scubnski
Registered
Wow, Pirates Point is a wonderful resort and my wife and I had just about a perfect vacation. I was on my guard about warnings re. Cayman Air connections to LC, lost bags, xld flights etc. Our connections were on time and perfect although, Cayman air did leave some bags from others in our group in Miami. The bags showed up the following morning and no one missed a dive.
My first impression upon arriving was that the resort resembled a summer camp. It is very casual and shorts and tees work all week. The accomodations are very comfortable with king beds and AC provided in the non-ocean front rooms. Cleanliness was impeccable.
The bar is included in the all-inclusive rate and Gladys our esteeemed host mixed up excellent frozen Margs. Otherwise, the guests help themselves to drinks (the house white is Santa Margharita Pinot...very impressive) All the liquors were premium...lots of different beers and soft drinks available 24-7.
Gladys' chefs, working with her recipes, provided, without doubt, the best food I have ever eaten in the Carib...three times a day. All meals were buffet style and Gladys served dinner herself. The sides were so delicious and plentiful, that if you have a dietary preference, or are a vegan, you could more than satisfy yourself at every meal.
The diving was limited to two morning dives from the resorts well equipped 42 ft Newton with easy access and egress via giant stride and wide ladder (we were offered one optional night dive for $50.00). BCs and regs were left on the boat and divers are expected to rig their own gear. Anyone requiring special help was cheerfully provided for, whether moving around the boat with gear, or help with diving technique, weighting etc. My wife and others were given help throughout the week experimenting with different weighting and trim configs. By the end of the week she was a tremendously improved and more comfortable diver. Typically, there were 3-4 DMs on the boat (Ash, Martha, Michelle, Gay and Peter) with a full load of 20 divers. We would divide into two groups and buddies could elect to dive their own profiles.
The diving was Little Cayman excellent. Bloody Bay Wall and the reef structures and swim-throughs are breathtaking, however, I was a bit disappointed by the scarcity of fish, although the reef seemed extremely healthy...maybe the time of year. We saw a lot of variety...Nurse and Carib. Reef Sharks, Rays, Grouper, Triggers, Damsel, Parrots, Pipe and Drums (sounds like a band) MRF (misc reef fish)lotsa little muck type critters...just, not a huge quantity of schooling fish. Maybe, I'm spoiled by reputation and expectations...still, the diving is great!
Possibly the best dive of the week was the night dive. Only six of us went and it was led by Peter. We spent ten minutes following Peter's dim red strobe without lights enjoying the natural phosphorescence of the reef....Octopi, sleeping turtle (never wake a sleeping turtle), goopy encased parrot Fish...stuff I've never seen before. Peter told us about the ubiquitous "String of Pearls," and we saw many in the dark...It was very exciting.
I lost my computer during the night dive and Peter and I were sure that we had last seen it with my gear in the back of the truck after the dive. For the next two days no one could find it anywhere. On the night before we left, Martha asked me if I had looked underwater at the night dive site. I told her no since we had seen the computer on the truck. She didn't care what we thought and on her own drove back to the site with her snorkel and sure enough she recovered my $600 computer underwater...This is not typical service at a dive resort or any other resort for that matter. I was blown away and needless to say very happy.
Everyone on the staff does double duty DMs wait tables etc and this seems to create great loyalty. Many of Gladys' staff have been with her for years. Not the typical nomadic DM lifestyle.
We will be back and thank you again Martha!
UW Photography Comments: Fresh water rinse and dry table provided on the boat. Unfortunately, rules were often violated, usually by me...
My first impression upon arriving was that the resort resembled a summer camp. It is very casual and shorts and tees work all week. The accomodations are very comfortable with king beds and AC provided in the non-ocean front rooms. Cleanliness was impeccable.
The bar is included in the all-inclusive rate and Gladys our esteeemed host mixed up excellent frozen Margs. Otherwise, the guests help themselves to drinks (the house white is Santa Margharita Pinot...very impressive) All the liquors were premium...lots of different beers and soft drinks available 24-7.
Gladys' chefs, working with her recipes, provided, without doubt, the best food I have ever eaten in the Carib...three times a day. All meals were buffet style and Gladys served dinner herself. The sides were so delicious and plentiful, that if you have a dietary preference, or are a vegan, you could more than satisfy yourself at every meal.
The diving was limited to two morning dives from the resorts well equipped 42 ft Newton with easy access and egress via giant stride and wide ladder (we were offered one optional night dive for $50.00). BCs and regs were left on the boat and divers are expected to rig their own gear. Anyone requiring special help was cheerfully provided for, whether moving around the boat with gear, or help with diving technique, weighting etc. My wife and others were given help throughout the week experimenting with different weighting and trim configs. By the end of the week she was a tremendously improved and more comfortable diver. Typically, there were 3-4 DMs on the boat (Ash, Martha, Michelle, Gay and Peter) with a full load of 20 divers. We would divide into two groups and buddies could elect to dive their own profiles.
The diving was Little Cayman excellent. Bloody Bay Wall and the reef structures and swim-throughs are breathtaking, however, I was a bit disappointed by the scarcity of fish, although the reef seemed extremely healthy...maybe the time of year. We saw a lot of variety...Nurse and Carib. Reef Sharks, Rays, Grouper, Triggers, Damsel, Parrots, Pipe and Drums (sounds like a band) MRF (misc reef fish)lotsa little muck type critters...just, not a huge quantity of schooling fish. Maybe, I'm spoiled by reputation and expectations...still, the diving is great!
Possibly the best dive of the week was the night dive. Only six of us went and it was led by Peter. We spent ten minutes following Peter's dim red strobe without lights enjoying the natural phosphorescence of the reef....Octopi, sleeping turtle (never wake a sleeping turtle), goopy encased parrot Fish...stuff I've never seen before. Peter told us about the ubiquitous "String of Pearls," and we saw many in the dark...It was very exciting.
I lost my computer during the night dive and Peter and I were sure that we had last seen it with my gear in the back of the truck after the dive. For the next two days no one could find it anywhere. On the night before we left, Martha asked me if I had looked underwater at the night dive site. I told her no since we had seen the computer on the truck. She didn't care what we thought and on her own drove back to the site with her snorkel and sure enough she recovered my $600 computer underwater...This is not typical service at a dive resort or any other resort for that matter. I was blown away and needless to say very happy.
Everyone on the staff does double duty DMs wait tables etc and this seems to create great loyalty. Many of Gladys' staff have been with her for years. Not the typical nomadic DM lifestyle.
We will be back and thank you again Martha!
UW Photography Comments: Fresh water rinse and dry table provided on the boat. Unfortunately, rules were often violated, usually by me...
