Lots of Cayman questions. All advice appreciated.

[jerrycsr]

Arriving in Grand Cayman the first part of July for four days of diving. We are renting a vehicle and staying at Villas of the Galleon. I haven't been to G. Cayman in seven years. I have some questions and any insight from anybody is very appreciated.

1. Renting tanks for shore diving.

If I want to rent tanks for a shore night dive or a shore dive anywhere I want, where can I do this?

2. Babylon shore dive. I want to do this as a shore dive. Is it possible to rent a dive scooter somewhere on the island to get out there rather than make the long swim?


3. Where to dive? If you had four days to dive what dives would be mandatory for you? I don't care what side of the island your favorite dives are, I want to hear your recommendations. I know I want to do Trinity Caves on the west wall.

4. Best dive sites for seeing sharks?

5. Favorite reasonably priced places to eat and have a cold one?


Thank you.

 

[ianr33]

d.

1. Renting tanks for shore diving.
If I want to rent tanks for a shore night dive or a shore dive anywhere I want, where can I do this?
2. Babylon shore dive. I want to do this as a shore dive. Is it possible to rent a dive scooter somewhere on the island to get out there rather than make the long swim?
3. Where to dive? If you had four days to dive what dives would be mandatory for you? I don't care what side of the island your favorite dives are, I want to hear your recommendations. I know I want to do Trinity Caves on the west wall.
4. Best dive sites for seeing sharks?
5. Favorite reasonably priced places to eat and have a cold one?
Thank you.

1) Apparently there is a shop on the non ocean side of the beach on Seven Mile Beach Road that rents tanks, Divers Supply??? Most (If not All) operations will not let you take tanks offsite. This is a pain and I wish it was different.
2)Divetech rents scooters but again they do not let them go off site.
The swim to Babylon is part of the adventure!!
3)Favorite easy Shore dives: Turtle Farm and Sunset House.
Favorite shore dives with a swim: Lighthouse Point Main Wall and Babylon
Favorite Boat Dives: Anything on the South East Coast (Jack McKennys,Maze,Pats Wall etc)
4)Probably The Maze on the East End (Boat Dive) Still not a high probability
5)Vivines Kitchen on the East End.Very local. Cobalt Coast does excellent lunches,Sunset House is a good place for a beer after diving and watching the sun go down.

 

[ScubaRich]

Near Georgetown
1) Eden Rock dive center for tanks and Devils Grotto at their back door for a shore dive site.
and at the North end Dive Tech Near the turtle farm and at Cobalt Coast resort can provide you with tanks 2)and scooters.

3) I didn't do much shore diving except what is above.
4) Been to GC 6 times and saw a total of 2 sharks.
5) There is a place just accross the street from the Westin on 7mile beach that is like a 50s diner (good breakfast and Burgers) attatched to a good sports bar. Sorry I don't remember the name but you can't miss it.

Hope this helps a bit.

 

[scubadada]

My favorite shore diving sites are Turtle Reef (Sundivers on site) and Lighthouse Point and Cobalt Coast (Divetech on site). I've rented DPVs from Divetech but have never taken them offsite (ie Babylon) You could discuss this with them. There are are infinite number of great dive sites, I'm partial to the North Wall rather than to the West. Grand Cayman is not a shark spot though I have seen a few.

There is good lunch (or dinner) at Cobalt Coast if you end up there. There is a good bar and food at Turtle Reef below the Cracked Conch restaurant. The restaurant across from the Westin is called Eats, it's a great, inexpensive place to eat. We've eaten dinner, but never breakfast, there. Rackam's Pub in Georgetown is inexpensive and good. Lone Star Bar & Grill is inexpensive and has tasty food.

Good luck and good diving, Craig

 

[Drew Sailbum]

1. Renting tanks for shore diving.

If I want to rent tanks for a shore night dive or a shore dive anywhere I want, where can I do this?

Check with Diver's Supply or Diver's World. They are both in shopping centers along West Bay Road.

2. Babylon shore dive. I want to do this as a shore dive. Is it possible to rent a dive scooter somewhere on the island to get out there rather than make the long swim?

Assuming the wind and waves cooperate it is only a 15 minute swim out to the wall. I don't think you will find anywhere to rent a scooter to take off site.

3. Where to dive? If you had four days to dive what dives would be mandatory for you? I don't care what side of the island your favorite dives are, I want to hear your recommendations. I know I want to do Trinity Caves on the west wall.

Snapper Hole, Grouper Grotto, Maggie's Maze, Ironshore Gardens. All depend upon iwnd and sea conditions.

4. Best dive sites for seeing sharks?

The Maze. Still only about a one in three chance of seeing sharks.

5. Favorite reasonably priced places to eat and have a cold one?
Thank you.

Miss Vivine's (no beer/booze)

 

[CJ's]

Here's my 10 cents worth!
1) The Lobster Pot Dive Center will rent you tanks and allow you to take them off site.
www.lobsterpotdivecenter.com
2) I don't know of anyone who will rent you scooters to take off site. The swim really isn't that bad to Babylon.
3)Anywhere on the North wall, depends on the visibility on the day. On the West side; Northwest Point.
4) Anywhere on the North wall. Particularly Tarpon Alley.
5) If you are staying at Villas of the Galleon then Eats Cafe/Legends (referred to in a previous post) is right across the street.

CJ

 

[jerrycsr]

Thanks everybody for all the replies.


I really appreciate it. I'm really looking forward to seeing Grand Cayman again.

 

[billinwilliamston]

I think everyones covered most of your questions. Right next to Eats is a sushi place (can't remember the name). It seems to be owned by the same people as Eats, it was good and quite reasonable.

 

[nipi]

I think everyones covered most of your questions. Right next to Eats is a sushi place (can't remember the name). It seems to be owned by the same people as Eats, it was good and quite reasonable.

Yoshi.