More About Shore Dive Options on Grand Cayman

[ian.b]

I've never ever been told that on any dive in Cayman, with dive boats or shore dive briefings.

And congrats on the NITROX certs!

I have not come across this either, in all my dives. Shore (any site) or boat.

 

[scubadada]

OK, I have been out with three different dive ops and have never ever been told about a 110 foot warning from anyone. In addition, none of the dive shops in their briefings for folks who want to do the swim out to the big wall say anything about max depths - that is up to the individual. If you and your buddy want to do that and not expect the dive master or the group to do so, then that's your thing.

I think I have a total of about 70 dives on Grand Cayman - I have never ever felt "nannied" on the island, or got the "Big Brother" feeling. Tanks can be rented at Divers Supply, as others have said, so it's not like there is no way to get tanks to go and dive exactly where you want to.

As for "unusual rules", I just show up at a shore dive site, rent my tanks, get a site briefing (which tells me about the features of the site, not what I should or shouldn't be doing) and then I go diving. When I go out on a boat, I get a briefing about the site and, if my buddy and I want to stay with the group, what we will be doing, and at what air pressure to get back to the boat with (which is the standard PADI/SSI guideline - so it's just a reminder). The only time I have ever had a time limit put on it was Stingray City dive site, where because of the shallow depth you could stay down there for a long, long while. Every other dive site you dive whatever you feel comfortable doing. I have never seen anyone chastised for staying down too long.

So I'm really not sure what all these "unusual rules" are.

OK, so the 1.4 MOD for 32% is 111 ft. that may be a factor in the depth warning

I've done 153 feet at Ghost Mountain on air, our guide was somewhere around there too

Nobody watches you do anything shore diving at Turtle Reef, Lighthouse Point, or Cobalt Coast, you are on your own

 

[caydiver]

Have to say we have never heard it either. Before we moved here we dove with many different ops and I probably have around 650 dives here. In any event briefings across the board have pretty much changed For quite a while now I think back on the boat with 500psi (which is not new) but what is is telling guests to watch their Deco are the typical guide lines. Back in the table days we were given depth limits for the second dive but not really time. Computers changed all of that years ago. At least that had been our experience. Nitrox yes so we just don’t use it for sites we know will be deeper. Have been doing that for many years now so the 110 is unusual to me.

 

[KathyV]

I've never ever been told that on any dive in Cayman, with dive boats or shore dive briefings.

And congrats on the NITROX certs!

I have not come across this either, in all my dives. Shore (any site) or boat.

OK, so the 1.4 MOD for 32% is 111 ft. that may be a factor in the depth warning

I've done 153 feet at Ghost Mountain on air, our guide was somewhere around there too

Nobody watches you do anything shore diving at Turtle Reef, Lighthouse Point, or Cobalt Coast, you are on your own

Below is an old article from Undercurrent (from April 1998) discussing Grand Cayman's reputation for conservative diving practices - because of a commitment to safety and the large number of divers - and it lists some dive ops (of that era - but some are still around) that were willing to be less conservative with more experienced divers.

The article says that (back in 1998) "According to the Cayman Islands Watersports Operators' Association, the maximum depth for any dive is still 110 feet, except on the East End, where the depth limit is 120 feet."

That was 20 years ago and a whole lot of things have changed since 1998, but apparently the old "maximum depth of 110 feet" is still being invoked by some dive ops, @drrich2 has heard it and I know that I've heard it too. It may have subsided for awhile but perhaps it has made a recent comeback with some ops because nitrox has become so popular? Just guessing.


https://www.undercurrent.org/UCnow/articles/cayman9804.shtml


Insider's Guide to Grand Cayman

from the April 1998 issue of Undercurrent

Do it right and dive your own profile - do it wrong and get blackballed


I've moaned about having to surface with 2000 psi still left in my tank while diving on Grand Cayman, and from time to time I've offered a few solutions to this problem by naming a couple of operations that offer more advanced diving. But how do you find out the inside skinny on a destination that has a hundred dive operations to choose from? We found a well-traveled Cayman divemaster we trust-one who formerly lived and worked on the island-who gave us the names of some operators willing to treat experienced divers as adults. J.Q.


