North Wall access: SMB Dive Op or East Bay Dive Ops

[Lateralus]

When you get here call OF and ask them for a realistic real time update on the Sargassum not just if the trip is running.

Will do.

If it's bad, will they cancel the dive trip? Never have been in a situation with Sargassum before.

 

[KathyV]

I'm staying by Coconut Bay. Villas Pappagallo specifically.

I'm looking for a 3 tank dive to the North wall.

It seems that there are 2 docks that Dive Ops have their boats. One in Georgetown and another in West Bay.

Villas Pappagallo is not near Coconut Bay; I've been to the Ristorante Pappagallo (pricey but great Italian food and beautiful tropical birds!) and you will be located as far away from the East End as you could possibly be and still be on land, and you won't be all that close to 7MB and George Town either - although they are closer than the East End.

In fact, you won't be near much of anything, you will be "beyond Hell and gone" and I mean that literally because there is a small, post-office and tourist trap on that end of the Island named "Hell". That entire end of the island is named "West Bay" but it's a large area. If you are under the impression that the North Wall is near the East End, you are mistaken.

The places where dive ops berth their boats varies somewhat with the seasons and the weather and their locations. West Bay Dock is a popular spot but it isn't very close to Villas Pappgallo, either.

IMO it would be better to stay on the west side of the island, in West Bay but closer to the West Bay dock (near Coconut Bay for example) to have easier access to some of the more popular venues and the dive ops and dive the North Wall.

Some ops do occasionally offer a 3-tank dive trip but they are rare and will further limit your options. It is more common to book 2-tanks in the morning and 1-tank in the afternoon after lunch, either a boat or shore dive.

You seem to be studying information about dive sites and trying to pick your favorites sites in advance and then hit them all in a short period of time. That's okay in theory, and the dive boat captain will consider your requests; but then he/she will pick the best locations based on the weather conditions, current, distance, the preferences of other guests, other boats on the sites, etc.

You have a short trip planned and I think that you are going to be spending most of your time driving around the island on the left side of the road trying to get to distant places. Luckily there are good roads on GC, but the roundabouts and signage can be confusing and the traffic can be very bad in popular areas.

 

[caydiver]

Probably not and that is no reflection on them really. They will search for sites that work just like Tortuga will. There are not as nearly as many sites on the EE and like the West Side many of the moorings are next to each other so several can be taken out of commission at the same time. Guests staying out there have more flexibility and days to explore but if you have one chance and drive all the way over you want some of the awesome sites. Right now the island is still hopping and there are lots of folks who just want to dive.

 

[caydiver]

I live on northern SMB and Pappagallos is maybe a 10 minute drive. It took me 7 munutes to drop my kids off at the airport yesterday which is south but will give you an idea of drive times. The drive to the EE is longer. Lots of folks stay in West Bay It is not a big deal getting to west side ops. Pappagallos should be on your restaurant list as well as Morgans, Bacaro, Catch (if there is no weed). In central SMB ar Camana Bay Agua has just moved in and is awesome.

 

[Lateralus]

Villas Pappagallo is not near Coconut Bay; I've been to the Ristorante Pappagallo (pricey but great Italian food and beautiful tropical birds!) and you will be located as far away from the East End as you could possibly be and still be on land, and you won't be all that close to 7MB and George Town either - although they are closer than the East End.

In fact, you won't be near much of anything, you will be "beyond Hell and gone" and I mean that literally because there is a small, post-office and tourist trap on that end of the Island named "Hell". That entire end of the island is named "West Bay" but it's a large area. If you are under the impression that the North Wall is near the East End, you are mistaken.

I must have my lay of land wrong.

We have a car and don't mind driving to places.

We kind of wanted to be away from things. We live in a busy city and wanted some quiet, hence why we picked the location. But we are still within 10-15 min drive to Macabuca, Lighthouse, Turtle Reef, Cobalt Coast and a short drive to SMB.

 

[caydiver]

In the food and diving front Macabuca is a great place for a shore dive and great casual dining. The upstairs restaurant Cracked Conch is fine dining and just wonderful. We have a b’day there in a couple of days and my mouth is already watering

 

[KathyV]

We have a car and don't mind driving to places.

We kind of wanted to be away from things. We live in a busy city and wanted some quiet, hence why we picked the location. But we are still within 10-15 min drive to Macabuca, Lighthouse, and a short drive to SMB.

Okay, but "short drive" is a relative term in my experience and you only have 4.5 days of vacation. When you live there or visit often you become familiar and you can get around short and quick. When you are just learning your way around "it feels far" and you can get confused and lost (at least we have!) although there are fewer roads and roundabouts in the more remote areas - but poorer signage, too.

I suggest downloading interactive Google maps before arriving on the island so you don't have to use up lots of data and roaming charges. I've never had much luck with paper Cayman maps. We bring a Garmin GPS and car charger with us because Cayman is included in their North American maps and we find it helpful, especially when negotiating the roundabouts and the narrow, angled, one-way streets of George Town, and trying to avoid heavy traffic. If you stay on the main roads you should be okay. Have a great trip and please post a report when you return.

 

[caydiver]

The island is 22 miles long and 8 miles at the widest point. To get from West Bay to GT you have two options — the Bypass and West Bay Road. Even when we first came here I don’t ever remember being lost. Don’t sweat it. Even if you get temporarily misplaced you are never far from the sea which is so lovely.

 

[Lateralus]

The island is 22 miles long and 8 miles at the widest point. To get from West Bay to GT you have two options — the Bypass and West Bay Road. Even when we first came here I don’t ever remember being lost. Don’t sweat it. Even if you get temporarily misplaced you are never far from the sea which is so lovely.

Yeh, we recently spent 17 day in Thailand traveling all over the country and didn't get lost. I was driving most of the time. I can't imagine this can be any more difficult.

 

[EastEndDiver]

Kathy is giving you some very good advice as is Caydiver who lives and works there both trying to make your trip as pleasant as possible with their insight.