House, I've only done some great shore dives there, the dive guys/gals are great and very reasonable for a tank and weights. Love the after dive dinner and cocktails on deck!

TecDivers I did shore dives at Cracked Conch (out by the Turtle Farm), again a tank and weights and off we go... SMB Divers I really enjoyed as the boats were not packed and the Divemasters were great. Close to the condo as well.

I stay on SMB to engage with some friends and do yoga workouts at Bliss Living Yoga. Will look into East End this trip per y'alls advice.

Namaste

 

[dmoore19]

As Alex stated Sunset House has slow and old boats which can be a problem unless they are keeping a boat at Red Bay and planning to dive the South Side.Years ago I dove with Sunset House and as we were starting off the captain said "we will be diving Edens Rock and Devils Grotto" I looked at him and basically said "I can dive those from shore for $10. a tank I don't want to do them" he then changed plans and we dove two other sites.

When I was at Sunset House in late November the first day we were there the weather was beautiful, seas calm. The next morning the wind came up and we ended up going to the south side to dive, the boats had already been moved down there. The boats might be old and slow but from what I saw they were well maintained and were a pretty nice ride. The crew said "we will be diving ________" If anyone had a different request it was generally accepted and the plan changed. That's the way it's supposed to work right? Shore diving was part of the package for us and cost $0 when staying there.

I like the idea that a plan existed for those days when weather played a role. The dive sites (within reason) were diver's choice.

And the Kittiwake is IMHO a must if at all possible.

The one trip is my experience for Grand Cayman diving. Not saying I know more than you about the place but that was my recent experience.

 

[Insta-Gator]

We've been going to GC for years. I never had a bad experience with any dive op. That said, some years back we got into shore diving. So when we went to GC we hired a dive guide to show us around to different shore dives. These are less dived than the boat dives and the dive guide works on your schedule, not the other way around. After a few days of that we were pretty happy. With a group of four it cost less to hire a dive guide that to go out on a boat. IJS

 

[EastEndDiver]

When I was at Sunset House in late November the first day we were there the weather was beautiful, seas calm. The next morning the wind came up and we ended up going to the south side to dive, the boats had already been moved down there. The boats might be old and slow but from what I saw they were well maintained and were a pretty nice ride. The crew said "we will be diving ________" If anyone had a different request it was generally accepted and the plan changed. That's the way it's supposed to work right? Shore diving was part of the package for us and cost $0 when staying there.

I like the idea that a plan existed for those days when weather played a role. The dive sites (within reason) were diver's choice.

And the Kittiwake is IMHO a must if at all possible.

The one trip is my experience for Grand Cayman diving. Not saying I know more than you about the place but that was my recent experience.

Sunset House runs a good operation,it's just not what I am looking for.I don't think someone can go wrong diving with Sunset House.

 

[Doctorfish]

Diving is a very competitive industry on GC. Almost all of the ops are excellent, they have to be to stay in business. I generally stay away from any operation that puts more than 8 divers on a boat, even a large boat. Had a very positive experience with DNS last November but have also enjoyed diving with Wall to Wall. I try to stay with the same operator for an entire trip for the reasons listed above.