While I was a divemaster on Grand Cayman, experienced divers frequently complained that Cayman operators treated them as if they were newly certified. They were required to follow them along with ten other divers as they raced around a site, only to surface with their tanks still half-full.


The stories of these frustrated divers weren't exaggerated. Safety is an island-wide priority, and Grand Cayman's reputation for its strict diving policies is well-deserved. According to the Cayman Islands Watersports Operators' Association, the maximum depth for any dive is still 110 feet, except on the East End, where the depth limit is 120 feet. This overriding commitment to safety coupled with an enormous number of visitors induces most operators to run very conservative dives.


On the other hand, experienced Undercurrent subscribers don't need a divemaster to hold their hands and point out barracuda. There are dive shops in Grand Cayman that recognize that, while all divers may be equal, some are more equal than others, and they're willing to give experienced divers more of what they're looking for. Nitrox? No problem. Computer profiles? Just stay out of decompression and come up with 500 psi. You and your buddy want to explore the reef apart from the group? Don't get lost, or you'll owe the captain a case of beer. And as long as you don't hold up everyone else on the boat, you can have all the bottom time you want, regardless of whether you're diving with air or Nitrox.


I want to share the names of several operations that give veteran divers a chance to dive on their own without being cavalier about the welfare of their customers. They're computer- and camera-friendly, and most offer Nitrox. Of course, every operation has its own rules and caters to a slightly different niche of diving Grand Cayman, so you might call before you arrive to discuss your needs. These operations also limit the number of people per trip, so it's best to reserve your diving in advance.


Divers Down (phone, fax: 345/945-1611) is across from Seven Mile Beach in the shopping center Coconut Place. It keeps its trips to a maximum of eight divers. The boat is small, but the staff is friendly and accommodating and will pick up guests in the shop's minibus at their hotel or condominium.


Cayman Marine Lab's (phone, fax: 345/945-5586) early departures usually ensure that they get their choice of dive sites. However, there's no pick-up service, so divers must meet up with the boat at either or the public section of Seven Mile Beach or the Cayman Islands Yacht Club, depending on where the trip is headed that day. During surface intervals, marine biologist Tom Byrnes gives lectures and answers questions on the coral reef environment, so divers know what they're really looking at. He's widely respected and knows the waters of Grand Cayman as well as anybody on the island.


Dive 'n Stuff (phone: 949-6033, fax: 945-9207) is perhaps the most flexible operation on Grand Cayman. Customers can arrange personalized trips or night dives virtually any time during their stay, usually with as few as two divers. The hard-working staff takes requests seriously and usually meets them. They're also willing to pick you up, or you can meet them at their shop in Georgetown.


Peter Milburn's Dive Cayman Ltd. (phone: 945-5770, fax: 945-5786) is one of the oldest and most successful dive operations on Grand Cayman. He somehow manages to run up to three boats at a time and satisfy both new divers and old salts alike. He also offers a convenient pick-up service, and the experienced staff helps Peter retain a loyal following among regular visitors to the island.


Dive Tech (phone 949-1700, fax: 949-1701), located a couple of miles up from Seven Mile Beach at Northwest Point, is the island's only true technical diving operation. Anyone certified in enriched air, mixed-gas, or rebreather diving can rent equipment or arrange guided dives. While Dive Tech doesn't run regularly scheduled boat trips, there are several good shore dives nearby. It also offers courses in all of its specialties, including introductory resort courses and full certifications. Students can request to be picked up at their hotel or condominium.


I took a resort course at Dive Tech on the Atlantis I rebreather. The entire course, including the dive, lasted four hours. My instructor, Dan, gave a thorough overview of the history and mechanics of the semi-closed system and how to use the attached pony bottle as a bail-out option if anything went wrong with the Atlantis I. After practicing the bail-out in shallow water, we had a 90-minute dive with a maximum depth of 96 feet. Dan navigated the dive but kept the pace leisurely and let me wander as much as I wanted. The dive itself was fascinating. There breather's reduction of bubbles allowed me to eyeball normally skittish squid from 18 inches away and to have gobies clean my hand.


