Packing and Car rental advice for Grand Cayman

[bluejaykaren]

Hi, We are 3 ladies who are going to Grand Cayman in July. It is the first time I will be taking my gear on a flight. We are staying at East End and need to rent a car. I was looking at the cars and I don't know how big a car we need. All 3 of us will have our dive gear. The cheaper cars don't look to have storage. Will there be any place to stow besides the one vacant seat if we get the small 4 seater? From the airport to East End we will have it all with us. Can anyone tell me the minimum size car rental we need and who has the best prices for cars? Can we rent things like dive flags reasonably or should we bring one for shore dives? What do we do about our dive knives. I am not comfortable diving without one. If the dive gear is checked in can I pack my knife? We will be flying Cayman Air out of Tampa. Thanks

 

[releck97]

Cayman Airways gives you two 55 lb. checked bags free. We pack our knives in our checked baggage without any trouble. Economy car rental and Andy's are my favorites. They offer significant discounts through the Cayman Activity Guide. Check their website for the ins and outs. We just got back with three people and rented a Hyundai Elantra throught Economy. The size was perfect. The price was the same as one of the smaller cars, too. Ain't no way we would have fit everything in one of the smaller cars. Economy refers to the Elantra as a mid-size. Buy an inflatable dive flag from scuba.com.

Good diving,

Captain Rick

 

[billinwilliamston]

Your knifes will be fine in your checked bags, but you'll have a fun time with the TSA if you try to bring them in your carry-ons. One thing to note if you've never been to Cayman before, dive knifes are fine and dandy but leave your gloves at home.

Have fun!

 

[Roombaguy]

When I have guests over, we always have then rent cars with Andy's ; never had any issues.
I would probably take something above sub-compact. The smallest car for 3 people with luggage is a no-go!

M.

 

[Drew Sailbum]

Cars that pass for an economy or compact size car in Cayman would be considered a sub-compact in the States. Go for mid-size or larger for your group of three.

Dive knives really are not needed and may not be worth the hassle to transport. Really. Dive knives are not permitted at the Stingray City dive per Wildlife Interaction Zone regulations.

You can drive into town for a shore dive but there is comparatively little shore diving in the eastern districts. Getting tanks may be a problem and may require you to go into town anyway. Typically divers do not tow a dive flag at the regular shore diving sites on the west side of the island.

 

[releck97]

Cars that pass for an economy or compact size car in Cayman would be considered a sub-compact in the States. Go for mid-size or larger for your group of three.

Dive knives really are not needed and may not be worth the hassle to transport. Really. Dive knives are not permitted at the Stingray City dive per Wildlife Interaction Zone regulations.


You can drive into town for a shore dive but there is comparatively little shore diving in the eastern districts. Getting tanks may be a problem and may require you to go into town anyway. Typically divers do not tow a dive flag at the regular shore diving sites on the west side of the island.

I have to disagree strongly regarding the shore dives on the east side of the island. We usually do our shore diving from Breakers east on the south side and Old Man Bay east on the north side. This is where the BEST shore diving is on the island. I believe dive knifes are a necessity when you are shore diving. With no surface support, you must be prepared for anything.

We book a couple of boat dives with Ocean Frontiers and then have no problem renting tanks for shore dives the rest of the trip.

I think you're spot on with the rental car advice.

Good diving,

Captain Rick

 

[Drew Sailbum]

To clarify....
there is comparatively little shore diving in the eastern districts (judging by the number of shore dives completed)...

- This is due to:
- Rougher seas, on average, than the west (lee) side side of the island.
- The total lack of on site dive operators providing tanks and services.
- The general difficulty of getting tanks for shore diving from the two East End dive ops (TD pretty much will not rent tanks. With OF it helps if you have done some boat diving with them, but then it is only a maybe)
- the illegality of shore diving in certain parts of Old Man Bay and North Side.

There are many locations where shore diving is possible, in theory, in the eastern districts. There are many sites where you can get yourself into a whole heap of trouble with no one around to offer assistance.

I've had the unfortunate experience of running full rescue for a divemaster/instructor buddy pair who got into serious difficulty within 200 yards of shore. Conditions should not be underestimated and experience must not be overestimated. Follow local guidance, no matter how much you think otherwise.

Just my two cents worth from ten years living out east in GC.

 

[bluejaykaren]

I will go with the midsize car, carry my blowup flag, and pack knife in checked in baggage. I gather there are tourist coupon books at the airport but I worry about waiting last minute to rent a car. Do you usually wait till you get there to rent a car? It was hard to judge size from a pic. I guess they are actually as small as they look to be in the pics. We just want to be in the water every day. We are not risk takers. We will only shore dive sites suggested to be safe for us. We see stingrays every dive here and our budget is so small. Will we really miss out if we don't go to Stingray city?

 

[Wolfie]

I travel in a family of three with only one (me) diver. A mid sized car on cayman would be a mini in your world. And don't wait tilll last minute. The Cayman activity guide is availble online as well as other discounts. "book ahead". And yes they are as small as they look (actually smaller). I don't know any shore dive that are safe for you (I don't know you) Eden Rock-sunset house-turtle reef are all rather benign and a long way away from where you are staying.... If you have an inflatable pack it, why not. If you don't have one, divers supply on SMB has them. (that's also a long way away) PS I stay on SMB not East End. And yes pack your knife. Because it's just good policy for something that won't happen. And don't bring your gloves. (I believe that is island policy)

 

[bluejaykaren]

Thank you all for your help. We will be very cautious. 15 years ago I was returning to shore from a dive that was at a place I normally snorkeled at. W were in 7 feet of water when we drifted into an undertow or rip current. It sucked me and my dive buddy under. We were floating along, discussing our next dive location.When I stopped tumbling I was tangled in fishing line that was tangled in an anchor. If I did not remember it like yesterday, I have a nice big scar across my foot where the fishing line cut into my foot to remind me. It is the same dive buddy I am going to Grand Cayman with. She won't forget that day either. When it took so long for me to get loose she thought I had drowned. Before I was off crutches she had finished her rescue class. The other diver is my 14 year old who is AOW. I took the course with her 2 years ago.You might say I started over. Benign is a lovely word for us. Knife a must, current a must not, unless its a drift dive which I am quite fond of.