Ocean Frontiers (phone, fax: 947-7500) is located on the East End, the least developed part of Grand Cayman. Because it has some of the most beautiful and pristine diving in the Cayman Islands, divemasters frequently come here to dive on their day off. Ocean Frontiers will pick you up at your hotel, even if you are staying on Seven Mile Beach. Their custom-built boat is stable in rough seas and takes up to 12 divers very comfortably. Most importantly, the staff recognizes that the reefs and walls of East End are special and reminds divers on deck, and underwater if necessary, to keep them this way. I have been diving with Ocean Frontiers several times, and on each occasion, I had a first-class trip.


Hooking up with one of these dive operators isn't a guarantee that you'll be treated like Bob Soto. You might have to do a dive or two with the rest of the group to prove your skills. Live with it, and, after a day or two, talk to the divemaster before the boat leaves the dock. Don't flash your log book stamp from Sipadan or brag about your experience. Divemasters see ten people like that a week. Just ask if it's possible to do the next dive on your own, and offer to show your computer after the dive as proof that you did a safe profile. Chances are you'll get the okay as long as you stay above 100 feet. On the other hand, if you don't get the answer you want, it's not a good idea to ignore the refusal and do your own profile anyway. Reckless and disobedient divers are only a fax away from being blackballed by every dive shop on the island.


D.E.

 

[caydiver]

The article is from 1998!!!! I think the point people are trying to make is that things have changed especially with the advent of computer diving several years ago. I am sure it was great info at the time it was written.

 

[EastEndDiver]

Peter Milburn was my favorite dive op he sort of gave up on it about 5 years ago.I had great friendship with him and had some great dives with him .
Out of all the dive ops I miss his the most he had great stories to tell and always was very "accommodating" when it came to depth location etc..

I could tell you stories about diving with him but would probably get us both in trouble....

He is a true legend on Cayman.

 

[drrich2]

1. Did a Google search, and a link popped me up a PDF - Page 4, Item 8.):
   
   "The recommended maximum depth limit with recreational scuba customers is 100 feet/30 meters, if within certification (See Appendix ‘B’). The maximum depth with recreational scuba customers is 130 feet/39 meters and 100 feet/39 meters for repetitive dives the same day."
   
   And from the document:
   
   WATER SPORTS OPERATIONS GUIDELINESCAYMAN ISLANDS TOURISM ASSOCIATION (CITA)
   
   Updated October 2016

P.S.: Dive365 has a page stating: "CITA members comply with a recommended 100 feet (30 meters) for recreational scuba customers. The required maximum depth with recreational scuba customers is 130feet/39meters and 100feet/30 meters for repetitive dives the same day."

 

[caydiver]

Peter Milburn is awesome. A true gentleman.

 

[Alucard]

OK, so here is a suggestion - it is becoming apparent that some dive ops seem to be requiring their guests to limit themselves to 110 feet on air, while a lot of others don't.

Personally, I like long dives, which means that I don't really have any interest in going that deep, unless there is something specific to see at that depth. So max depth isn't something that I really care about in my selection of dive ops.

So, I would suggest that labeling the whole island as "big brother" because of this depth restriction is over-broad, and is doing the island a disservice. Maybe instead, we help those that are interested in diving those depths between 110 feet and the max recreational depth of 130 feet by making people aware of which companies impose those restrictions, and which do not. That way people can make a more informed decision, rather than relying on overly-broad statements.

I have been out with DiveTech (in its previous incarnation), InDepth Watersports and Cayman University Divers and haven't ever been told of a max depth other than our own personal limits.

So which companies impose that limit and which don't?

 

[EastEndDiver]

I don't think I have ever been told what my max. depth should be.

Lately I have been staying more shallow because of the diversity of marine life at shallower depths.

I have also noticed that I see more marine life concentrated at the mooring pin than most other areas of the dive site most times.

Just my observations